Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella faces criticism after posting video showing body bags of alleged guerrillas

The short version

• Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella published a video showing himself walking past 23 body bags containing alleged guerrillas killed in the Amazon.
• The video was presented by the president as proof of his pledge to wage an all-out campaign against illegal armed groups.
• Political opponents and rights advocates condemned the broadcast as dehumanizing, while the president defended his administration's actions.

Key facts

• President Abelardo De La Espriella posted a social media video depicting rows of white body bags containing the bodies of 23 alleged guerrillas killed in an Amazon military operation.[The Guardian]
• De La Espriella assumed office the preceding month after campaigning on promises of an aggressive campaign against illegal armed groups.[The Guardian]
• Opposition figures, including former president Gustavo Petro, former presidential candidate Iván Cepeda, and lawmaker Daniel Monroy, denounced the footage as an improper spectacle that treats death as a trophy.[The Guardian]
• De La Espriella rejected the criticism on social media, asserting that confronting and eliminating armed actors is part of his presidential mandate.[The Guardian]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• Colombian president posts video purporting to show 23 ‘neutralised’ guerrillas in body bagsThe Guardian - World