Colombian Judge Orders Protection of Historical Artifacts Removed Amid Protests
A judge ruled that artifacts related to social movements and guerrilla fighters must be preserved while a decision is made on whether they can be displayed again.
A Colombian judge has ordered the government to protect over 30 historical artifacts that were removed from exhibits at Bogota's National Museum last week. The move comes amid controversy over the conservative government's initiative to alter the way Colombia's history is presented in museums and educational institutions.
The artifacts in question are linked to the country's social movements and guerrilla fighters, leading critics to accuse the government of attacking leftist movements and sexual minorities. Judge Cesar Enrique Osorio stated in his ruling that the objects, including a replica of the first magazine published by Colombia's LGBTQ+ community and a poster of a former guerrilla leader who later ran for president, must be kept in a secure location pending a determination on their public display.
Furthermore, the judge prohibited officials from removing any more items from museum exhibits, citing potential risks to Colombians' rights to free expression and historical memory. The removal of these artifacts on Thursday prompted protests outside the National Museum over the weekend, which were dispersed by riot police.
Feminist groups, left-wing activists, and members of Bogota's LGBTQ+ community have voiced concerns that President Abelardo de la Espriella's administration is attempting to erase their histories from the national record. Earlier in the week, de la Espriella delivered a speech at the Ministry of Culture, advocating for the protection of national heritage and what he termed a cultural battle against "wokeism" and "moral relativism." He argued that the extreme left has influenced cultural and academic spheres for decades and that it is the government's duty to confront this by emphasizing Colombian values.
De la Espriella asserted that state cultural institutions belong to all Colombians and should not be used to advance political doctrines or ideological interpretations of history. Among the removed items is a pen used to sign the 2016 peace deal with the FARC rebels, an agreement that has faced criticism from conservatives for being too lenient. A campaign poster for Carlos Pizarro, a former leader of the M-19 guerrilla group who was assassinated after entering presidential politics, was also taken.
Last week, de la Espriella stated that Colombia's cultural entities should not promote terrorism or portray members of guerrilla groups as national heroes. María José Pizarro, a former senator and Carlos Pizarro's daughter, criticized the sudden modification of museum exhibits, asserting that her father is a symbol of resistance against tyranny and that sexual minorities should not face censorship in Colombia.