President Gustavo Petro addressed a recent controversy surrounding a video that surfaced online, showing an apparent disagreement between him and Laura Sarabia, the administrative director of the Presidency, just moments before he presented former Uruguayan President Pepe Mujica with the Boyacá Cross.
The video, initially published by Colombian news outlet La Silla Vacía, sparked speculation about the nature of the exchange. It depicted Petro appearing visibly upset while discussing a flag with Sarabia.The flag in question bore the emblem of the M19, the guerrilla group Petro was once a part of.
“As much speculation as this about La Silla Vacía deserves, out of respect for the people, their response,” Petro wrote on his Twitter account, addressing the controversy head-on.
In a detailed clarification, Petro clarified the context behind his reaction. He recounted how, 50 years ago, six young members of the Tupamaro National Liberation Movement, fleeing persecution by the Uruguayan dictatorship, sought refuge in Bogotá. These individuals, he explained, connected with Carlos Toledo plata and Jaime Bateman, key figures in the nascent M19 movement, sharing their experiences in urban guerrilla warfare.
Petro revealed his original intention was to present the M19 flag to these six individuals during his trip to Uruguay. However, he discovered upon arrival that they had all passed away.”I wanted to pronounce their names but I couldn’t and hence my dissatisfaction,” he shared, shedding light on the source of his visible frustration in the video.
The incident ignited a flurry of reactions from politicians and critics alike. Some speculated that Sarabia objected to the display of the M19 flag, while others, like journalist Juan Diego Quesada, suggested the president’s displeasure stemmed from the specific flag chosen. Quesada claimed petro preferred the official M19 flag over the one presented, which bore the inscription “JM19.”
Petro’s direct response on Twitter aimed to provide context and clarity to the situation, emphasizing his deep connection to the history of the M19 and his respect for the individuals who played a role in its formation.
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