The Many Faces of the 6th and 7th of November of 1985

Palacio de justicia

The overtake of the Palace of Justice was an event that took place in November 6th and 7th of 1985 in Bogotá, Colombia. It is an important event in history, since it marked the abatement of the M-19’s vigor and stability, which led to negotiations that gave room to the demobilization of the insurgent group in 1990. The 1990 peace treaty established the foundation of the political party called Alianza Democrática M-19, which would later have 19 of its members chosen by the Colombian people, in elections that had an abstentionism of 15%, as representatives in the National Constitutional Assembly of 1991; established with the purpose of writing a new constitution.

A great part of the current Colombian political world was shaped by this unfortunate violent event. Various M-19’s former militants are now active political figures who made part of the creation of the fundamental principles according to which our state is governed. Moreover, in times where conversations about post-conflict, peace, violence and collective memory permeate our country, it is relevant to look back in time and reflect on the causes and consequences of a key event in our history of conflicts, and most importantly, the misinformation and misconceptions around it. History is biased according to who tells the stories. Thus, it is important to question the status quo of information regarding historical events that has been given to us as a young generation. Considering this is mainly a political event, it is all the more imperative to take every ideological stance involved in it into account to get a more impartial and comprehensive perspective, and take a step closer to the truth that could serve as a guide in our current political stances and decisions.

Sequence of Events

October 17th, 1985

Two M-19 members who surrounded the Palace with maps of the building are detained. Hours later, a cassette was seized with the proclaim of the M-19: “una acción que aterraría y sorprendería al mundo” (an action that would terrify and surprise the world).

For 21 days, the Palace had special protection.

November 6th, 1985

In the morning, some guerrilla members entered the Palace as civilians.

11:40 A.M. A Ford 51 truck parked in front of the Palace of Justice. Around 30 M-19 militants attacked the security guards of the first floor.

11:50 A.M. The police and the Presidential Guard surrounded the Palace and started the counter-attack.

12:10 P.M. The army arrived and planned the operative.

12:25 P.M. The president Belisario Betancur called his ministers to his office.

12:55 P.M. Four tanks and two armor-plated cars arrived to the parking lot of the building and to the main entrance.

1:02 P.M. Luis Otero, chief of the command Iván Mario Ospina of the M-19, talked over the phone with the media and read the proclamation of what they called “Operación Antonio Nariño por los Derechos del Hombre”.

1:50 P.M Four explosions in the basement were heard.

2:00 P.M. A tank went up the stairs of the main entrance of the Palace. M-19 members went up to the third and fourth floor.

2:18 P.M. GOES (Grupo de Operaciones Especiales) agents, arrived in helicopters of the Police to the roof.

2:22 P.M. A third tank arrived to the main entrance, explosions were heard and smoke went up. Other two helicopters landed.

3:00 P.M. People were evacuated and taken to the Casa del Florero

4:30 P.M. Alfonso Reyes Echandía, president of the Supreme Court of Justice, was pushed by the M-19 to talk to the radio network Todelar. In his declaration, he asked for a ceasefire.

5:00 P.M. More hostages got out of the Palace and then the shooting started again.

6:10 P.M. A new explosion took place in the fourth floor. Meanwhile, Congress rejects the takeover.

8:00 P.M. The army expelled the first rocket in the eastern side of the building.

8:35 P.M. The fire started in the third floor in the eastern part and extended to the fourth and fifth floors.

9:00 P.M.Other 60 people were evacuated and guerrilla members blocked the access of firemen to the roof of the building.

10:30 P.M. Congressmen asked the Government not to negotiate with the M-19.

11:15 P.M. The army took over the third floor and evacuated it.

11:40 P.M. The Court’s documents are burnt by the fire.

00:00 There’s an apparent calm.

1:15 A.M. About 10 M-19 militants remained in the Palace.

6:30 A.M. Two new tanks entered through the main entrance and the shooting started again.

7:08 A.M The fire grew. Explosions as of rockets were heard.

8:30 A.M. The magistrate Reinaldo Arciniegas was released and went to the Casa del Florero with a message from Andrés Almarales, M-19 member. He said 15 people were in the bathroom of the third floor.

9:00 A.M. New meeting of Betancur and his ministers.

9:35 A.M. The Casa del Florero is established as the barracks of the state armed forces.

11: 45 A.M. The shooting went on and eight burnt bodies were evacuated. The army identified them as guerrilla members.

2:25 P.M. The army took over the Palace.

2:28 P.M. Andrés Almarales, director of the takeover, authorized the evacuation of the last hostages.

4:10 P.M. The death of Luis Otero, Andrés Almarales and Alfonso Jacquin (members of the M-19) was announced.

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