On this day three years ago, the guerrilla leader of the FARC-EP, Jesús Santrich, was killed in an ambush in Venezuela by special commandos sent by the Colombian state – trained and advised by the CIA.

Born in 1967, Santrich adopted his assumed name in 1990 as a tribute to a fallen comrade, who had been assassinated by the state. Facing political persecution, he sought refuge within the Marxist guerrilla group FARC-EP, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army.

Rapidly rising through the ranks, Santrich emerged as a prominent figure on the international stage. His distinctive features, including his iconic Palestinian keffiyeh, dark sunglasses worn due to his blindness, and his humor, contributed to his recognizable persona.

Santrich played a significant role as one of the “architects” of the 2016 peace agreement between FARC-EP and the government. After feeling betrayed by the government and being arrested, Santrich returned to rebuilding the guerrilla movement.

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