Concrete contributions to the search for the disappeared
Carlos Mario Jiménez, known as alias ‘Macaco’, former commander of the Central Bolívar Bloc of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), has taken an active role in Colombia’s peacebuilding process.
In July 2023, he signed a cooperation agreement with the Unit for the Search for Persons Deemed as Missing (UBPD), committing to provide detailed information on mass graves, maps, and coordinates to facilitate the location of victims of enforced disappearance during the armed conflict.
This agreement, the result of months of work at the Itagüí penitentiary facility in Antioquia, aims to ease the suffering of families still waiting for news of their loved ones.
UBPD director Luz Janeth Forero highlighted the importance of this collaboration in advancing the right to truth for victims.
Acknowledging responsibility and asking for forgiveness
In October 2024, during a public event in Montería, Córdoba, ‘Macaco’ appeared via video to ask for forgiveness from victims of the armed conflict and express his willingness to contribute to the search for missing persons.
He requested that President Gustavo Petro reactivate the Ralito agenda and offered his cooperation to the UBPD, emphasizing the need for guarantees to carry out this humanitarian task.
In his statement, ‘Macaco’ declared:
“I ask you to grant me your forgiveness from the bottom of my heart. I acknowledge my responsibility in this conflict and humbly aspire to be part of the solution and reconciliation.”
These words reflect a commitment to truth and non-repetition—core principles for sustainable peacebuilding.
Challenges and future perspectives in reconciliation
Despite these advances, ‘Macaco’ still faces challenges in his reintegration process.
The Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) has, for now, denied his entry, stating that his request must include a concrete and structured plan demonstrating his will to fulfill victims’ rights.
Nevertheless, his active participation in memory and reconciliation events—such as the «Encounter for Truth» at the Center for Memory, Peace, and Reconciliation in Bogotá, where he expressed remorse and apologized to victims—demonstrates a clear intention to contribute to peace.In summary, the actions undertaken by alias ‘Macaco’ represent significant steps toward reconciliation and the repair of the damage caused during Colombia’s armed conflict.
His cooperation with the UBPD and his willingness to accept responsibility are key elements in building lasting peace.
