Capitanejo Under Fire: Memories of a Guerrilla Takeover

Abstract

The text narrates the events that occurred on the night of
August 30, 1996, when the Revolutionary Armed Forces
of Colombia-People's Army (FARC-EP) took control of the
Municipality of Capitanejo-Santander. It explores how
the residents remember this event and the significance it
holds for the people of Capitanejo, a narrative laden with
violence from the past. The study is based on semi-structured interviews, contrasted with press archives from the time, police records, and research on the armed conflict in the region. The information is analyzed in light of the theoretical contributions of Pierre Nora, Roger Chartier, and Danièle Hervieu-Léger. The article highlights how the residents of Capitanejo remember that night, described as the beginning of a new cycle of violence, as paramilitary forces arrived after the guerrilla's establishment, reinforcing a violent past that, at times, seems to collectively define them. The memories of that tragic night and the narratives of the people of Capitanejo demonstrate how memories and representations have contributed to the construction of a common identity around violence, leading to a lack of recognition of their diverse past and efforts to seek a dignified and peaceful life.