Manuel Marulanda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Manuel Marulanda
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| Nickname(s) | Manuel Marulanda Vélez Tirofijo |
| Born | 13 May 1930 Génova, Quindío Colombia |
| Died | 26 March 2008 (aged 77) Meta Department, Colombia |
| Allegiance | FARC |
| Rank | Secretariat member, Chief of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia |
| Unit | Southern Bloc |
| Battles/wars | Colombian armed conflict |
Pedro Antonio Marín Marín (born May 13, 1930 – died March 26, 2008) was a well-known leader in Colombia. He was also known by his special nickname, Manuel Marulanda Vélez. He was the main leader of a group called the FARC-EP. This group had specific political ideas.
Marulanda was born in a region of west-central Colombia where a lot of coffee is grown. His family were farmers who supported the Liberal Party during conflicts in the 1940s and 1950s.
His friends gave him the nickname "Tirofijo". This means "Surefire" or "Sureshot" in Spanish. They called him this because he was said to be very good at aiming firearms.
Manuel Marulanda later changed his political ideas to support the Communist Party. This happened during a time of conflict in Colombia, roughly from 1948 to 1958, known as "La Violencia".
In March 2006, officials from the United States government announced a $5 million reward for information leading to Marulanda's capture. However, Marulanda was never caught. He died from a heart attack on March 26, 2008. After his death, Alfonso Cano became the new commander of the FARC.
Early Activities
Marulanda and his family members, like many farmers who supported the Liberal Party, started to carry weapons. This happened after they heard the news about the death of Jorge Eliecer Gaitan, a political leader.
Later, Marulanda joined a group of fighters who were influenced by the Communist Party of Colombia. This group became more active in fighting and carried out more attacks. He started using the name "Manuel Marulanda" to honor a union leader who had been killed. Marulanda also met and became friends with Jacobo Arenas, a political organizer from the Communist Party.
Members of this group later settled in an area known as Marquetalia. They kept their weapons even after a new government took power in 1953. They did not trust the Colombian Army or the government.
After 1957, the new government saw these armed groups as dangerous. This was especially true for areas like "Marquetalia Republic." Because of pressure from politicians and the United States, the Colombian Army attacked Marquetalia in May 1964. This event was called "Operation Marquetalia."
Forming the FARC
The Colombian Army's attack did not completely defeat the fighters. Most of the survivors gathered again in another place. On May 27, 1964, they formed a group called "Bloque Sur" (Southern Bloc). This group was the start of the FARC, which was officially created in 1966. Marulanda and Jacobo Arenas quickly became the main leaders of this new group.
His Death
Manuel Marulanda died from a heart attack on March 26, 2008. The news was first reported by a Colombian magazine in May 2008. The magazine said that the Defense Minister had learned about Marulanda's death from a trusted source within the FARC. The minister also mentioned that there had been air attacks targeting Marulanda around that time.
On May 25, another FARC leader, Timoleón Jiménez (also known as Timochenko), confirmed Marulanda's death in a video. He stated that Marulanda died due to heart failure.
Popular Culture
- Manuel Marulanda is shown as the character Miguel Miranda 'Punto-Fijo' in the TV series Tres Caínes. He is played by the Colombian actor Iván Rodríguez.
See also
In Spanish: Manuel Marulanda Vélez para niños
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