Author of case study: Marcela Torres Molano

Geopolitical location of space:
Cl. 9 #5-59
Cali, Valle del Cauca

Extant? Yes

Architects:
Fray Pedro Herrera and Perez de Arroyo in charge of brick facade and interiors.
First year of construction: 1773, further modifications have been done to the building.

Timeframe of RJ/TJ process in this space:

4 & 5 of December 2016

Background information:

An act of recognition of responsibilities and dignity of memory, between ex guerrilla members and the families of 12 Valle del Cauca deputies, who were kidnaped and killed in 2002.

Is restorative justice actually taking place in this space?

One TJ act took place in this space. After the Peace agreement in Cuba, the family of the victims agreed to participate in a truth clarification and memory event for their families, as part of the national transitional justice process.

Is this space designed/arranged for safe listening?

This is a Catholic church building, which is designed for religious ceremonies, therefore group listening, however the space is not specifically designed for this type of event.

Who is the audience/the intended participants for this space?

Ex-members of the FARC guerrilla (responsible for the crime), and the victims’ families.

How or to what extent is this space public?

This is a private building that belongs to the catholic church, however it is a building for public use. The reconciliatory event was initially intended to be public and later was established it was only going to be among the families of the victims.

What are the politics of this space, either in terms of its location, design, spatial, or visual aspects?

Cali was one of the most affected cities during the Colombian internal conflict. The Valle del Cauca Deputies hostage crisis was the kidnapping of 12 Deputies by FARC members. The guerrilla group wanted to pressure the government to establish a prisoner exchange, as well as to negotiate the demilitarisation of two towns of this region with the intention of initiating the peace dialogues.

Physical/factual description of space:

The Saint Francis Church was built between 1803 and 1827. The church is composed of two different structures located right next to each other, forming a brick harmonious and coherent urban complex, and the entire front of the block that faces the Plaza de San Francisco. The temple has suffered the effects of the earthquakes of 1885, 1896 and 1925, but it maintains its original appearance.

The church has a rectangular plan which is divided into three naves with a central dome in front of the main altar. The neoclassical character of its architecture is particularly evident in the composition of the facade. The interior has been criticised for its decoration, which clearly does not harmonise with the façade.

Analytical description of space:

The FARC publicly apologised during a meeting in the Saint Francis Church, one block away from the building where on 11 April, 2002, a group of FARC guerrillas kidnapped 12 deputies from the Valle del Cauca Department Assembly. The victims chose the Church, located in front of the local government, because it was the space where the families of the deputies previously met and prayed for the fate of their relatives. The event was open to the public, but not to the media in order to respect the victims’ pain. It was the first public act for the reparation of the victims of the kidnapping and murder of 11 of the 12 deputies, and was carried out as part of the Peace Agreement signed with the FARC in 2016.

Father De Roux witnessed the moment when Pablo Catatumbo, during the reconciliation act, expressed: “We had them in our hands, we killed them, we are responsible. We have no justification for this. We take full responsibility. We ask for forgiveness.” In response, De Roux commented: “I witnessed the strength of children, wives and brothers when expressing their pain and defending with courage their murdered relatives; and also of the unexpected generosity with which they agreed to forgive, to free themselves from the anguish of retaliation and to contribute to the peace of this country” (Quintero, 2018).