Colombia judge orders President De la Espriella to remove photos of corpses

A Colombian judge has issued a precautionary order requiring President Abelardo de la Espriella and the Administrative Department of the Presidency to remove social media posts showing the president walking among the corpses of alleged criminal group members. The ruling by Judge Osnaider Fontecha of the Fourteenth Labor Circuit Court of Bogotá comes as the judiciary evaluates whether the content is excessively violent or explicit.

The controversy stems from videos and photographs posted following military operations in Guaviare, which resulted in the deaths of over 20 alleged FARC dissidents and leaders of the Autodefensas Conquistadoras de la Sierra Nevada (ACSN). In one seven-minute video, the president provides details on the operation while appearing to walk among white bags containing remains.

Critics, including Ombudsman Iris Marín, have condemned the imagery, stating that the government should not compete with armed groups in displaying cruelty. Political analysts suggest the posts are part of a hardline security strategy intended to project strength and state control, following the termination of previous dialogues with various guerrilla factions.