HERNANDO CALVO OSPINA Interview conducted by Hernando Calvo Ospina, Colombian journalist resident in France. Collaborator of Le Monde Diplomatique.
I notice she is nervous. It is the first time that she has granted an interview. I find her in La Habana. She is one of the 13 women who make up the group of 30 people who with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, are negotiating a possible—and long awaited—peace process with the Colombian Government. With her great simplicity, although a natural elegance, is part of that 40% of female combatants. She accompanies her words with the movement of hands and the brightness of her black eyes. Her name is Sandra Ramírez, and is the widow of the historic leader of the guerrilla organization, Manuel Marulanda Vélez. Before my first two questions, she responds as if it were a speech. I stop the recorder to remind her that I am not doing the interview: I want to chat with her. She then smiles and sets her eyes to some distant place, and begins with her memories past and present.
“About 1981, in the rural region where I lived with my family, guerrilleros began to pass by. My father served as a guide so they could get to know the region. For me what caught my attention was that a woman was in command of that group. Due to economic conditions I could not continue with my secondary studies, and as that woman had become a role model, shortly after I decided to join the FARC.
"There I found that there was no difference between men and women to go into combat. What also caught my attention was the struggle against sexism and the equality of rights and duties between men and women. Which wasn’t easy, considering that in the FARC most combatants are from the country, where machismo is more prominent, in addition to coming from a highly male-dominated capitalist society. In the FARC we have created mechanisms to cut this out, and it is one of our daily struggles alongside comrades. Because our struggle is for gender equality and the well-being for all.
"It is that respect for women and the possibility that we advance as people, combatants and professionals which has made so many women join their ranks. Here we offer what the social and economic conditions of the country do not provide to the overwhelming majority, much less women.
"A woman in the FARC completes missions and exercises command, because from the point of joining she is educated to be aware of her condition as a person and combatant. Here a woman can study computer science, media, to become a doctor, nurse or any of the specialties that we have. Here a woman has an opinion and makes suggestions, therefore decisions in the FARC are collectivist.
"Of course, we don’t like to lose our femininity. That’s why the organization provides for us monthly, if conditions of war and economics allow it, body lotion, nail polish, for makeup, as well as sanitary towels and contraceptives. It is not unusual to go the frontline having applied perfume and hair well combed.
"The relationships between couples are just as normal as in Bogotá or Madrid. The enemy propaganda in the media says that female guerrilleras are forced sexually to be with their male counterparts. That is a lie. We decide freely to be with a partner we like. Here one falls in love, out of love and has disappointments, as in every part of the world. Our internal rules do not affect couples, unless the behaviour of a partner affects the group as a whole for their ongoing relationship problems.
"For us birth control is mandatory. You cannot be a guerrillera and mother, unfortunately. When we joined we accepted this condition. Don’t forget that we are part of an army. When there are pregnancies, the guerrillera can choose to abort or have the child.
"The enemy belittles us as women, but also fear us. Usually, when compañeras are captured they are raped, tortured and have even returned with their breasts cut off, from mutilation. We have had atrocious cases. We are treated like war booties. They are afraid because we confront them as equals, showing that we can be very warlike in combat. That is why they unload their fear, rage and helplessness to capture a guerrillera. It is rare when they treat female prisoners well."
And it was time to ask the last question. When she heard it her voice changed, throat tightened and looked at the floor while she clasped her hands. Took a breath and answered, without missing naughty smiles at various moments of her story.
"In 1983 I was 20 years old when in the camp I saw a gentleman with a hat, revolver in his belt, a carbine and without uniform." Then I asked who it was. I was shocked. Comrade Marulanda was the simplest person you can imagine. That’s how he was with any member of the group. He did not feel that he was the head, it was us who saw the authority in him.
"I wasn’t part of his security team, although I was in the Secretariat camp, the highest level of the FARC leadership. On May 1984, it was my turn to be part of a support group who received commissions, politicians, journalists and others who came to the camp of La Uribe to discuss agreements of peace that were being undertaken with the Government. One day the comrade had an accident and broke a rib. As a nurse it was my duty to provide medicine and therapy. And by undergoing his treatment our feelings and relationship commenced.
"I had a completely normal relationship with him. I had no privileges for being his partner, but he was very special towards me. Of course we had arguments and difficulties like every couple, but we had many more joyful moments. I contributed to his responsibilities. For example, I was in charge of communications, as a secretary on occasions, or preparing meals he liked.
"Sometimes we experienced very difficult security situations specifically related to the war, because he was the most wanted man in the country. Many times the army was very close, but with his calmness and experience he was always able to protect his troops. He was very cautious and everything he planned. We laughed when we used to hear that he had been killed and we were drinking coffee. Because “they killed him” many times.
"My last hours with him? I still have difficulty to talk about this part of our life as a couple. But hey... From the symptoms we thought he had a problem of gastritis. And that day [March 26, 2008, NdA] he had been writing a document, while he was listening to Colombian cumbias. After that I accompanied him so that he could take a shower, he drank chocolate, and we believed that he had recovered from the problem. At 5pm he had a small dinner which was customary. An hour later he received reports from the guard and issued orders. He then asked me to accompany him to the toilet. I held his machete and gun belt, belongings that he never abandoned. He then told me that he felt dizzy. And I saw he was going to fall. I then held him up, and started to call on those who were on guard. Our camarada collapsed. And it is terrible to see someone who has been so strong. We took him to bed and we began to perform cardiac massage and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, but he did not return. Everything was so unexpected. He didn’t suffer: even in that the enemy lost. Nor would that give him pleasure.
"I felt sad, lonely and helpless, although the entire organization was with me."
Translation: Oliver Villar
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