Narrative
Narrative of the Organization's History
Narrative of the Organization's History
Leadership, Name Changes, Size Estimates, Resources, Geographic Locations
Ideology, Aims, Political Activities, Targets, and Tactics
First Attacks, Largest Attacks, Notable Attacks
Foreign Designations and Listings, Community Relations, Relations with Other Groups, State Sponsors and External Influences
Mapping relationships with other militant groups over time in regional maps
Jaime Bateman Cayón, a former FARC member, and Carlos Toledo Plata, a former member of the political party the National Popular Alliance (ANAPO), formed the M-19, a Marxist-Leninst guerrilla group, to change what they believed to be a corrupt Colombian electoral system. The M-19 sought to implement a representative democracy in Colombia. Leader Jaime Bateman Cayón believed more change would come from working in the city rather than the countryside; therefore, the group focused its militant activities in Colombian cities.[31]
In 1990, all M-19 factions, with the exception of Jaime Bateman’s former faction, negotiated peace with the Colombian government and became a political party, the AD M-19. The party sought to spearhead political reforms promoting democracy within the country, including a more open electoral system.[32]
In 1984, most M-19 members became a legal political entity through amnesty negotiations with President Belisario Betancur; however, the Bateman Cayón Group did not demobilize and continued launching attacks for the next decade.[33] Demobilized members of the M-19 feared persecution by paramilitary organizations so the M-19 party made an agreement with MAS, a paramilitary organization, guaranteeing their security. In November 1989, the M-19 officially became the M-19 party, then, in 1990, merged with several popular movements, the Popular Liberation Army (EPL), Revolutionary Workers’ Party, and the Quintín Lamé, to become the April 19 Movement Democratic Alliance (AD M-19).
The AD M-19’s goal was to promote democracy in Colombia.[34] In the 1990 elections, the AD M-19, with support of the indigenous population, was extremely successful and challenged Colombia’s traditional two party system. However, paramilitary organizations and death squads assassinated many of those who ran in the elections despite the agreement with MAS, including AD M-19 presidential candidate Carlos Pizarro León-Gómez.[35] Nevertheless, the AD M-19 continued to grow and, by 1991, became the third most powerful party in the country.
In 1994, AD M-19 candidate Navarro Wolff placed third in the presidential elections, but shortly following the election, the party’s popularity began to wane. By 1997, the AD M-19 had almost disappeared entirely.[36] The AD M-19 tapered out of the political system but leader Navarro Wolff won a senate seat with the Alternative Democratic Pole party in 2002.[37]
The M-19’s primary tactic was kidnapping employees of multinational companies for ransom. In 1977, the M-19 started directly attacking petroleum production facilitates and began an economic sabotage campaign.[38] As part of the campaign, the M-19 attacked police stations and government offices. The M-19 also attacked many embassies in the mid-1980s. In the late 1980s, the majority of M-19 members started the demobilization process, received pardons and became M-19 political party, and transformed into a political party, the AD M-19.[39]
Disclaimer: These are some selected major attacks in the militant organization's history. It is not a comprehensive listing but captures some of the most famous attacks or turning points during the campaign.
February 1976: The M-19 murdered José Raquel Mercado, a trade unionist who the it believed was a member of the CIA. (1 killed, 0 wounded).[40]
May 1978: In solidarity with the Sandinista cause in Nicaragua, the M-19 kidnapped Baquero Montiel, the Nicaraguan Ambassador. The Ambassador was released a few hours later. (0 killed, 0 wounded)[41]
February 1980: the M-19 attacked the Dominican Republic Embassy in Colombia and captured 15 diplomats, including U.S. ambassador Diego Ascencio, and between 16 to 30 other hostages. The M-19 held them for 61 days and received $1 million ransom and safe passage to Cuba upon the hostages’ release. (0 killed, unknown wounded)[42]
April 1983: The M-19 bombed the Honduran embassy in Colombia; several members of the Honduran Consul were wounded. (unknown killed, unknown wounded)[43]
November 6, 1985: Twenty-four to forty-one M-19 members seized the Palace of Justice in Bogotá and held approximately 50 hostages. Colombian security forces attacked the building killing all of the M-19 guerrillas and almost all others inside, including about half of the Supreme Court judges. (100+ killed, unknown wounded).[44]
March 23, 1988: The M-19 shot a rocket at the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá. Damage to the Embassy was minimal and there were no injuries. (0 killed, 0 wounded).[45]
May 1988: The M-19 kidnapped Álvaro Gomez Hurtado, a former Conservative party presidential candidate. Gomez Hurtado was released after two months. (0 killed, unknown wounded)[46]
August 1994: The U.S. Department of State reported that the Bateman Cayón Group, the M-19 Faction that did not demobilized, kidnapped a British diplomat and his Colombian colleague; the Bateman Cayón Group held them for ransom. There are no reports on their release. (unknown killed, unknown wounded)[47]
December 1997: The M-19 kidnapped William Parra, President Ernesto Samper’s press secretary, and Radio journalist Luis Eduardo Maldonado. They were released a month after their capture. (0 killed, 0 wounded)[48]
1998: The Bateman Faction was responsible for a string of ATM bombings in Bogotá. (unknown killed, unknown wounded)[49]
June 2001: The Jaime Bateman Cayón Group kidnapped a Spanish-born psychologist in Calí. He was released a month later. (0 killed, 0 wounded).[50]
This group has not been designated as a terrorist organization by any major national government or international body.
During the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s, the M-19 faced staunch opposition from paramilitary organizations, representatives of the elite, and large landowners.[51] In 1985, the failure of government peace talks made the M-19 unpopular within Colombia; furthermore, the group’s decision to return to combat following the failed negotiations decreased the group’s popularity further.[52] In the 1990s, the M-19 party, and subsequent AD M-19 was well liked within the country. In 1991, the AD M-19 was considered a strong opponent to Colombia’s two main political parties. In 1994, AD M-19 candidate Navarro Wolff placed third in the presidential elections. In the next few years, as the party’s popularity waned, the party’s presence dissipated. However, in 2002, Navarro Wolff won a senate seat with the highest second highest number of votes cast.[53]
M-19 founder Jaime Bateman Cayón was a member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) before establishing the M-19 alongside Carlos Toledo Plata, a former National Popular Alliance (ANAPO) member. The M-19 guerrilla group was a member of the Simon Bolivar Guerrilla Coordination Board (CGSB), an umbrella organization to unify leftist guerrilla movements including the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the National Liberation Army (ELN), the Popular Liberation Army (EPL), The Quintin Lame Movement, and the Workers Revolutionary Party.[54]
In 1986 the M-19 sought to create a common guerrilla front with Peru’s Shining Path and Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement and Ecuador’s Alvaro Lives Damn It! (Alvaro Vive, Carajo!) Movement. The M-19 reportedly attempted to unite the Alvaro Vive, Shining Path, and Tupac Amaru militants into a common guerrilla front.[55]
When the AD M-19 was created, the party included all of the Popular Liberation Army’s (EPL) demobilized guerrillas.[56]
In the 1980s, 300 M-19 members were trained in and received logistical support from Cuba; the M-19 also received weapons from Cuba and Nicaragua in the 1980s.[57] M-19 reportedly received assistance from Libya but the form of assistance is unclear. Additionally, South American leftist groups, including Argentinian Montoneros and Uruguayan Tupamaros, also trained M-19 members.[58]
[1] “M-19 – The April 19 Movement.” Idaho State University. N.p. N.d. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.isu.edu/~andesean/M19.htm
[2] “Colombia: Information on the Former Guerrilla Group M-19” Refworld. N.p. 25 March 2003. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.refworld.org/docid/414eee264.html
[3] “Samuele Mazzolini. Interview: Antonio Navarro Wolf talks to London Progressive Journal.” London Progresive Journal. N.p. December 2008. Web. 17 August 2015. http://londonprogressivejournal.com/article/333/interview-antonio-navarr...
[4] “Colombia: Information on the Former Guerrilla Group M-19” Refworld. N.p. 25 March 2003. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.refworld.org/docid/414eee264.html; Boudon, Lawrence. "Colombia's M-19 Democratic Alliance: A Case Study in New-Party Self-Destruction." Latin American Perspectives 28.1, Colombia: The Forgotten War (2001): 73-92. JSTOR. Web. 13 Aug. 2015.
[5] “M-19 – The April 19 Movement.” Idaho State University. N.p. N.d. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.isu.edu/~andesean/M19.htm
[6] “M-19 – The April 19 Movement.” Idaho State University. N.p. N.d. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.isu.edu/~andesean/M19.htm
[7] “Colombia: Information on the Former Guerrilla Group M-19” Refworld. N.p. 25 March 2003. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.refworld.org/docid/414eee264.html
[8] “M-19 – The April 19 Movement.” Idaho State University. N.p. N.d. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.isu.edu/~andesean/M19.htm
[9] “Movimiento 19 de Abril.” Results of Criminal Organizations Database Search. N.p. N.d. Web. 13 August 2015. http://fantasian.tripod.com/m19.html
[10] “Colombia: Information on the Former Guerrilla Group M-19” Refworld. N.p. 25 March 2003. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.refworld.org/docid/414eee264.html
[11] “Colombia: Information on the Former Guerrilla Group M-19” Refworld. N.p. 25 March 2003. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.refworld.org/docid/414eee264.html
[12] “Colombia: The 19th of April Movement.” Country-Data. N.p. December 1988. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-3127.html
[13] Boudon, Lawrence. "Colombia's M-19 Democratic Alliance: A Case Study in New-Party Self-Destruction." Latin American Perspectives 28.1, Colombia: The Forgotten War (2001): 73-92. JSTOR. Web. 13 Aug. 2015.
[14] “Colombia: Information on the Former Guerrilla Group M-19” Refworld. N.p. 25 March 2003. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.refworld.org/docid/414eee264.html
[15] “Colombia: Information on the Former Guerrilla Group M-19” Refworld. N.p. 25 March 2003. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.refworld.org/docid/414eee264.html
[16] “Historia del M-19.” CARACOL RADIO. N.p. 2 November 2005. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.caracol.com.co/especiales-notas/historia-del-m19/20051102/not...
[17] Atkins, Stephen E. Encyclopedia of Modern Worldwide Extremists and Extremist Groups. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 2004. Print; “Colombia: Information on the Former Guerrilla Group M-19” Refworld. N.p. 25 March 2003. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.refworld.org/docid/414eee264.html
[18] “Historia del M-19.” CARACOL RADIO. N.p. 2 November 2005. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.caracol.com.co/especiales-notas/historia-del-m19/20051102/not... “17 muertos en el as alto del M-19 a la ciudad colombiana de Yumbo.” El PAÍS ARCHIVO. N.p. 13 August 1984. Web. 14 August 2015. http://elpais.com/diario/1984/08/13/internacional/461196004_850215.html
[19] Durán, Mauricio García; Hormaza, Otty Patiño and Loewenherz, Grabe Vera. “The M-19’s Journey from Armed Struggle to Democratic Politics.” Berghof Research Centre for Constructive Conflict Management. Berghof Foundation. 2008. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.berghof-foundation.org/fileadmin/redaktion/Publications/Paper...
[20] Boudon, Lawrence. "Colombia's M-19 Democratic Alliance: A Case Study in New-Party Self-Destruction." Latin American Perspectives 28.1, Colombia: The Forgotten War (2001): 73-92. JSTOR. Web. 13 Aug. 2015.
[21] “Colombia: Information on the Former Guerrilla Group M-19” Refworld. N.p. 25 March 2003. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.refworld.org/docid/414eee264.html
[22] Boudon, Lawrence. "Colombia's M-19 Democratic Alliance: A Case Study in New-Party Self-Destruction." Latin American Perspectives 28.1, Colombia: The Forgotten War (2001): 73-92. JSTOR. Web. 13 Aug. 2015.
[23] Boudon, Lawrence. "Colombia's M-19 Democratic Alliance: A Case Study in New-Party Self-Destruction." Latin American Perspectives 28.1, Colombia: The Forgotten War (2001): 73-92. JSTOR. Web. 13 Aug. 2015.
[24] “M-19 Terrorism in Colombia 1972-1991.” OnWar. N.p. N.d. Web. 17 August 2015. https://www.onwar.com/aced/chrono/c1900s/yr70/fcolombia1972.htm
[25] “M-19 Terrorism in Colombia 1972-1991.” OnWar. N.p. N.d. Web. 17 August 2015. https://www.onwar.com/aced/chrono/c1900s/yr70/fcolombia1972.htm
[26] “Colombia: The 19th of April Movement.” Country-Data. N.p. December 1988. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-3127.html
[27] “Movimiento 19 de Abril.” Results of Criminal Organizations Database Search. N.p. N.d. Web. 13 August 2015. http://fantasian.tripod.com/m19.html; “M-19 – The April 19 Movement.” Idaho State University. N.p. N.d. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.isu.edu/~andesean/M19.htm; “Colombia: Information on the Former Guerrilla Group M-19” Refworld. N.p. 25 March 2003. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.refworld.org/docid/414eee264.html; “Colombia: The 19th of April Movement.” Country-Data. N.p. December 1988. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-3127.html
[28] Atkins, Stephen E. Encyclopedia of Modern Worldwide Extremists and Extremist Groups. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 2004. Print.
[29] “M-19 – The April 19 Movement.” Idaho State University. N.p. N.d. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.isu.edu/~andesean/M19.htm; “Colombia: Information on the Former Guerrilla Group M-19” Refworld. N.p. 25 March 2003. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.refworld.org/docid/414eee264.html
[30] “M-19 – The April 19 Movement.” Idaho State University. N.p. N.d. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.isu.edu/~andesean/M19.htm
[31] “Colombia: Information on the Former Guerrilla Group M-19” Refworld. N.p. 25 March 2003. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.refworld.org/docid/414eee264.html
[32] Boudon, Lawrence. "Colombia's M-19 Democratic Alliance: A Case Study in New-Party Self-Destruction." Latin American Perspectives 28.1, Colombia: The Forgotten War (2001): 73-92. JSTOR. Web. 13 Aug. 2015; Durán, Mauricio García; Hormaza, Otty Patiño and Loewenherz, Grabe Vera. “The M-19’s Journey from Armed Struggle to Democratic Politics.” Berghof Research Centre for Constructive Conflict Management. Berghof Foundation. 2008. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.berghof-foundation.org/fileadmin/redaktion/Publications/Paper...
[33] “Colombia: Information on the Former Guerrilla Group M-19” Refworld. N.p. 25 March 2003. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.refworld.org/docid/414eee264.html
[34] Boudon, Lawrence. "Colombia's M-19 Democratic Alliance: A Case Study in New-Party Self-Destruction." Latin American Perspectives 28.1, Colombia: The Forgotten War (2001): 73-92. JSTOR. Web. 13 Aug. 2015.
[35] “Colombia: Information on the Former Guerrilla Group M-19” Refworld. N.p. 25 March 2003. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.refworld.org/docid/414eee264.html
[36] “Colombia: Information on the Former Guerrilla Group M-19” Refworld. N.p. 25 March 2003. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.refworld.org/docid/414eee264.html
[37] “Colombia: Information on the Former Guerrilla Group M-19” Refworld. N.p. 25 March 2003. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.refworld.org/docid/414eee264.html
[38] “M-19 – The April 19 Movement.” Idaho State University. N.p. N.d. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.isu.edu/~andesean/M19.htm; “Colombia: The 19th of April Movement.” Country-Data. N.p. December 1988. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-3127.html
[39] “M-19 – The April 19 Movement.” Idaho State University. N.p. N.d. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.isu.edu/~andesean/M19.htm
[40] “M-19 – The April 19 Movement.” Idaho State University. N.p. N.d. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.isu.edu/~andesean/M19.htm
[41] Osterling, Jorge P. Democracy In Colombia : Clientelist Politics and Guerrilla Warfare. New Brunswick, U.S.A.: Transaction, 1989; “Movimiento 19 de Abril.” Results of Criminal Organizations Database Search. N.p. N.d. Web. 13 August 2015. http://fantasian.tripod.com/m19.html
[42] “Colombia: Information on the Former Guerrilla Group M-19” Refworld. N.p. 25 March 2003. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.refworld.org/docid/414eee264.html; “M-19 – The April 19 Movement.” Idaho State University. N.p. N.d. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.isu.edu/~andesean/M19.htm; Atkins, Stephen E. Encyclopedia of Modern Worldwide Extremists and Extremist Groups. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 2004. Print.
[43] “M-19 – The April 19 Movement.” Idaho State University. N.p. N.d. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.isu.edu/~andesean/M19.htm
[44] “Colombia: Information on the Former Guerrilla Group M-19” Refworld. N.p. 25 March 2003. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.refworld.org/docid/414eee264.html; “M-19 – The April 19 Movement.” Idaho State University. N.p. N.d. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.isu.edu/~andesean/M19.htm
[45] “M-19 – The April 19 Movement.” Idaho State University. N.p. N.d. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.isu.edu/~andesean/M19.htm
[46] “M-19 – The April 19 Movement.” Idaho State University. N.p. N.d. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.isu.edu/~andesean/M19.htm; “Colombia: The 19th of April Movement.” Country-Data. N.p. December 1988. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-3127.html; “Movimiento 19 de Abril.” Results of Criminal Organizations Database Search. N.p. N.d. Web. 13 August 2015. http://fantasian.tripod.com/m19.html
[47] “Colombia: Information on the Former Guerrilla Group M-19” Refworld. N.p. 25 March 2003. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.refworld.org/docid/414eee264.html
[48] “Colombia: Information on the Former Guerrilla Group M-19” Refworld. N.p. 25 March 2003. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.refworld.org/docid/414eee264.html
[49] “Colombia: Information on the Former Guerrilla Group M-19” Refworld. N.p. 25 March 2003. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.refworld.org/docid/414eee264.html
[50] “Colombia: Information on the Former Guerrilla Group M-19” Refworld. N.p. 25 March 2003. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.refworld.org/docid/414eee264.html
[51] “Colombia: Information on the Former Guerrilla Group M-19” Refworld. N.p. 25 March 2003. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.refworld.org/docid/414eee264.html
[52] Atkins, Stephen E. Encyclopedia of Modern Worldwide Extremists and Extremist Groups. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 2004. Print.
[53] “Colombia: Information on the Former Guerrilla Group M-19” Refworld. N.p. 25 March 2003. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.refworld.org/docid/414eee264.html; Boudon, Lawrence. "Colombia's M-19 Democratic Alliance: A Case Study in New-Party Self-Destruction." Latin American Perspectives 28.1, Colombia: The Forgotten War (2001): 73-92. JSTOR. Web. 13 Aug. 2015.
[54] Kline, Harvey F. Historical Dictionary of Colombia. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press, 2012.
[55] “Colombia: The 19th of April Movement.” Country-Data. N.p. December 1988. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-3127.html; Le Blanc, Jörg. Political Violence In Latin America : a Cross-case Comparison of the Urban Insurgency Campaigns of Montoneros, M-19 and Fsln In a Historical Perspective. Print
[56] Boudon, Lawrence. "Colombia's M-19 Democratic Alliance: A Case Study in New-Party Self-Destruction." Latin American Perspectives 28.1, Colombia: The Forgotten War (2001): 73-92. JSTOR. Web. 13 Aug. 2015
[57] “Colombia: The 19th of April Movement.” Country-Data. N.p. December 1988. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-3127.html
[58] “M-19 – The April 19 Movement.” Idaho State University. N.p. N.d. Web. 13 August 2015. http://www.isu.edu/~andesean/M19.htm; “Movimiento 19 de Abril.” Results of Criminal Organizations Database Search. N.p. N.d. Web. 13 August 2015. http://fantasian.tripod.com/m19.html