PBI-Colombia joins MOCAO for a screening of the documentary ‘The Eyes That Are Reborn’ about police violence

Published by Brent Patterson on June 19, 2024June 19, 2024

The Movement in Resistance against Ocular Aggressions (MOCAO) has posted on Instagram: “We met with PBI Colombia for the screening of our documentary ‘The Eyes That Are Reborn’. #FightAgainstImpunity and stop police violence.”

The Southampton, United Kingdom-based National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) has previously posted: “Lucía Guerrero Rivière harnessed the skills she learnt in an NCRM workshop to produce a documentary in Colombia, where she worked with survivors of ocular mutilation. The project, which was part of Lucía’s PhD research at the University of Exeter, enabled her participants to articulate their demands for justice and share their collective experiences. … She works with a campaign group, MOCAO, which brings together survivors of ocular mutilation during protests across the country.”

The Bogota-based El Turbion (“a techno-activist organization”) has also commented: “The painful narrative that ‘The Eyes That Are Reborn’ exposes does not focus on stories of sadness and desolation. On the contrary, the documentary explores how MOCAO’s actions transform the effects by establishing participatory links with the partners, parents and relatives of the victims, who also needed space to talk about the injuries. Thus, the documentary gives a voice to both the victims and their families, creating a collective voice that demands truth, memory and justice, and above all, advocates avoiding repetition.”

The ESMAD and eye injuries

The Mobile Anti-Riot Squadron (ESMAD) was formed in February 1999 as a specialized police unit to respond to protests and crowds. Between its inception and November 2019, the ESMAD killed 34 people. According to Temblores, there were also 3,789 cases of police violence including 45 killings between April 28 and May 31, 2021, during the National Strike against the neoliberal policies of President Ivan Duque.

In November 2021, the “Shoots On Sight” report produced jointly by PAIIS, Temblores and Amnesty International, found that police repression during the National Strike resulted in around 100 people sustaining eye trauma.

Photo: “I regret to inform the ESMAD that with my left eye I still see a better future for my country.”

During the National Strike, the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) supported the popular call for the dismantling of the ESMAD.

In June 2023, the government of President Gustavo Petro, rather than dismantling the ESMAD as had been originally promised, changed its name to the Dialogue and Order Maintenance Unit (UNDMO).

Canada on police violence during the National Strike

On May 9, 2021, the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs stated: “We welcome the Government of Colombia’s commitment to fully investigate and hold accountable those who may be guilty of violating human rights during these events.”

Then on July 14, 2021, the Minister of Foreign Affairs “called on Colombia to keep its commitment to fully investigate and hold anyone who has violated human rights to account for their actions.”

On May 16, 2022, Canadian Ambassador Marianick Tremblay met with victims of police violence in Cali along with the Association for Research and Social Action (NOMADESC) and PBI-Colombia.

The Canadian government has not made subsequent public statements as the impunity for police violence in Colombia continues.

Screening “Los ojos que renacen” in Canada

In December 2023, El Turbion noted: “At the beginning of 2024 [the documentary] will be released in the United States in the city of Boston, as well as in England, Spain, Chile and Ecuador. After the premiere, the documentary whose audiovisual production was led by Juan Pablo Fonseca, Carlos Garzón, Natalia Mondragón, Daniela Buriticá and Lucía Guerrero, will be hosted on the Wellcome Trust website.”

PBI-Canada is now in contact with MOCAO to determine if it might be possible to screen Los ojos que renacen: historia de un movimiento en resistencia (Reborn Eyes: Story of a Movement in Resistance) in Canada.

Stay tuned for more.

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Further reading: As concerns grow about state violence, are Canadian police providing training to the Colombian police? (PBI-Canada, May 7, 2021).