On December 6, 2025, the President of the Republic, Gustavo Petro, presided over the commemoration of the 97th anniversary of the banana massacre in Ciénaga, Magdalena.
In his speech, the Head of State highlighted the historic significance of this fact and reiterated his commitment to, together with his Cabinet of Ministers, establish measures that will allow the region to recover and prevent further deterioration in living standards. Among other things, he referred to the bombings in the Caribbean ordered by US President Donald Trump as a strategy against drug trafficking.
Now you can follow us on our site WhatsApp channel and in Facebook
According to the Colombian president, North American tactics are inhumane because they endanger fishermen and traders working in the region, which is why he called on the US military not to follow his counterpart’s orders.
“That’s why the Army needs to think here. I said it on a street in New York and I don’t regret it and I’ll say it again.” “The public armed forces of every country in the world obey their president only as long as the constitution is respected,” Petro said.
Likewise, he claimed that the guidelines given by Trump violate human rights and the provisions of international law.
“If an order from a president anywhere in the world violates the constitution of his own country or the constitution of humanity, because there is already a constitution of humanity based on works, international treaties and years of human wisdom, no soldier should obey such orders. Do not kill boatmen, as happened near Santa Marta, poor people, nor kill babies, as happened twenty thousand in Gaza, as if the hero had been revived, nor kill unarmed workers.”
During his speech, President Petro questioned the Trump administration’s warning about a possible invasion of the national territory due to the high production of narcotics, especially cocaine. In this sense, he said that the Republican was only imitating the actions of the United States at the beginning of the 20th century, which led to the banana massacre.
“There was a risk of an invasion of Colombia by the United States. They had threatened that an invasion would occur if the then national government, led by Abadía Méndez, a conservative, supported the banana workers. It seems to be the same today. The Caribbean and ourselves are threatened with invasion. And from the same country if the president there doesn’t say or do what he wants. It seems like they were the same moments.”
The national leader, in turn, indicated that he would not give in to pressure from the US government, since he is only accountable to the Colombian people who elected him president.
“There are some differences. At that time, conservative President Abadía Méndez decided to listen to the United Fruit Company and his government. The United Fruit Company is now called Chiquita Brands and has continued to kill Colombian workers.” The president of Colombia is not named Abadía Méndez. He is also not a member of the Conservative Party. His name is Gustavo Petro and he belongs to the progressivism of Colombia,” Petro said.
At the same time, he asserted that he would never be against the workers but would fight for their rights. “Will there again be presidents who will order generals to kill workers? Or will there be presidents from now on who will order generals to work with working people and build a great Colombia?”