One of the most emotional moments of the funeral of Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay, which took place in the Primate Cathedral of Colombia, was the speech of his family, his widow María Claudia Tarazona and his father, Miguel Uribe Londoño, who 34 years ago experienced the same situation with his wife Diana Turbay.
“In this very Holy Cathedral, I carried Miguel in one arm and his mother Diana's coffin in the other. Today, 34 years later, this senseless violence also takes away that same child, who grew up to be a good man, a loving husband, an exemplary father, an honorable and courageous leader,” Miguel Uribe Londoño began in the first seconds of his speech at the altar.
In a speech that moved those present, he spoke about the political violence that has plagued the country in recent decades and claimed the lives of two of his relatives, his wife and his son.
Miguel Uribe Londoño spoke about the role his son had in the Democratic Center and the admiration he had for former president Álvaro Uribe Vélez. He also sent him a message inviting him to honor Miguel Uribe Turbay's wishes.
“It is no coincidence that this terrorist attack, an assassination that constitutes a crime against humanity, occurred just as Miguel was raising his flag of struggle for a Colombia that has security again, because only with security will we have peace,” he said.
“Miguel’s ideas were inspired by his own experiences and shaped by the results of the presidency of Álvaro Uribe Vélez, whom my son described as the leader who liberated this country in 2002, and this explains why his destiny was to join the Democratic Center.”
"This party has always offered Colombia the answer to its most pressing national demand: security. President Álvaro Uribe Vélez saw and recognized in Miguel the leadership of the future of the new politics. And that's why he invited him to join the ranks of his party."
“This present cannot be the present of tomorrow. Colombians, let us open our eyes. Let us wake up from this nightmare, because we must now organize and mobilize our nation to achieve our peace and tranquility. That is the best way to honor my son Miguel. Let us all fight together to build a country without violence, a country of opportunity, a Colombia with a future.”
“The time has come for all of us to act, the time has come. I repeat. The country is clear about where the violence is coming from, but more important than that is that Colombians are even clearer about who will be the leadership charged with continuing and honoring the legacy left by my son Miguel Uribe Turbay today. They silenced Miguel, but they will not be able to silence the voices of millions of Colombians crying out for change.”
Likewise, the senator's father spoke about the 2026 presidential elections and sent a message to Álvaro Uribe Vélez asking him to lead Miguel Uribe Turbay's campaigns and initiatives.
“We have a unique opportunity to stop this madness in 2026. Let's not waste it. Only then will Miguel's assassination make sense, but they will never be able to assassinate his purpose. Ideas are indestructible, but they need to be materialized to change the history of a country.”
“President Álvaro Uribe, you and your party supported the ideas of a great leader. Today, I return them to you and to all of Colombia to undertake the greatest struggle of all time to restore peace to our country. We are obligated to achieve the goal to which you dedicated your entire life. A country without violence, as María Claudia once said: ‘His cause was security.’”
“This country will never emerge from where it is without security. A Colombia at peace for all Colombians. That must be our fight. The time is now. Let us organize with vigor and absolute determination that cause, and in the coming months, let us choose and defend the unquestionable triumph of that leadership, which will take up Miguel's banner so that Colombia can return to security.”
ALEJANDRA HERNÁNDEZ TORRES
THE TIME
