Rafael González was fighting, trying to cling to life, since the explosion of a motorcycle bomb, A few meters away from him on that central street in the urban area of Jamundí, he knocked him down and left him on the ground defenseless and unable to move.
According to the criteria of
Attack in Jamundí with a motorcycle bomb, on June 12. He recalled the attack of May 20.
Photo:Santiago Saldarriaga / EL TIEMPO
The explosive wave of that June 12 hit him head on, when he was in that block of the Bancolombia headquarters, where he took care of motorcycles in a commissioned position. When he was not watching, he sought daily sustenance by selling sweets or scavenging recyclable material in the streets of Jamundí, a municipality located in the south of Valle del Cauca.
The city’s Metropolitan Police reported that it received confirmation of the death of Rafael González.
Attack in Jamundí with a motorcycle bomb, on June 12. He recalled the attack of May 20.
Photo:Santiago Saldarriaga / EL TIEMPO
A week ago, the representative of Cali, Gerardo Mendoza, said that Don Rafael lost one of his arms due to bacteria and his prognosis remained reserved. He remained hospitalized at the Valle del Lili Foundation, in the south of the capital of Valle del Cauca.
EL TIEMPO learned that Don Rafael got worse, because the infection spread throughout his body with the risk of amputating both legs, as well as affecting his stomach. He was on mechanical ventilation and on June 24 he was disconnected. He died in the early hours of June 25, according to the Jamundí mayor’s office.
“We regret to inform the community that Mr. Rafael, who was a victim of the attack in the center of Jamundí, has died after several days of fighting. His death occurred at approximately 1:30 am (on June 25), “says a statement from the Jamundí mayor’s office.
“Rafael was a brave citizen who suffered serious injuries in the attack. Despite medical efforts, it was necessary to amputate his arm due to the severity of his injuries. Unfortunately, she subsequently contracted a bacteria that health professionals were unable to control, further complicating his already delicate situation,” the statement noted.
“From the Municipal Administration of Jamundí we express our most sincere condolences to Rafael’s family and friends at this difficult time. We are fully available to provide the necessary support to his family, both emotionally and logistically and economically, in these moments of pain,” they indicated at the Mayor’s Office.
“We are committed to collaborating with the competent authorities to clarify this unfortunate fact and to ensure that justice is done. Likewise, we reaffirm our commitment to the safety and well-being of all the citizens of Jamundí. We will spare no efforts in improving our security strategies and policies to prevent events like this from happening again,” they added.
“We thank the community for their solidarity and support during this difficult time. We request respect and privacy for Rafael’s family as they face their loss,” they said at the Jamundí mayor’s office.
The mayor of Cali, Alejandro Eder, stated: “And who is going to apologize for the vile murder of Don Rafael Ángel González? Colombia cannot spare its efforts against the terrorists. Military forcefulness is what we demand. It is not acceptable that we are returning to those times. Hurts!”.
Don Rafael arrived with one of his children more than a year ago to Jamundí, from Venezuela, looking for a better future. They walked until they had blisters on their feet and lived almost on charity in cities in the interior of the country, in the middle of the cold or high temperatures until they reached Cali and then the neighboring municipality.
The foreigner, who left two other children in Venezuela, remained in the intensive care unit of the Fundación Valle del Lili clinic in Cali. He had to undergo numerous surgeries due to his critical condition.
The death of Don Rafael does not stop mourning the region, especially the country, because although Don Rafael was a Venezuelan who came to Colombia in search of hope, in search of life and found death
“Once the death was known of Mr. Rafael González I deeply regret what happened, as the representative of Santiago de Cali. We institutionally did everything within our reach, trying to help, to help, to provide a space for encouragement, for affection. The death of Don Rafael does not stop mourning the region, especially the country, because although Don Rafael was a Venezuelan who came to Colombia in search of hope, in search of life and found death,” said representative Mendoza. The official urged the National Government and the armed groups themselves so that the population is not left in the middle of the armed conflict.
The representative indicated that it will be specified with the son of whom He was the most serious victim, among the six injured left by the attack on June 12, if the body is transferred to Venezuela or if the funeral will take place in Valle del Cauca.
Public Force operations, with Police and Army, in Jamundí, after the attacks of June 12.
Photo:Santiago Saldarriaga Quintero
Don Rafael had second-degree burns on his face, neck and chest, and serious injuries to his chest and abdomen. He also had fractures in his upper extremities and one of his legs. He could not get up due to a fracture in one of his thighs. In addition, he was on mechanical ventilation, according to previous medical reports from the Valle del Lili Foundation.
The son who lives in Jamundí, Ángel González, had indicated that his father was looking to work, thinking about his family and that he hoped to see him leave the clinic to hug him again.
In a humble home, his son was waiting for him with markets and other donations that he had received from Samaritans in Jamundí, who were moved by the story of the 57-year-old man, for having been a victim of a foreign war promoted by the dissidents of the ‘Jaime Martínez’ front, under the command of ‘Iván Mordisco’.
CAROLINA BOHÓRQUEZ
EL TIEMPO correspondent
Cali
