Manuel Pérez

Manuel Pérez Martínez (May 9, 1943 – February 14, 1998), also known as "El Cura Pérez" ("Pérez the Priest"), was a Spanish Catholic communist and Marxist-Leninist revolutionary and the leader of the Colombian National Liberation Army (ELN) for over three decades. The ELN was the second-largest rebel group in Colombia at that time.

Biography Born in Alfamén, Spain, Pérez was originally a Catholic priest, and worked in Spain, France, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. An admirer of Camilo Torres Restrepo, His leadership is thought to have significantly affected the ELN's ideology (Cuban-style Marxism, Catholicism and liberation theology).

Personal life Perez identified as a Christian

Perez also praised Pablo Escobar, stating that:

He also stated:

In 1989, Perez was, and later the entirety of the ELN were, excommunicated, after the ELN murdered the bishop of Arauca, Jesus Emilio Jaramillo.