Men with Guns

Biography of Conejo

Conejo’s parents were killed when he was young. He grew up in coffee growing community that was alternately terrorized by guerilla soldiers and army soldiers. When he was around 10 the army arrived in his village determined to wipe out all of the guerilla supporters. He was brought to the school house, which was converted into a detention center, to work for the soldiers. One of soldiers suggested to the commander that they bring Conejo along with them as a mascot. Conejo was eager to leave his poverty stricken community and was disappointed by the commander’s refusal. When he was around 12 a doctor visited his community looking for a young doctor who had worked in the village. Conejo offered himself as the doctor’s guide. Accompanying the doctor on his journey, Conejo was surprised that his older white man was not used to violence. He began to wonder about the world the doctor had come from.
At the end of his journey with the doctor, they arrived at the hidden community called Cerca de Cielo. The doctor died shortly after they arrived, but Conejo, Domingo, a deserter from the army, and a young woman from the Community of Hope remained in Cerca de Cielo. Conejo was curious about Domingo’s choice to leave the army. Overtime, Domingo shared with Conejo his discomfort with the brutality of the army. Conejo, who was growing restless, decided he wanted to leave. At age 15 he began his journey to the city the doctor had left three years earlier. He never made it to the city. Along the way he came across a group of guerilla soldiers and decided to join them. He was excited to belong to a group and felt he was defending his people. Conejo was killed by army soldiers two years later.