The UN, the EU, the US and non-governmental organizations have called for calm and criticized the crackdown on protesters in Colombia, where at least 20 people have been killed and hundreds injured in mobilizations launched on the occasion of the tax reform promoted by the government, while new demonstrations are scheduled for today, reports APE.
The President of Colombia Ivan Duke has expressed his full support for the forces of order. Protesters blocked roads and attacked police stations in Bogota on Tuesday night, killing seven civilians and injuring 27 others.
Demonstrations began on April 28 against a tax reform bill, which has since been withdrawn, but turned into a general protest against the right-wing government and was marked by violent incidents, mainly in the city of Cali.
The National Strike Committee, which started the movement, did not withdraw its call for demonstrations today, this time against the reform of the health system.
“We are deeply concerned about the events in Cali, Colombia, where police opened fire on protesters opposed to a tax reform, killing and injuring some of them,” she said. Martha Khourtado, spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Escalation of violence
The ombudsman, a state ombudsman, spoke Monday morning of 19 dead, 89 missing and 846 injured, including 306 civilians.
THE EU “The priority is to end the escalation of violence and to avoid any disproportionate use of force by the security forces,” he said.
The USA called for “maximum restraint on the part of the security forces to avoid further loss of life.”
THE international Amnesty called for “an end to the repression of demonstrations and the militarization of cities”.
Protesters closed the streets again yesterday in at least four areas, including Bogota and Cali.
Dozens of people attacked 16 police stations in the Colombian capital last night, according to authorities.
“The escalation of violence tonight is brutal,” she said Mayor of Bogota, Claudia Lopez, after asking for the help of the Ministry of Defense in order to guarantee the security of temporary detention centers. She spoke of “police officers being hit by bullets, wounded by sharp weapons” or almost being burned alive.
“Nothing justifies the existence of gunmen who hide behind the legitimate desire of citizens to demonstrate and come out to shoot defenseless people and violently attack our police,” Duque said.
The situation in Cali has worsened since Monday night. The army has deployed in the city since Friday, but local authorities announced the death of five people and the wounding of 33 others only on Monday.
The blockade of main roads and highways causes fuel shortages and concerns about the transport of oxygen trucks and medical equipment amid the covid-19 pandemic.
Defense Minister Diego Molano announced the deployment in Cali of an additional 700 soldiers, 500 members of the riot police (Esmad) and 1,800 police officers, and complained that the violence was orchestrated by armed groups.
Street pressure
Duke went a step further yesterday by saying that security forces are being targeted by these groups who are aiming to take control of the old Farc guerrilla strongholds.
Under pressure from protesters, Colombia’s finance minister resigned on Monday. The previous day, Duke had withdrawn the tax reform bill.
The conservative president, whose popularity has plummeted to 33%, also faced protests in 2019. He has now pledged to present a new tax reform plan that would remove the most controversial articles, including a VAT increase.
Colombia is facing a third wave of the coronavirus epidemic. In total, it has recorded more than 2.9 million cases and more than 75,000 deaths due to covid-19. The country’s GDP fell by 6.8% in 2020 and unemployment reached 16.8%, while the poverty rate rose to 42.5%.
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