Colombia gives police greater power to break up street protests
The new rules let police move faster against vandalism and roadblocks, and critics warn they could deepen clashes with protesters.
- On Wednesday, tens of thousands marched through Bogota and other major Colombian cities to protest the far-right government of Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella, two months after he took office.
- Ahead of the protests, de la Espriella signed Decree 1525 modifying police action protocols, while his administration advanced austerity measures to address a projected 9.4% fiscal shortfall.
- Demonstrators, including supporters of former President Gustavo Petro, opposed labor policy changes and Colombia's reopening of its embassy in Jerusalem, reversing Petro's decision to sever ties with Israel.
- Operational changes to the transport network affected 200,538 passengers, as de la Espriella dismissed the movement's organizers as "instigators of evil" who seek to cause chaos.
- Organizers planned the marches as a test run for a larger "national strike" set for November, even as the government opened talks with the IMF to stabilize the economy.
105 Articles
105 Articles
Colombia’s president orders crackdown on national protests as US Reaper drones arrive and IMF cuts loom
Hours before the first national protests against his government, Colombia’s far-right president loosened restraints on the police, as US attack drones arrive and IMF-backed cuts are prepared.
Unions, indigenous communities, students and feminist organizations marched in several Colombian cities on Wednesday to denounce the policies of Abelardo de la Espriella, as well as the restoration of diplomatic relations with Israel "Abelardo hates us", "For the future of the country": thousands of people demonstrated in Colombia on Wednesday against the policies of the hard right-wing president Abelardo de la Espriella, on the occasion of the …
Police given greater power to break up street protests
BOGOTA (AP): Colombia’s government has modified a set of guidelines that dictate how police should react to street protests, giving officers greater leeway to break up demonstrations in which protesters are vandalising public property or disrupting access to essential services through actions like roadblocks.
Former President Gustavo Petro called for demonstrations in Bogotá and other cities in the country claiming that the new president intends to reduce the minimum wage
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