Half of those injured after the disturbances with a group of indigenous people are police officers who were beaten
At least 28 people have been injured this Wednesday after a group of indigenous people demonstrating in the capital colombian has confronted the police. The official balance of the day figures in 28 wounded, of which 14 are policemen. Likewise, the authorities have reported the arrest of two people who would be involved in the violent acts.
The protest began around 9:00 local time (4:00 p.m. Spanish peninsular time) in the center of Bogotá, where around 200 indigenous people gathered to show their disagreement with the breach of the pacts agreed between the national and regional governments, reports the newspaper ‘ The Colombian’. Around noon was when a group of protesters blocked the entrance and exit of several buildings. In addition, those attending the protest they would have beaten the police officers.
“There was an attempt to take over the Avianca building and acts of violence against merchants, civilians and some of our managers. The Police (…) had to intervene, after which the area was recovered and now there is no problem of security”, indicated the secretary of the Government of Bogotá, Felipe Jiménez Ángel.
“Aggression against a police officer will never be a protest”
The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, has “rejected and condemned” the events that occurred this Wednesday in the capital, in which both “members of the Public Force and civilians were injured.” “The absence of dialogue always generates more violence. Aggression against a Police officer will never be a protest,” he assured in a series of messages published on his Twitter social network profile. “Every member of the Police, every public official, just like everyone else, is a subject of Human Rights . Anyone who attacks a police officer in a state of defenselessness is also a human rights violator,” added the president.
The absence of dialogue always generates more violence. I reject and condemn the acts experienced today in Bogotá. Several members of the Public Force and civilians were injured. Aggression against a police officer will never be a protest.
– Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) October 19, 2022
The mayor of Bogotá, Claudia López, has responded to Petro and thanked him for his “strong support and rejection of violence.” “In Bogotá there is always and always prevails dialogue. Today it was the dialogue and coexistence managers who were violated”, she added after thanking for the “prompt” solution of the incident.
For his part, Defense Minister Iván Velásquez has ensured that those responsible for the attacks are investigated and punished, after indicating that “nothing justifies aggression.” The police have also offered a reward of up to 50 million pesos (more than 10,500 euros) for providing information that helps identify those allegedly responsible for the violent demonstration. To do this, the institution has published a poster with the images of about twenty of the most wanted.