Death toll from Colombia protests climbs to 42
2 hours ago Demonstrators are seen at a barricade blocking a street in a new protest in the Siloe neighborhood in Cali, Colombia. AFP At least 42 people have been killed in near-daily protests against the government of Colombian President Ivan Duque since April 28, the country s human rights ombudsman said on Tuesday.
All but one a member of the armed forces were civilians, the ombudsman s office said.
Colombia s President Ivan Duque (centre) arrives in Cali to lead a working meeting on security matters. Reuters
The updated toll made these the bloodiest demonstrations since Colombia signed a peace agreement with the FARC guerilla group in 2016 to end decades of civil war.
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Colombian President Ivan Duque said Tuesday, May 11, that authorities have initiated 65 disciplinary actions, including eight for homicide, for police violence during protests that completed 14 days in the country and in which Cali (southwest) is the most affected city.
“Sixty-five disciplinary actions have been taken, 27 for abuse of authority, 11 for physical aggression, 8 for homicide, 19 for other conducts,” said the head of state during his visit to Cali, where he met with authorities and members of the local community.
Colombia’s Duque says 65 cases of alleged police abuse in marches under investigation. (Photo internet reproduction)
International organizations such as the UN, the European Union (EU), governments, and protesters have asked the Duque government to take action against police violence, punish those guilty of it, and guarantee the right to peaceful protest.
Colombia protesters, Duque at odds after initial meeting
Reuters, BOGOTA
A meeting between Colombian President Ivan Duque and protest leaders broke up on Monday with little sign of progress on curbing nearly two weeks of sometimes deadly anti-government protests.
Protest leaders said the government had not shown empathy for their demands, while the government emphasized the meeting was exploratory and said it wanted to reach agreements with demonstrators.
Protests, fueled by outrage at a now-canceled tax plan, began on April 28. Amid more than 20 deaths, mostly of marchers, demands have expanded to include action to tackle police violence and the withdrawal of a long-debated health reform.
Autoworkers, educators and Amazon workers in US speak on International May Day rally
Workers who attended the International May Day Online Rally held by the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) on May 1 told the
World Socialist Web Site that they were most struck by how speakers from many different countries described the common conditions confronting workers around the world and advanced a common international strategy for workers to fight the pandemic, social inequality, and the danger of war and fascism.
Several workers spoke about the opening report by David North, the chairman of the international editorial board of the WSWS and national chairman of the Socialist Equality Party in the US, who reviewed how capitalist governments around the world had refused to take the necessary measures to save lives during the pandemic because this would undermine the private accumulation of wealth by the world’s billionaires. Drawing the comparison to revolutionary
Colombian president s lightning visit to Cali criticized (+ Photo)
Colombian president s lightning visit to Cali criticized (+ Photo)
Bogota, May 10 (Prensa Latina) Congressman Roy Barreras on Monday criticized Colombian President Ivan Duque s brief visit to Cali shortly after ordering the militarization of that city with the largest deployment of the Public Force. President, neither the popular demand nor the violent public disorder finds real and lasting solutions with a fearful three-hour clandestine visit at dawn, the congressman posted on his Twitter account.
Barreras, who is also the chairman of the Senate s Peace Committee, urged President Duque to go to Cali to talk, listen to the people and propose solutions for young people.