Post by robeiae on May 5, 2021 7:11:18 GMT -5
news.yahoo.com/colombia-protests-behind-unrest-110727091.html
In Miami--we have a significant Colombian presence--this is a big topic right now. And from the people I've talked to, I get serious disagreements on causes and goals.
A number of police stations have been attacked in the Colombian capital Bogotá, as widespread protests run into a second week.
Mayor Claudia López requested the help of the army to guard the stations, calling the violence "inadmissible".
Fresh nationwide demonstrations are expected later on Wednesday.
There have been at least 19 confirmed deaths since the protests started and the UN has urged the security forces to refrain from using firearms.
[snip]
The demonstrations started on 28 April and were initially in opposition to the tax reform that the government said was key to mitigating the country's economic crisis.
The rallies were organised by the biggest trade unions, but were also joined by many middle-class people who feared the changes could see them slip into poverty.
[snip]
Experts say other factors have contributed to the unrest: this is one of the most violent cities in the country, located in a region affected by decades of conflict waged by paramilitary groups and drug traffickers. They also point to the high number of weapons that are known to be in the area.
"There are civilian groups calling for de-escalation of violence," said Katherine Aguirre, a human rights expert. "But we've also seen groups of citizens who have started shooting from their homes, vigilantism stimulated by the flow of weapons in the city."
The government has blamed the violence on left-wing rebels. It says it is being stoked by members of the National Liberation Army (ELN) as well dissidents factions of the Farc guerrilla group, who have not accepted the 2016 peace deal and have refused to disband.
"The violence was systematic, premeditated and financed by criminal organisations," Defence Minister Diego Molano said.
Police officials say, in many cases, it was their officers who were attacked as they tried to prevent "criminal elements" from looting stores and torching buses.
Mayor Claudia López requested the help of the army to guard the stations, calling the violence "inadmissible".
Fresh nationwide demonstrations are expected later on Wednesday.
There have been at least 19 confirmed deaths since the protests started and the UN has urged the security forces to refrain from using firearms.
[snip]
The demonstrations started on 28 April and were initially in opposition to the tax reform that the government said was key to mitigating the country's economic crisis.
The rallies were organised by the biggest trade unions, but were also joined by many middle-class people who feared the changes could see them slip into poverty.
[snip]
Experts say other factors have contributed to the unrest: this is one of the most violent cities in the country, located in a region affected by decades of conflict waged by paramilitary groups and drug traffickers. They also point to the high number of weapons that are known to be in the area.
"There are civilian groups calling for de-escalation of violence," said Katherine Aguirre, a human rights expert. "But we've also seen groups of citizens who have started shooting from their homes, vigilantism stimulated by the flow of weapons in the city."
The government has blamed the violence on left-wing rebels. It says it is being stoked by members of the National Liberation Army (ELN) as well dissidents factions of the Farc guerrilla group, who have not accepted the 2016 peace deal and have refused to disband.
"The violence was systematic, premeditated and financed by criminal organisations," Defence Minister Diego Molano said.
Police officials say, in many cases, it was their officers who were attacked as they tried to prevent "criminal elements" from looting stores and torching buses.
