Colombia's anti-government protests swell to historic proportions

[Judi Lynn]

Last edited Mon May 17, 2021, 06:35 AM - Edit history (1)

by Adriaan Alsema May 16, 2021

Colombia’s anti-government protests grew to historic proportions in the capital Bogota on Saturday.

The protest was not organized by the leaders of recent national strikes, but drew a crowd so large that it was impossible to estimate how many people took part.

. . .

Unlike Friday’s violent uprising in the southwestern city of Popayan, the protests in Bogota were a peaceful response to recent brutality employed to quell the protest that started on April 28.

The protests were in opposition of far-right President Ivan Duque and his political patron, former President Alvaro Uribe.

More:
https://colombiareports.com/colombias-anti-government-protests-swell-to-historic-proportions/

[Quakerfriend]

1. The situation has become quite dire

Speaking with my husbands family who are in Popayan, Cali and Bogota just last night.
Gangs roam the streets demanding ransom to pass through. If you are able to make it to the store there is no food, no gasoline, banks have no money. All of the roads are blocked. One cousin goes out on his street bike at the crack of dawn to try an evade the gangs just to look for food, meds for his family etc.Family members can not get to their businesses and have no idea what is going on.
Another cousin, a 60 yr old retire prof in Popayan, s has always been an amazingly strong woman but, now she just stays in and cries all day. She is running out of food. She feels they are headed for civil war.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Horrible news! What a shame our corporate media won't give this the coverage it deserves.

You've probably noticed not nearly enough information about the Americas really gets treated seriously here.

It sounds far, far worse than one could imagine. Had no idea at all that citizens really aren't able to move around now to get their necessities. I think they are beginning the fourth week, too.

I just looked for a photo of Popayan, as I haven't heard that name as often as the other two you mentioned. Had just read Cali is the 3rd largest city just recently. I found this photo of Popayan which shows a very large town:

(Unfortunately, it shows a fire, and the accompanying article from Semana:

(The story is google translated.)



Attention: At this time in Popayán vandals are destroying everything in their path - Photo: Twitter: @andresportillo_

Attention: At this time, vandals are destroying everything in their path in Popayán
On the night of this Friday riots are reported in different parts of the city.
5/14/2021

During the night of this Friday, disturbances have been reported in different parts of Popayán, capital of the Cauca department.

Users of the social network Twitter assure that in the El Uvo neighborhood, a group of protesters traveled to the CAI, to later attack it.

Similarly, clashes are reported between protesters and members of the city's Public Force.

The protests in the capital of Cauca occurred before the indignation of the people, after the alleged violation of a minor was made known.

Additionally, during the day this Friday, human rights organizations denounced that a young man who was protesting died after being hit by an artifact fired by members of the public force .

According to what has been reported by human rights organizations, the tear gas launched by the Mobile Anti-Riot Squad (Esmad) hit the young man's neck, killing him. The victim was identified as Sebastián Quintero Múnera, 22 years old.

Through social networks, the representative to the Chamber for Bogotá Inti Asprilla made the complaint and asked for an official record of affected people to be made.

Around noon on Friday, May 14, another violent event occurred when a large group of protesters arrived at the URI of the Prosecutor's Office in the city of Popayán, protesting the case of a minor who would have taken her own life after being arrested by the Police hours before in the framework of the protests of the national strike.

According to local media, a group of hooded men tried to set fire to the URI headquarters. Subsequently, there were disturbances in the vicinity of the Police College.

Previously, around noon, a large group of protesters heading towards the Cauca Police command stopped at the roundabout that connects the Popayán transport terminal with the rest of the city. There they vandalized the statue of Francisco de Paula Santander.

In videos and photos posted on social networks, it was recorded the moment in which several young people tie the head of the hero with ribbons and pull down hard, while a man dressed in a green buso, who is curled up at the feet of the statue, helps to break the anchors of it.

When the bronze figure fell to the ground, in the middle of a lush meadow, more than 200 people who were in the demonstration applauded and shouted, celebrating the fact.

Given the situation, President Iván Duque ordered members of his cabinet to travel to the capital to carry out the pertinent actions that guarantee the return of public order and also to carry out the pertinent investigations regarding the events that have occurred in the last hours. The president also referred to the death of the young woman who would have committed suicide, after acts of abuse by Esmad uniforms.

“I have instructed the Minister of Defense and the Minister of the Interior to move to Popayán and lead the restoration of public order in the city. Faced with unfortunate events related to the 17-year-old deceased youth, it is imperative to carry out an exhaustive investigation, "said Duque.

https://www.semana.com/nacion/articulo/atencion-a-esta-hora-vandalos-estan-acabando-con-todo-a-su-paso-en-popayan/202149/

(There are 3 very short videos of people in the streets, in tweets, within the article.)

Surely will be thinking of you and your loved ones who are in such a desperate situation. It's horrific. Thank you for taking the time to share this information, Quakerfriend.

[Quakerfriend]

3. Thank you, JL

Yes, our media does not report nearly enough on the Americas. I’ve always appreciated your almost daily updates on that part of the world.

I have not been to Popayan in 30 years but, it is one of my favorite places in Colombia.
It’s quaint and very historical- a college town too.
The word is that some faction of protesters wants to make it their command hub- so quite a lot of rioting going on there.

Most of our family live in and around Cali where things are pretty bad. Many are wanting to flee the country but, fear they cannot get out- They say the airports have not yet shut down but, are expected to soon.

All of this is compounded by the covid crisis and the influx of a refugees from Venezuela.

I fear that Putin has had a hand in destabilizing Brazil and Venezuela- hope this is not the case in Colombia.

[Judi Lynn]

4. Found a map so we can note where your family's three main cities are. 2 are fairly near the Pacific.

I would imagine the landscape is beautiful around these three cities.

I notice Popayán and Cali are right near a long body of water, which I didn't know was there!

When peace finally comes to Colombia, it would be wonderful learning what archeologists can determine about these areas' ancient beginnings, now that new technology allows ground penetration of pyramids, cities roads, etc. which have been overgrown with vegetation hundreds of years ago.

I found an article which mentions the pyramid in Popayán which says the current estimation for the pyramid there, completely covered with earth and grass, etc. is around 1600 to 500 BCE, (BC). That's totally fascinating!

Knowing the names your relatives identify with will make it easy to spot if anything appears in articles from now on. Sure hope peace is close at hand, Quakerfriend.