Bogotá Mayor Claudia López delivered a rigorous report that documents in detail the serious violations of basic human rights during the National Strike to the Colombian representative for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Juliette de Rivero. The report documents violations against both protesters and members of the Public Force.
The document shows that between April 28 and May 23, 775 protests were registered, of which 238 were organized marches, 78 blockades and 459 concentrations in public places, with 240.000 people in attendance.
The Mayor publicly acknowledged the efforts made by the Police to adhere to the protocols, and highlighted some facts that should be investigated. "I can attest that some members of ESMAD have used excessive force, have arbitrarily detained young people, have not transferred them to an URI (Attorney General’s Immediate Response Unit), if not to Police stations, or have not followed the protocols that the law demands," she said.
In particular, she referred to the landing of a helicopter to carry out logistical and ammunition resupply, in Portal America and in front of the Claretian School of Bosa." This openly violates human rights protocols, and to a large extent, this open violation of the protocols has exacerbated tensions in Bosa and in Portal America," said the Mayor. She then assured that 72% of complaints have been registered at Portal 80, Portal Americas, Bosa and in the Plaza de Bolívar.
She stated that the most affected citizens have been the youth, both protesters and police. In the case of the protesters, 33 of them have suffered facial or eye injuries. "The Ministry of Health has made the decision to guarantee total and complete medical treatment, to cover whatever the cost to protect their face so that no one loses their vision," she continued. As for the police, 17 of them have been seriously injured, mainly at the Aurora CAI (Police Immediate Response Unit).
She also pointed out that in Portal America a young man who was recording the events from a pedestrian bridge was arbitrarily detained. “They attacked him, they beat him up, they seriously injured him. This generates animosity and mistrust,” expressed the Mayor.
She also assured that there is a record of 600 actions of abuse of force against citizens (beatings, detainment or harassment); and two deaths are under investigation: that of Dylan Barbosa, who allegedly crashed his motorcycle against an ESMAD tank; and that of Daniel Alejandro Zapata, who was hit with a blunt object and suffered severe head trauma.
Attempted murder against policemen
The Mayor also said that members of the Public Force have also been victims of human rights violations. In fact, 380 police officers have been injured during these protests.
“There have been 15 attempts to kill policemen, 14 of them were victims in the CAI of La Aurora. They (the uniformed men) entered the CAI to avoid confrontation, some people stoned the building, they battered it down despite it being reinforced glass, they threw firebombs at the policemen, and they saw them burn, they recorded it and celebrated, and they did not give them any exit option,” stated the mayor.
She also commented on the attempted murder of Christian Calderón, the young 22-year-old patrolman, who is being held at the Simón Bolívar Hospital, and whom she visited in the last hours.
“He is a humble boy like many of the protesters themselves, the only difference is that he is a member of ESMAD. A Molotov cocktail was thrown at his face. He is in intensive care today, for carrying out his duty in the line of fire. It pains me to say that he was also infected by COVID-19 and now his face is shattered. He is deeply affected physically and emotionally, "the Mayor said with deepest condolences.
In total, as of May 23, 14 CAI had been set on fire; 26 were vandalized, there were 6,657 estimated damages to the city's infrastructure, and the losses could reach up to $28.5 billion pesos.
“I expressly and publicly acknowledge the courageous, necessary and timely work that human rights defenders and youth do in our city. The Mayor's Office recognizes and appreciates that work, and I will do everything in my power to protect and guarantee it. Citizen protests are not a problem of public order, they are a right that we must recognize,” said the Mayor.
"This is an example for the country to follow": Juliette de Riveros
The Colombian representative in the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights of the United Nations, Juliette de Rivero, received this report and expressed her solidarity with all the victims and families “whoever has lost a loved one in Colombia, those who have been injured, or that are suffering the consequences of violence.”
Likewise, she applauded the Mayor's Office for delivering this valuable document “I salute the example that you are setting with this report, it is very important that the authorities recognize the errors that we see in these protests. That is the first step to provide solutions. This is an example for the country to follow," she said. Likewise, the representative applauded the efforts of the Mayor's Office and its social approach “of listening to young people and apologizing to them, that is quite moving. This is an example to follow and for that we congratulate them”.
She then indicated that they are following up on cases of alleged sexual assault, unlawful detentions, attacks on journalists, as well as the use of lethal weapons by individuals to attack the protest, to name a few. "Violence and the excessive use of force, generates loss, pain, death, confusion and also hopelessness, this violates Human Rights," she concluded.
As events unfold, the former ombudsman of Colombia, Carlos Negret, was also presented. Mr. Negret will act as correspondent for the violent acts that occurred in September 2020, which left more than 350 injured, 75 with firearms, as well as 10 homicides. He will exercise the same work in the face of what continues to happen in the current protests and demonstrations.
