Unprecedented violence in Colombia: official report finds 548 missing and 26 dead in 10 days of protests

The Ombudsman’s Office has published in recent hours a review of the protests that took place last week in Colombia. According to the entity, from April 28 to May 7, they have already registered 548 people were reported missing, while 26 others died, including 25 civilians, and 1 member of the police force.

The report also realizes that until May 7 already 364 citizens and 41 members of the force were injured during the days of protests across the country.

The Office of the Ombudsman has indicated that it has received 52 complaints of alleged human rights violations against protesters concerning “violations of personal integrity, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression and opinion and other rights such as life, not to be subjected to enforced disappearance and to personal freedom” .

The report also reveals that from April 28 to Friday May 7, Throughout Colombia, 140 humanitarian corridors have been activated in 26 departments, for the entry of food, medical supplies, oxygen, fuel, ambulances, among others, in addition to the fact that 111 round tables were organized and 151 assistance from public defenders.

In a second report released by the entity at 6 a.m. on May 8, the Ombudsman’s Office indicated that between Huila and Putumayo another humanitarian corridor had been opened.

“Through the regional regions of Huila and Putumayo, the opening of the humanitarian corridor was managed for the mobilization of more than 70 people, including 26 minors. The two commercial buses were accompanied by officials of the entity. Today, they arrive at their destination: La Hormiga, ”the entity reported.

In the same report, the Ombudsman’s Office also provided a review of all the activities recorded to date in connection with the national strike in Colombia.

“In general, 4,028 activities have been developed, of which 1,931 are concentrations; 797 gears; 1,071 locks; 237 mobilizations and 4 assemblies. So far, this has taken place in 689 municipalities and 32 departments across the country.», Informed the entity.

Although the majority of those missing could have been detained by police during the days of protests that began on April 28, civil and international organizations are urging authorities to speed up their searches in light of complaints of abuse against them. public forces.

The panorama of events in Cali

This Friday, May 7, during the tenth day of protests in Colombia, the mayor of Cali, Jorge Iván Ospina, gave an overview of the events that took place throughout the week of protests. According to the local president, to date 450 missing persons are reported in the capital of Valle del Cauca, including civilians and members of the public forces, in addition to two missing persons.

As for the number of people who died during the protests, Ospina reported that the mayor’s office reported seven deaths, while Defense Minister Diego Molano reportedor in another report that 15 citizens lost their lives in the national strike in Cali.

Regarding the acts of vandalism and looting against public and private property in the city, Mayor Ospina said there were considerable losses, but to date the full value of the damage is unknown.

However, at the moment, as indicated by the local president, there is a report that there is << More than 42 destroyed or badly affected MIO stations, more than 30 damaged service stations, 54 vandalized business establishments and very extensive damage to the city's infrastructure, where offices were left at the mayor's office, the government , the Dian, among others ”.

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