Iván Duque was applauded in Ciudad Jardín during his visit to Cali

This Friday May 28, one of the more violent days in Cali, as part of the social demonstrations that have already started in Colombia for a month. At least five people were killed, including two protesters who were shot dead by a CTI agent who also died after being lynched by a group of people.

The difficult situation provoked the president Iván Duque will travel to the capital of the valley to participate with local authorities and the police in a security council which concluded with important measures for the next few hours.

“We will act in defense of all rights and with the capacity that the Constitution and the law give us. This is why I would like to point out that from this evening, the maximum deployment of military assistance to the national police begins in the city of Cali and in the department of Valle ”, the president stressed in a statement to Colombians.

After these statements, the president went to the Ciudad Jardín sector in the south of the city, where he was received to the applause of the community. “Thank you president”they shouted at Duque as he shook hands with several citizens and informed them of the militarization.

But Duque’s visit to the area also sparked controversy as that is not where the young protesters are located calling for a response from the national government over social issues. In fact, it was in Ciudad Jardín that the presence of armed civilians who fired at the demonstrators was reported.

Just a few days ago, a citizen who was part of a mobilization in which they demanded an end to the blockades at the Universidad del Valle, a few meters from the area, went viral on social networks because in the face of a young man he told him. : “There are 25,000 weapons here, in the commune, and we do not use them to defend ourselves, but if necessary…”, just after declaring that they were “people of peace”.

Infobae Colombia was able to confirm that the man in question is Carlos Andrés Betancourt, mayor of the municipality of Cali for the Democratic Center Party and was chairman of the local administrative council (JAL) of this region until February 9, 2021.

“We don’t know what happened to him, but he’s very worried,” expressed one of the members of JAL to this medium. Further, this person explained that the video recorded on Monday, May 3, two blocks from 100th Street, is part of when people left armed and in vans to intimidate protesters.

It is also in Ciudad Jardín that the confrontation between the inhabitants of this sector and the indigenous minga took place. Giovanni Yule, political promoter of the Indigenous Regional Council of Cauca (CRIC), He stressed that they did not arrive in a violent manner and that on the contrary, when they moved calmly, they were attacked with firearms. In addition, Yule denounced that the armed citizens were escorted by police in the area.

The minga part of the story states that, “A crowd of people escorted by the police” shot at the community, injuring ten people, including one seriously ill. and a physical response from the minga who sought only to defend themselves from the attack of the armed people.

“Today we suffered a cruel attack as we passed authorities and a guard on the road to Cañasgordas (…) Therefore, we tell the President of the Republic not to be cynical and not to lie to the country, those who shot us were this crowd escorted by the police, it was not us who attacked nor we who are here in no way mess “, Said Yule.

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