“In Colombia, there is no guarantee for life, neither for integrity, nor for the free exercise of protest”: ONG Temblores

The Colombian human rights NGO Temblores denounced on Tuesday that 31 citizens were murdered in the country by members of the public forces during the days of protest of the national strike, which began on Wednesday April 28.

The NGO that works in the country for the protection of victims of police violence, street dwellers, LGBTI people and sex workers has recommended that citizens demonstrating in different cities and highways of the country avoid demonstrations after 6:00 p.m. due to lack of guarantees.

“31 killings by members of the Force Publique against demonstrators in six days force us to recommend that they avoid demonstrations after 6 pm. In Colombia, there is no guarantee of life, integrity or exercise without protest. ”, said the NGO.

In this sense, Temblores stressed that he is authorized to issue this recommendation because was able to highlight an increase in “violent practices” against demonstrators during the night by members of the public force.

He also indicated that it was found that there are actions “Articulated, premeditated and deliberate” on the part of these members of the State to exercise violence against citizenship and in this way “sow terror” and influence so that the constitutional right to protest is not developed by the citizens.

“There is an internal directive in the organizations of the Public Force to attack the life and integrity of people who take to the streets to claim their rights. Colombia is going through a very serious human rights situation: the Colombian state declares an armed war against peaceful demonstrators “, denounced the NGO.

Since last Wednesday, the organization has alerted the national and international community to the “very serious” human rights situation facing the country, due to the violent repression that has been presented in different regions of the country by the state to the civilian population.

During the days of protest, which this Tuesday marks the seventh day of marches and mobilizations in different cities of the country, the NGO Temblores recorded 216 victims of physical violence, in which were found the murder of 31 citizens by members of the public force.

Likewise, the human rights organization reported ten victims of sexual violence during demonstrations and 77 cases of gunfire, as well as 814 arbitrary arrests against Protestants and 21 victims of eye attacks.

“We have already alerted the international community on several occasions to this serious situation, which unfortunately we do not see rapid improvement in. Today, at this point, we can only implore our leaders and law enforcement to stop this massacre now.», Mentioned the NGO.

And finally, he called on the citizens who are demonstrating in the different regions of the country demanding a social transformation to understand that “There is no fight that is worth more than life”Tremors concluded.

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