Police violence, water tanks and gunfire: this is how the second day of the national strike in Cali unfolds

After a day of demonstrations in Cali on Wednesday April 28, which left one dead, this Thursday around 9:00 am, the second day of the national strike began, which rejected the tax reform project presented by the national government. Due to some acts of vandalism in the city, the mayor of Cali, Jorge Iván Ospina, has declared a curfew from Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. continued until Sunday at 5 a.m., but it was not enough to stop the marchers.

So far, the results of this second day of demonstrations are not encouraging. Authorities have reported that the situation in the city is critical and that there is currently a blockade 15 points from “The Sky Branch”.

As reported by Noticias Caracol in its 7:00 p.m. broadcast, To date, 55 people have been injured during this trip. Three ambulances were vandalized as well as five police stations, where protesters also reportedly attempted to enter irregularly.

It was also announced that in a few hours they will arrive in Cali 700 police officers to help control the protests that continue despite the curfew. The entrances to the city remain closed and are covered with obstacles that prevent the passage of vehicles.

In the early hours of the morning, groups of people gathered around the neighborhood of 14 de Calima, north of the city where, during that hour, a closure took place in Sameco for Wednesday’s excesses. But the path to Palmira was also blocked at the exit near Terminalito. The first race was also stopped. Finally, in Sameco, the Esmad arrived to disperse with tear gas at 62nd Street with Carrera Primera, but around 1:30 p.m., the strike was once again established.

For their part, after 9:00 a.m., the students of the University of the Valley they gathered at the intersection of Calle 13 and Carrera 100 (Pasoancho con quinta) to prevent the passage of certain vehicles. Near the CAM building which received violent demonstrations yesterday, sit-ins also took place but they mobilized towards the Parque de las Banderas around 11 a.m. East of the city, Aguablanca district, where demonstrations took place. but around 1:30 p.m., the strike was once again established.

At 10:20 am the passage through the Valle University Hospital (HUV), one of the highest points of the protests. Other areas like Portada al Mar where Esmad had to intervene on the first day, some demonstrators also concentrated again.

At around 1:00 p.m., riots were reported between Esmad and the locals and students who were in the Flag park.

For now, Univalle is in a peaceful protest and there is no Esmad presence. However, in the Puerto Rellena area, Esmad disperses protesters with water tanks and stun guns, after the Simón Bolívar road was kept closed.

On the road to Buenaventura, there were also disturbances caused by objects that interrupted the path of carriers and private cars.

Location of Puerto Rellena around 13:35:

A serious event occurred in the district of Brisas del Cauca, east of Cali: the police fired on the demonstrating population.

During the afternoon, the day of protests continued to add testimonies of clashes, conflicts and police abuses with protesters.

One of them was denounced by the Juventud Paz Twitter account, which shared the moment when a police officer hit a human rights defender and shot at protesters. “In Cali, people in uniform do not respect the work of human rights defenders,” they said.

On the other hand, Senator Ángela María Robledo published a video in which police officers are seen randomly shooting at protesters, while some motorcyclists interfere in the attacks.

Robledo wrote on his Twitter account: “Police and ESMAD shoot to kill in Cali and Bogotá. Lead and blackmailed by @IvanDuque vaccine will defend tax reform. Pure fascism! # ParoNacional29A “

According to reports from El País de Cali, at around 6 p.m., protesters vandalized and torched the MIO station in Santa Librada and city firefighters reported that the spread was under control.

According to the latest report from the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation on the mobilizations of this Thursday, the entity launched an urgent appeal for “The provision of the health service during the second day of the mobilizations is not affected and warns that with the blockages generated in Cauca, Nariño, Valle del Cauca and Facatativá (Cundinamarca), The transport of oxygen and typical medical care supplies is affected in the third peak of the pandemic due to covid-19, ”the bulletin read.

The prosecution said it was working in conjunction with the Personería de Cali and the Governor of Valle del Cauca in order to form a humanitarian mission and to mediate with the demonstrators to allow the entry and transit of ambulances with very complex patients who had to be transferred and vehicles that transport medicinal oxygen for hospitals.

Likewise, from the unified command post of the Attorney General’s office, efforts are coordinated with other actors in the health system to ensure an adequate flow of oxygen to clinics and hospitals across the country and thus protect life and health. health of citizens.

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