UN calls for investigation and sanctioning of all killings during protests in Colombia

Since the start of the national strike marches on Wednesday April 28, Colombia has experienced a difficult situation which until today and according to information from the NGO Temblores, leaves 851 cases of police violence, 98 violent interventions by members of the police force and 18 cases of gunfire by agents of the national police. Faced with this, the United Nations (UN) spoke out on May 2 on the serious panorama the country is going through.

“We are following with concern from 28A to Human rights situation in Cali, Cauca, Medellín, Bello, Pasto, Neiva, Barranquilla, Villavicencio and Bogotá. We are in contact with the prosecution. We stress that most of the protests have been peaceful, “the organization said via its Twitter account and added at the same time:

“In the face of cases of violence, we recall that according to international standards, states are required to respect and protect human rights. The regulatory framework governing the use of force includes principles of legality, precaution, necessity, proportionality and responsibility ”.

Likewise, the UN has indicated that “the possibility of meeting and acting collectively is fundamental for democratic, economic, social and personal development, the expression of ideas and the promotion of an engaged citizenship”, and also sent a message of solidarity to the families of the victims, who so far and according to information from the Ombudsman’s Office, are accumulating a balance of 159 wounded civilians, three deaths in Cali, three deaths in verification, one death in Neiva, one in Bogotá and the death of Captain Jesús Alberto Solano of SIJIN in Soacha (Cundinamarca).

“We express our condolences to the relatives of the deceased in the context of the demonstrations. We are calling for an investigation, prosecution and punishment for all these murders. We are monitoring the situation and any violations ”.

According to Senator Wilson Arias, who has actively followed the protests, the death toll in Cali alone is seven. “In Cali, we need help, there are already at least 7 people killed by members of the police force and from different neighborhoods, they report that the police are shooting. Many people continue to resist peacefully in the streets, force! Said the politician.

Also The Cali Women’s Social Movement denounced that “the Cali police have deliberately used force. The Cali police fired indiscriminately against the defenseless population, murdering minors, adolescents and young people. Hundreds of women and men have been injured, confused and injured, many of them disabled for life as a result of attacks on their integrity ”.

The UN is not the only international organization to have spoken out against what is happening in Colombia, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has also spoken out and urged the Colombian state to deepen investigations into these possible cases of police abuse.

“The IACHR expresses its concern at the public information according to which, on April 30, several people died, injured, arbitrary detentions and complaints of sexual violence in the context of the demonstrations were registered”said the body, which belongs to the Organization of American States (OAS).

Likewise, they urged the Colombian state to investigate promptly and diligently, clarifying the scope of the alleged involvement of security agents; and in cases of sexual violence, with enhanced due diligence.

“The IACHR, through its rapid and integrated coordination and response room – SACROI Colombia, has monitored the situation and is available to receive additional information from state entities, organizations and the media,” said the Commission.

For his part, the director of Human Rights Watch, José Miguel Vivanco, raised these same complaints. “Colombia: We have received serious complaints of police abuse committed by national police officers against demonstrators in Cali. Citizens have every right to demonstrate and must do so peacefully. The police must guarantee respect for human rights “, he assured.

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