Death toll from police brutality in Colombia rises to 31
At least 31 protesters have been killed by police, and 1,443 cases of police violence have been registered during tax protests in Colombia, according to Temblores, an NGO that monitors police violence nationwide.
“Today we must recommend all citizens avoid joining any demonstrations after 6:00 p.m., given the rise of violent methods used by police forces against protesters during nighttime,” the group said in a statement.
“During these past days, we have confirmed that police forces carry out articulated, premeditated, and deliberate actions to ravish citizens and sow terror among them, restraining them from exercising their constitutional right to protest,” the group added.
Press release for public opinion and the international community on the physical and homicidal violence carried out by the Colombian National Police in the context of protests in Colombia’s National Strike. ? pic.twitter.com/z0i4cG9QQc
The Colombian police and army are firing with submachine guns in the city of Medellín, Anonymous Colombia tweeted.
The Colombian police and army are firing with submachine guns in the city of Medellín// Policia y ejercito dee colombia esta disparando con metralletas en ciudad de Medellín, parque de los deseos pic.twitter.com/CaGiJEmW5h
Although President Ivan Duque declared that he would fully withdraw his new tax plan, protests continue in Colombia.
In large cities such as Bogotá and Cali, thousands to tens of thousands of protestors took to the streets, in some cases clashing with authorities, resulting in casualties.
Groups have said that multiple human rights violations occurred during the protests, though the Duque government denies that any occurred.
President Duque declared that he would fully withdraw his new tax plan, though no new concrete plans were announced, and protests continued.
The protesters denounced the tax reform bill proposed by President Ivan Duque's administration and criticized the government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many Colombians believe that the tax reform will leave them poorer in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic. (ILKHA)