A wave of riots was experienced in the heart of the country’s capital in the midst of demonstrations by the indigenous community embera. As recorded in videos, they tried to take over the Avianca building and clashed with Esmad and members of the Metropolitan Police.
The demonstrators were part of the Indigenous Authorities in Bakatá (AIB), a political process that brings together 15 communities, and which in the past occupied the National Park for eight months.
After the violent episodes, President Gustavo Petro visited the police officers who were injured with sticks and stones.
“I reject and condemn the acts experienced today in Bogotá. Several members of the Public Force and civilians were injured. The attack on a police officer will never be a protest,” he wrote on his Twitter account.
In addition, he described the aggressors as human rights violators for attacking defenseless people.
(Keep reading: Demonstrations: they offer 50 million for those responsible for excesses in Bogotá).
The absence of dialogue always generates more violence. I reject and condemn the acts experienced today in Bogotá. Several members of the Public Force and civilians were injured. Aggression once morest a police officer will never be a protest.
– Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) October 19, 2022
Petro’s commitments to indigenous communities
The president summoned the leaders of the protest for an extraordinary meeting in the Casa de Nariño. The meeting was attended by Laura Sarabia, chief of staff; Alfonso Prada, Minister of the Interior; Patricia Tobón, director of the Unit for Victims; and Giovani Yule, director of the Land Restitution Unit.
Product of this first conversation, President Petro recounted the difficulties faced by the communities and for which they have come out to protest in the streets of Bogotá.
“A month ago they did not have drinking water, more than 1,200 people live overcrowded, where only 400 fit. They have seen 21 of their members die, most of them children,” he said.
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He stated that they are victims of discrimination and undignified treatment, because, for example, “officials do not have the education to understand them.” According to him, they are even classified by some citizens as terrorists.
“They have seen their own children die of hunger, of HIV, of epidemics, of lack of care. I believe that today I have seen one of the greatest social injustices. A State that makes victims victims,” he added.
Specific, Petro promised to comply with the agreements that the previous government had reached with the ethnic communities, but did not specify which ones, so it would be thought that he would refer to access to health, education, work and relocation of their homes. In addition, he said that he will seek peace in Alto Andagueda, in Chocó, where hundreds of them settle.
“The empowerment of your reserve will be essential to solve a problem of ethnic misunderstanding in the center of Bogotá,” he concluded through his Twitter account.
I meet with the Embera community victim of displacement and located in Bogotá. A month ago they have not had drinking water, more than 1,200 people live crowded together where only 400 fit. They have seen 21 of their members die, most of them children in Bogotá pic.twitter.com/OfGjIDaNNC
– Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) October 20, 2022
TIME
You can also read:
– Images of the violent protest of indigenous people in Bogotá.
– Gustavo Petro: this is the image of the President according to the survey.
– Uribismo: The ‘first line’ would be pardoned with the Public Order Law.
– María Fernanda Cabal responded to Sofía Petro regarding the Orion operation trill.
