Colombia: President Duque announces police reform, criticized for its repression
Arrest of a protester in Cali, June 4, 2021. AFP - LUIS ROBAYO
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After more than a month of demonstrations, social protest is not weakening in Colombia.
On Sunday June 6, the national strike committee suspended negotiations with the government.
It is in this tense atmosphere that the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights began a mission in the country on Monday.
The day before, President Ivan Duque announced a reform of the police whose violent repression of the social movement was strongly criticized by the international community.
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“
The organizational structure of the national police will be modernized to consolidate human rights policy,
” said Ivan Duque on Sunday (June 6) during a police promotion ceremony in Bogota.
According to the Colombian president, the police will have a human rights department headed by an expert from outside the police.
Better agent training
Police reform, which will always depend on the Ministry of Defense, will also focus on better training of officers, trained so far to fight guerrillas.
Are these announcements likely to appease the anger of the demonstrators which has lasted since the end of April and several of whom were killed by live ammunition by the police?
We can doubt it.
This announcement coincided with the arrival in Colombia of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR).
This Washington-based body, which depends on the Organization of American States (OAS), has started a mission to assess the human rights situation in the country.
The objective is "
to listen to the victims of human rights violations and their families
" and to "
collect testimonies, complaints
", specified the IACHR in a press release.
Suspended negotiations
The national strike committee,
which calls for the total demilitarization of the police and the dissolution of the ESMAD riot squad, has suspended negotiations with the government.
He accuses the authorities of "
delaying the talks
".
For the moment, social mobilization continues, especially as the national strike committee does not represent all the sectors mobilized.
The committee has also announced new events for Wednesday.
►Also read: Colombia: the social movement is gaining momentum, the police pinned down for the violent repression
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Colombia
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Ivan Duque
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