Chile condemns “vandalism and violence” in Colombia and calls for respect for human rights

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Chilean government on Thursday lamented the dozens of deaths and injuries registered in protests in recent days in Colombia and condemned “vandalism and violence, whatever their origin.”

In a brief statement, the Chilean Foreign Ministry also praised the call for a dialogue table made by the government of President Iván Duque, “in order to democratically channel a solution to the conflict, with full respect for the human rights of all citizens.”

Chile, the note added, “trusts that Colombia will find a way to uphold democracy, ensure peace, maintain public order with respect for the law, guarantee human rights and advance towards a better integrated society on a path of freedom, progress, justice, inclusion and dignity.”

Since last April 28th, Colombia has been plunged in its worst social crisis since Duque came to power in 2018, with massive protests against a tax reform already withdrawn and violent clashes, which so far have left 11 dead, according to the Attorney General’s Office, although social organizations raise that figure to 37.

The epicenter of the protests is in Cali (southwest), where the UN, the European Union, the United States, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch denounced excessive use of force and called for calm.

After a week of mobilizations, the Colombian government gave in to dialogue and agreed to meet with the non-conformist sectors “next week.”

Duque faced his first protests in late 2019, weeks after the largest social crisis since the end of Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship (1973-1990) erupted in Chile, leaving some 30 dead and thousands injured.

Chile’s security forces were also accused by international organizations of having committed human rights violations and there are currently hundreds of open cases against officers.