At least 16 dead in Colombia protests, according to the Ombudsman’s Office

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The protests and riots of the past 5 days in Colombia against the controversial tax reform bill, now withdrawn by the Government, have left at least 16 dead and over 700 injured, the Ombudsman’s Office reported on Monday.

According to data from the institution, which did not provide details on the victims’ identities or the circumstances surrounding the deaths, in these turbulent days “254 civilians and 457 police officers have also been injured,” but other sources report higher figures for both deaths and injuries.

Protests began last Wednesday with peaceful demonstrations in the country’s main cities, but acts of vandalism and rioting in places such as Cali, Ibagué, Medellín and Bogotá have increased social tension.

On Sunday, president Iván Duque announced the withdrawal of the controversial bill presented on April 15th by the Ministry of Treasury and urged Congress to urgently process a new bill based on consensus in order to avert financial insecurity.

The Committee promoting the protests gave a press conference today in which Martha Alonso, second vice-president of the Colombian Federation of Education Workers (FECODE), reported higher death figures than provided by the Ombudsman’s Office.

“At the moment we have 1,089 cases of police violence, within which we have been able to identify at least 124 injured from violence,” she expressed.

Alfonso added that during the demonstrations “726 arbitrary detentions, 6 acts of sexual violence, 27 homicides are documented, and 12 young people have lost their eyes,” and that “more than 45 human rights activists have been limited in their ability to carry out their work.”

ORGANIZATIONS DENOUNCE POLICE ABUSE

In the absence of official data, NGO Temblores also alerted that during the 5 days of protests, 21 people have been killed, 92 have been victims of physical violence by security forces and another 672 have been arbitrarily detained.

The organization is investigating the death of 8 demonstrators allegedly attacked by police officers and has documented 4 reports of sexual violence by members of the security forces.

With respect to these denunciations, Police Director Major General Jorge Luis Vargas, assured today in a press conference that there are 26 preliminary investigations in progress to clarify the circumstances of the homicides and physical attacks, as well as to determine if the uniformed members of the institution have had any responsibility in these cases.

In the same intervention, Defense Minister Diego Molano refrained from providing details about the deaths because, he said, “it should be the Prosecutor General’s Office to determine, as the competent and responsible authority, which of the victims of these past days are specifically associated” with the protests.

“We lament the death of all the people who have been in these demonstrations and who have lost their lives as a result of the criminal deeds of vandals,” the minister said.

“Colombia is facing a terrorist threat, criminal organizations are behind the violent acts that tarnish the peaceful protest. These are premeditated acts, organized and financed by FARC and ELN dissident groups,” Molano said as he announced that authorities have registered 540 police officers and 306 civilians injured during the protests.

Bogotá Mayor Claudia López said today: “After 5 days of predominantly peaceful protests, we have not had any deaths or injuries from firearms, but we have had injuries” in the city.

The tax reform would increase taxes by broadening the tax base and levying a 19% VAT on public services, among other controversial measures.

With the bill, the government hoped to raise 23.4 trillion pesos (some US$6,302 million) to improve public finances and ensure the continuity of social programs for the poorest, whose demand has increased with the Covid-19 pandemic.