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(CNN Spanish) - The Colombian immigration authority informed that since the beginning of the protests against the government of President Iván Duque, on November 21, 61 foreigners have been expelled that were “affecting security, order, that were advancing acts Vandals in the marches, ”said Christian Krüger Sarmiento, director of Migration Colombia. One is Peruvian and the other 60, Venezuelans.
On November 21, when the protests began, two foreigners were expelled: a Peruvian and a Venezuelan. On Monday, Migration expelled 59 Venezuelans from Colombia who were committing acts of vandalism in the different mobilizations in the country. The other Venezuelan was expelled on November 21.
“While it is true [that] foreigners can leave, they are guaranteed the right to march in our country, what they cannot do is affect public order and generate vandalism by putting public, private and most complicated assets at risk , the integrity of the people who are in those marches, ”said Krüger Sarmiento.
- Iván Duque faces his first general strike in rejection of his government
On Monday, the 59 Venezuelan citizens were transferred in an Air Force Airplane to Puerto Inírida, in the border department of Guainía, in eastern Colombia. There, according to a migration statement, they will board a national Navy ship that will transport them to San Fernando de Atabapo, where they will be delivered to Venezuelan authorities.
“We are not going to allow a few vandals to affect security, tranquility, and begin to affect outbreaks of xenophobia, because these people are damaging the name of the vast majority of Venezuelans who are contributing, who want to join life productive and what they want is to live, have a future, ”said the director of Migration Colombia.
"The vast majority of Venezuelan brothers are good people who are leaving their country out of necessity, who are leaving their country not to live better, but to survive," he added.
Migration said it shared information about these expelled people with authorities from other countries in the region to prevent "these acts of vandalism continue to multiply in other countries in the region." Those expelled will not be able to enter the country in 10 years and if after that time they try to enter the country, they will have to process a visa, said Krüger Sarmiento.
CNN contacted the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs to know their reaction to the measure of the neighboring country but there they replied that at the moment there is no official ruling on the matter and that if there is, it will be sent through the “customary ways”.
- The “national conversation” begins in Colombia
Since November 21, thousands of Colombians have concentrated in the main cities of the country protesting against the government of President Iván Duque, and demanding guarantees on various topics ranging from education, rejecting possible pension and labor reforms, and asking him to the government that the peace agreements signed with the demobilized guerrilla of the Farc are fulfilled. The national strike was organized by students, unions and social groups that oppose Duque's policies.
Duke announced the weekend the call for a great "national conversation", which began this Sunday between mayors and elected governors who will begin their periods in January 2020.
Duque said that “the National Conversation will take place through citizen meetings, with different social sectors in regions and cities. It will also have a technological platform to compile the proposals of all Colombians. ”
On Friday, the National Police reported that in two days of protests 169 people had been arrested during the protests.
CNN contacted the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs to know their reaction to the measure of the neighboring country but there they replied that at the moment there is no official ruling on the matter and that if there is, it will be sent through the “customary ways”.
The Colombian Prosecutor’s Office reported Monday that the detainees were captured, “in flagrance for alleged damage to others, violence against public servants and obstruction of roads and disruption of transport and theft.”