The Government of Colombia dodges apologies for the repression of the 2019 protests

The Government of Iván Duque in Colombia has avoided this Wednesday to ask for excuses for the police excesses in the wave of mobilizations that shook the country at the end of last year, as urged by a ruling of the Supreme Court of Justice that also ordered it, among others measures, do not stigmatize social protest.

Instead, through his defense minister, Carlos Holmes Trujillo, he announced that he will ask the Constitutional Court to review the Supreme Court's decision.

At the lowest moment in the relationship of trust between citizens and those in uniform due to the recent episodes of police brutality, the Supreme Court had chosen the day before to shield peaceful protests in a ruling on the excesses in the use of force against protesters that many sectors considered historic.

The high court found that the State represses citizen demonstrations in a “systematic, violent, arbitrary and disproportionate” manner.

He also ordered the suspension of the use of 12-gauge shotguns by the Mobile Anti-Riot Squad (Esmad), like the one used by the agent who murdered Dilan Cruz, a young protester who became a symbol of police brutality, during a peaceful march.

And he urged the head of the Defense portfolio to apologize within 48 hours.

The Executive's response, however, headed in another direction.

Esmad "does not institutionally incur excesses," Trujillo defended when reading a government statement.

In the cases in which abuses were presented as of November 21 in the framework of the national strike called by unions and student organizations, "these would correspond to individual actions of some of their members," which are currently the subject of criminal and disciplinary investigations by the competent authorities, he added.

"The public and peaceful demonstration or protest of citizens is guaranteed by the Constitution," said Carlos Holmes Trujillo in his statement.

He also described and defended the current protocols of the security forces, but at no time did he refer to any kind of request for forgiveness, or said he would abide by the ruling.

"The action of Esmad occurs exclusively in the face of violent and irrational actions that constitute crimes, violate the rights of people and are not peaceful demonstrations," he emphasized.

The Government, he added, "will continue to face vandalism and all forms of violence and terrorism, as is its constitutional obligation."

His statements were in line with the closed defense of the public force that the Executive has undertaken at a particularly critical moment, and despite the clamor for a fundamental reform.

Two weeks ago, the death of Javier Ordóñez in police custody in Bogotá triggered public anger against the public force.

Reports of further abuses abound amid multiple peaceful and violent protests that left 13 civilians dead this month in Bogotá and Soacha.

Several policemen indiscriminately fired at civilians in the midst of the disturbances, according to the episodes documented by the Bogotá Mayor's Office.

The position of the Duque Executive, who has even photographed himself with the police jacket to stage his support, has confronted him with various political sectors, citizens and, now, the courts.

“With evidence, I asked the National Government to recognize the seriousness of the police abuse, offer forgiveness, and undertake the reform of the police.

They said no to all three.

Now they will have to do them by order of the Supreme Court ", reacted the mayor of the capital, Claudia López, one of the main opposition figures, before a ruling that he described as" admirable ".

Although social protest had been deactivated this year by the confinement measures, reports of police abuse have been frequent even in the midst of the pandemic.

The crisis in the image and credibility of the police has been accumulating since the wave of demonstrations against the Government at the end of 2019 to which the Supreme Court refers, and has been evidenced in polls.

In another of its decisions, the high court urges officials to "maintain neutrality when non-violent demonstrations occur, even if they are aimed at questioning the policies of the National Government."

After the response of the Minister of Defense, its compliance is in suspense.