05/04/2021 18:30
Clarín.com
International
Updated 05/04/2021 18:30
In the social protests against the Colombian government's attempt at tax reform that left at least
19 dead and some 800 injured,
several human rights organizations demonstrated against the abuse of the public force, including Shakira.
Such is the seriousness of the Colombian situation that the Ombudsman's Office registered complaints corresponding
to the alleged disappearances of 87 people during the social protest called on April 28
.
At least 35 of them disappeared in Cali, the capital of the department of Valle del Cauca
, the epicenter of the protests, and neighboring Palmira, a southwestern region where the highest number of deaths have also been recorded during the protests.
There are also missing persons in Bogotá, Barranquilla and Medellín, and in the department of Quindío, located in the coffee zone in the center of the country.
In this harsh context, there were several figures who expressed their opinion on the state's repression against Colombians.
The Colombian singer spoke about the hard time her country is going through.
Photo / Reuter
What Shakira said about Colombia
The singer broke the silence and
sent a strong message to the president of the nation
, Iván Duque Márquez: "I ask the government of my country to take urgent measures,
STOP NOW the violation of human rights and restore the value of human life above of any political interest
. "
Shakira wrote through her Twitter account.
I ask the government of my country to take urgent measures, STOP the violation of human rights NOW
Shakira Singer
In the thread he told the very serious situation that Colombia is experiencing, he said that while he was writing about 18 people died during a peaceful protest against an initiative of the president.
"It is unacceptable for a mother to lose her only child to brutality. And for 18 other people to have their lives taken from them in a peaceful protest," Shakira said.
It is unacceptable for a mother to lose her only child to brutality.
And that 18 other people have their lives taken from them in a peaceful protest.
(1/3) pic.twitter.com/Ujwq0yjU2X
- Shakira (@shakira) May 4, 2021
Other figures who spoke of the
repression in Colombia
He also spoke about the Colombian drama, Karol G who pointed out in a desperate Twitter thread that "We need international help !!!! Police car rotating light Police car rotating light Police car rotating light @ONUHumanRights @ONU_derechos @ONU_es @hrw_espanol In my country the authorities are abusing power by killing innocent people who are marching for our rights !!!! #SOSCOLOMBIA "
WE NEED INTERNATIONAL HELP !!!!
🚨🚨🚨 @ONUHumanRights @ONU_derechos @ONU_es @hrw_espanol IN MY COUNTRY THE AUTHORITIES ARE ABUSE OF POWER KILLING INNOCENT PEOPLE WHO ARE MARCHING FOR OUR RIGHTS !!!!!!!
#SOSCOLOMBIA
- BICHOTA (@karolg) May 4, 2021
The soccer player, James Rodríguez, currently at Everton in England said in a statement that "we are killing ourselves" and asked "enough of abuse, it cannot happen that someone with a weapon takes advantage of another person who has no way of defending himself, or that a person deliberately goes out and ends up with the city or with companies or businesses that are a source of work for thousands of Colombians. "
Repression in Bogotá, the Colombian capital.
Photo / AFP
What happens in Colombia
The mass protests started last Wednesday due to a tax reform in the collection of VAT - it increased it to 19% - that the president of the nation, Iván Duque, already withdrew last Sunday due to the scandal they caused.
Despite this, the protests, which at the moment have left 800 injured and 19 dead, do not stop and police brutality in the streets is still present.
The role of the Colombian police
The Police are the subject of serious accusations that include sexual attacks, physical violence and arbitrary arrests, and have also been singled out for the death of many protesters, mostly young people.
The Campaign Defend Freedom is Everyone's Business, which brings together several human rights defense organizations, denounced today that 305 people have been injured "by the disproportionate actions of the National Police and in particular by the Esmad (Mobile Anti-Riot Squad)".
"We express our deep concern and rejection of these arbitrary and disproportionate actions that go against the international protocols, norms and standards on the actions of the public force in the face of social protest scenarios," said the group.
Look also
Harsh international condemnation of the Colombian government for police violence on the seventh day of protests
Desperate search for 87 people disappeared during the crackdown on protests in Colombia
