Amnesty International: Images from Colombia are alarming

This is how the police responded to the protests in Colombia 2:18

(CNN) -

Amnesty International says images showing riot police ramming protesters with vehicles and lethal weapons in Colombia are deeply alarming, according to a press release on Wednesday.

“Ahead of the new protests planned in Colombia today, Amnesty International has published evidence of the excessive and brutal use of force against protesters by the security forces.

Amnesty Digital Verification Corps has analyzed audiovisual evidence and can confirm that Colombian police have used lethal weapons, including rifles and semi-automatic weapons, as well as tear gas and water cannons, against protesters in various parts of the country.

The excessive response of the Colombian authorities is part of a clear pattern of torture and excessive use of force against protesters in the country, ”the press release reads.

• Minute by minute of the situation in Colombia: after a violent night in several cities, a new day of the national strike begins

“It is deeply alarming to see the heavy-handed crowd control response across the country, said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas Director at Amnesty International.

"The Colombian authorities must put an end to the repression of demonstrations, stop the militarization of cities and ensure that respect and guarantee of human rights are at the center of any public policy proposal, including tax reforms," ​​he said. Guevara-Rosas.

Why are there massive protests in Colombia?

2:36

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