Colombia: President Petro demands the release of police officers detained during a demonstration

Colombian President Gustavo Petro demanded on Friday March 3 the release of dozens of police officers detained since the day before by indigenous people and peasants who are protesting in the south-west of the country against an oil company.

"

," said the leftist leader on Twitter, the day after violent demonstrations which left two dead and the kidnapping of 78 police officers and six civilians.

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He also urged justice to "

" in Los Pozos, near San Vicente del Caguan, about 500 km south of Bogota.

"

", assured for his part the Minister of the Interior Alfonso Prada, before going to the region. .

Two dead

Protests against British-based oil company Emerald Energy, a subsidiary of Chinese state group Sinochem, have ended in clashes with law enforcement.

A peasant and a policeman were killed, several people were injured and six employees of the oil company were kidnapped in addition to the 78 policemen, according to the Office of the People's Defender.

A previous count reported 79 police officers and nine employees retained.

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The institution responsible for ensuring respect for human rights in Colombia broadcast images showing dozens of uniformed officers and a handful of civilians gathered in a large room.

"

," assured Minister Velasquez to the media.

Videos released Thursday by local media showed a fire and groups of protesters armed with batons dragging a policeman to the ground who begged them not to beat him.

Protests against Emerald Energy began in November.

The protesters accuse the company of not having kept certain promises made to the inhabitants of the region, such as the construction of infrastructure and 40 km of paved roads.

The tension rose a notch on Thursday when the Native Guard joined the demonstrators.