Petro rejects acts of violence during protests in Bogotá

( Spanish) — The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, rejected the acts of violence that occurred this Wednesday during a demonstration in Bogotá led by members of the Emberá indigenous community, who demanded a relocation, among other demands.

The Secretary of the Government of Bogotá, Felipe Jiménez, said that the protests took place in the center of the Colombian capital when a group belonging to that community blocked the entrance to several buildings.

He added that the clashes began when the security forces intervened. And that left at least 11 national police officers, five civilians, seven officials from the Mayor’s Office and one from the Personería injured.

The official added that two alleged perpetrators have been arrested, and that the Police is making progress in the arrest and prosecution of others.

The mayor of Bogotá, Claudia López, said that she instructed the security forces to prosecute those responsible for the acts of violence.

explained in your twitter account that this group has remained for two years in the city, where they have been “welcomed and cared for”.

The director of the Victims Unit of the Colombian government, Patricia Tobón, said in a message on Twitter that several members of the Emberá people were also injured, although she did not specify how many.

The national official regretted the facts. She also stated that they will continue to work together with the city government to address the forced displacement of the Emberá people, a product of the structural armed conflict.

The demonstrators claimed that they were relocated to a shelter and that the mayor’s office had not complied with some agreements for their permanence in the city.