Colombia unrest: UN, EU 'deeply alarmed' over police violence against protesters

United Nations and European Union recently called for calm and warned of use of excessive force at protests against Colombian government. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Wednesday said that it was “deeply alarmed” over violence against protesters in Colombian city of Cali, where “police opened fire on demonstrators” on Monday night. According to Colombia’s Human Rights Ombudsman, 16 protesters and one policeman have been killed in demonstrations since last week, however, figure does t include reports of deaths in Cali on Monday, which UN said it is still trying to confirm. 

In its statement, UN urged Colombia’s government to protect rights of protesters and said, “We are deeply alarmed at developments in city of Cali in Colombia overnight, where police opened fire on demonstrators protesting against tax reforms. Law enforcement officers should abide by principles of legality, precaution and necessity of proportionality”. 

According to Bloomberg, European Union also joined chorus of criticism and condemned reported deaths. EU spokesman Peter Sta said that it was a priority to stop escalation of violence and to avoid any disproportionate use of force by security forces. Sta also called for security forces to avoid a heavy-handed response and urged calm. 

US State Department deputy spokeswoman also Jalina Porter underlined right of all people to protest peacefully. “Violence and vandalism is an abuse of that right," she said. Furr, Porter ded, "At same time, we urge utmost restraint by public forces to prevent ditional loss of life".

Colombia Tax Reform Protests 

Despite withdrawal of proposed tax reforms by right-wing ministration of President Ivan Duque, tens of thousands of Columbians and members of tre unions have continued ir violent protests in streets of Columbia. tax reforms, contested as hiking financial pressure on low- and middle-income groups, was shelved after widespre opposition and angst from opposition lawmakers in Columbia and citizens, many of whom demanded levelling of sales tax on utilities. Colombia’s finance minister Alberto Carrasquilla also resigned following five days of outr which included riots and violent clashes as citizens demanded scrapping of 19 per cent of sales tax on gasoline and government's expansion of country’s tax base. 

Despite pulling back tax reform proposal, protesters continued marches condemning Columbia government’s “mishandling” of COVID-19 pandemic, as y alleged that withdrawal of tax proposal “wasn’t eugh”. Rallies were held in Columbia’s populous cities including Bogota and Cali, as well as Medellin, Barranquilla, and Cartna.  In many cities, aggravated protesters clashed with law enforcement, who used tear gas canisters and stun grenes to disperse angry mob.

Last week, a police officer was stabbed by reform seekers in city of Soacha south of Bogota, incident demonstrators told reporters on ground was flared by officers’ human rights abuses against protesting crowd. Protesters have vandalised and ransacked buildings, and caused dam to property, as y confronted police in a national outcry of pandemic-related poverty, loss of jobs and rising unemployment. Columbian Twitter also expressed outr at ministrative policies, demanding reforms as y ran #FixCountry hashtag. 

(With inputs from AP)