The Thursday takeover of a Bogota university’s central square by armed ELN guerrillas was an act of aggression against the university, claims the rector, Moises Wasserman, on Friday.
According to Wasserman, the group of between 50 to 60 guerrillas who stormed the Universidad Nacional wearing uniforms of the leftist guerrilla group ELN, and armed with automatic weapons, has been “part of the university for years,” and was upset over its inability to recruit new members from the student population.
“The failure to convene new members has them very irritated … This was not just a protest against a regime, but an attack on the university itself,” Wasserman said.
Thursday afternoon, the group of guerrillas stormed the Universidad Nacional in Bogota and delivered a speech in the campus’ main square, speaking about the killing of university students by the Colombian army in 1984, the upcoming elections, paramilitary activity in Colombia, and the need for class war against the bourgeoisie.
Two shots were fired into the air from a hand gun, and a small explosive device was detonated, but no injuries were reported.
On Friday, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe condemned the incident and those responsible for bringing violence into a univeristy campus.
“It is unacceptable that yesterday, students at the Universidad Nacional were disturbed by those wearing the insignia of terrorist group the ELN.. I am going to speak with the police, because until the last day of this administration, we will not allow violence inside of universities, or anywhere else for that matter.”