Colombia’s unprecedented police purge causes controversy
Gustavo Petro
Francia Marquez
Colombia suspends ‘most important project of this century’
How to end the war in western Colombia?
Colombia’s government talks peace with ELN in Cuba
Colombia and Venezuela reestablish diplomatic ties
How to keep Venezuela’s diaspora in Colombia safe?
Colombia’s new government proposes tax reform to finance...
Peace talks with Colombia’s ELN guerrillas ‘about to...
  • About
  • Support
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
Colombia News | Colombia Reports
  • News
    • General
    • Analysis
    • War and peace
    • Elections
    • Economy
    • Culture
    • Sports
    • Science and Tech
  • Travel
    • General
    • Bogota
    • Medellin
    • Cali
    • Cartagena
    • Antioquia
    • Caribbean
    • Pacific
    • Coffee region
    • Amazon
    • Southwest Colombia
    • Northeast Colombia
    • Central Colombia
  • Data
    • Economy
    • Crime and security
    • War and peace
    • Development
    • Cities
    • Regions
    • Provinces
  • Profiles
    • Organized crime
    • Politics
    • Armed conflict
    • Economy
    • Sports
  • Lite
  • Opinion
General Jorge Luis Vargas (L) and President Ivan Duque.
Uncategorized

Colombia promotes police chief despite extreme brutality

by Adriaan Alsema July 1, 2021

Far-right President Ivan Duque on Wednesday asked Congress to further restrict the right to protest while awarding Colombia’s disgraced National Police chief.

The surprise move comes as Duque and National Police chief are under international scrutiny over the extremely violent repression of largely peaceful anti-government protests.

The Americas director of Human Rights Watch, Jose Miguel Vivanco, said Wednesday that more than 80 people were killed during the protests.

At least 40 of these murders were committed by police under the watch of General Jorge Luis Vargas, according to the human rights defender.

Notwithstanding, Duque called on Congress for stricter legislation against riots and vandalism while awarding a medal to the police chief with the worst human rights record in recent memory.

As demanded from the members of the Public Force and our Police, as a society we must also make clear that no citizen has the right to attack the institutionality, to attack those who protect the citizens, to attack those who defend the rights of citizens.

President Ivan Duque

The president’s attempt to divert attention away from the degeneration of his increasingly authoritarian government was met with fierce criticism from the congressional opposition.

According to opposition Senator Ivan Cepeda, Vargas “is directly responsible for the thousands of… serious human rights violations” that may be crimes against humanity.

Duque’s approval rating has plummeted to the lowest point in polling history after Vargas’ failed attempts to quell the protests with extreme violence.

Interior Minister Daniel Palacios announced a decree that would ban any form of protest that in any way would impede mobility despite this being a blatant violation of Colombia{s constitution.

The government’s increasingly dictatorial tendencies following growing legal problems over the alleged ties between Duque’s far-right Democratic Center party, the security forces and the mafia.

 

Ivan DuqueJorge Luis VargasNational Police

Trending

  • Colombia suspends ‘most important project of this century’

  • Colombia’s new government proposes tax reform to finance ambitious agenda

  • Colombia’s largest paramilitary group announces unilateral ceasefire

Related articles

  • Colombia’s unprecedented police purge causes controversy

  • How violent Colombia became while Duque was in office

  • How hostility to the press ended up isolating Colombia’s government

  • RSS

@2008-2019 - Colombia Reports. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by Digitale Zaken and Parrolabs


Back To Top