Colombia’s ICT minister fired an official after an “on/off”‘ switch proved too technologically advanced for him, leaving his racist tirade against native Colombians on record.
Colombia’s indigenous have historically suffered racism, most recently from President Ivan Duque’s far-right Democratic Center party, some of his supporters and far-right group “Aguilas Negras.”
Now-former ICT Ministry official Alejandro Plata, who apparently doesn’t know how to work a switch and broke the golden rule never to go on a racist tirade with the microphone on.
Alejandro Plata
The virtual meeting between the Interior Ministry officials and indigenous organization CRIC from the southwestern Cauca province on Wednesday was supposed to be about aid to help the local indigenous people combat the coronavirus.
This failed because Plata’s claim for white supremacy was discredited by the fact his technical skills sunk below that of primates like orangutans who are able to manage “on/off” switches.
Had Plata been an orangutan, he may have kept his job because orangutans don’t manage language. The ICT official got into trouble for proving to be a homo sapiens, and an extremely racist one.
Alejandro Plata
The CRIC, which released the recording, said they were shocked that in the year 2020 they are still subjected to hatred, disdain and racism they and others have been subjected to by government for centuries.
CRIC
Ombudsman Carlos Negret demanded an immediate investigation and the removal of the official.
Ombudsman’s Office
Vice-Minister of Equal Participation and Rights, Carlos Baena, joined the criticism and said any behavior like that of Plata”deserves the social reproach and the legal and ethical sanction to those who incur in such acts.”
ICT minister Karen Abudinen said “we will proceed to terminate his contract. This cannot ever happen again.”
While no sitting official expressed disdain this explicitly, the Duque administration on multiple occasions has been accused of institutional racism, refusing to honor agreements with indigenous peoples, acknowledge their rights or even talk to their representatives.