Protests over the closing of suspected pyramid scheme DMG continue all
over Colombia. The mayor of Honda, Tolima imposed a curfew after
protesters took to looting, Putumayo farmers threaten to massively
return to growing coca if DMG director David Murcia Guzmán isn’t
released and some police officers were held by people that suspect them
of having stolen money from the company’s offices.
The Honda curfew was still upheld Monday morning after DMG clients massively took to looting a supermarket that allegedly was part of the DMG group. Four policemen were injured and taken to hospital. The angry crowd, despite the curfew, threatened Sunday to loot a supermarket of the same chain in a nearby town.
Meanwhile in Putumayo where DMG started its controversial financial enterprise, farmers demand the government releases their “hostage” DMG director Guzmán. They say that with the end of DMG their only way of making a living is by growing coca. “We farmers have left growing coca, because the DMG group gave us the hand to do it. We’ll now continue to sow [coca],” one farmer told Spanish press agency Efe.
According to W Radio, four policemen and six others were held captive by angry protesters claiming the security officials had been stealing money from DMG offices after they were forced to close.
Several government and police officials are suspected of being part of the large DMG network.