OAS urges Colombia to release people arrested over...
Colombia’s war crimes tribunal hears notorious former warlord
Colombia’s GDP and GNI
Panama arrests US citizen suspected in Colombia of...
Colombia seeking mastermind behind Paraguay prosecutor kill plot
Colombia’s government and ELN rebels overcome “crisis” in...
Bogota
Crime and security in Bogota
Colombia recalls ambassador from Guatemala over corruption probe...
Colombia’s FARC dissidents captured 5 soldiers during ceasefire:...
  • 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
Students march in Bogota (Image: Colombia Humana)
News

Students and teachers paralyze Colombia’s capital demanding more education, less police violence

by Adriaan Alsema October 10, 2019

Colombia’s students and teachers virtually paralyzed the capital Bogota on Thursday as part of national protests to demand promised funds for education and less police violence.

The mass mobilization was the latest escalation in a series that began with just one protest at a Bogota university where students protested at the alleged corruption practices of the university’s administration.

The violent police repression of this protest triggered peaceful solidarity protests that also ended violently after  the intervention of hooded men and the controversial ESMAD riot police.

On Tuesday, protest marches to demand investment in education, the dismantling of ESMAD and an end to corruption were held in at least 17 cities.

Peaceful marches ended by violence

The march in Bogota, where public and private university students marched together, occurred without major incidents until the end when a small group of rioters attacked police and the protesters were dispersed.

#MarchaEstudiantil Encapuchados atacaron a la fuerza pública que resguardaba el Palacio de Justicia en el centro de Bogotá. https://t.co/ntGTtlLuTf pic.twitter.com/4Nb8cOlckb

— Caracol Radio (@CaracolRadio) October 10, 2019

The violence was rejected by the students and teachers who have been adamant in keeping their protests peaceful.

The march in Medellin was entirely without incidents. Clashes between rioters and police did occur near the local University of Antioquia, but hours after the protesters had left.

In Barranquilla, where students demand the removal of a rector accused of sexual harassment, rioters who had infiltrated the march vandalized the campaign office of governor candidate Elsa Noguera.

Duque rejects violence

President Ivan Duque rejected “every expression of violence,” adding that it “again clouds a day of student marches.”

Colombia cannot tolerate vandalism, nor attacks by criminal minorities who infiltrate to destroy private properties, public goods and attack our Public Force.

President Ivan Duque

Education Minister Maria Victoria Angulo on Twitter insisted that the government has been complying with promises made to students and teachers to invest in the country’s neglected education system, contrary to the claims of the students.

student protests

Trending

  • Colombia’s government and ELN rebels overcome “crisis” in peace talks

  • Colombia seeking mastermind behind Paraguay prosecutor kill plot

For patrons

Downloads for patrons

Related articles

  • Student leader assassinated in southwest Colombia

  • Colombia’s youth breaking free from decades of tyranny

  • The systematic criminalization of Colombia’s youth | 2000 – 2018

  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Rss

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


Back To Top
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