ESMAD repression at Americas Portal humanitarian space in Bogota injures 7 people

Twitter video of ESMAD police truck firing at protest.

On May 11, the Peace Brigades International-Colombia Project tweeted: “The Justice and Peace Commission reports that another night of repression and abuse of National Strike protesters by the ESMAD [riot police] in the Americas Portal humanitarian space in Bogota leaves 7 people injured and 10 arrested.”

Portal de las Americas Kennedy is a transit station in Ciudad Kennedy, a predominantly poor and working-class locality in Bogotá.

This Justice and Peace Commission article notes that on the afternoon of May 10 there was an expanded humanitarian assembly in the area.

They continue: “After the end of an assembly meeting in the Humanitarian Area involving four councillors of the Bogota Council Peace Commission, around 7 p.m., in the midst of a peaceful demonstration some four, apparently infiltrated, attacked a bus, generating the reaction of national police units and ESMAD surrounding the Humanitarian Area.”

Infobae further reports: “Among those affected is a journalist from the ‘Colombia Informa’ medium, Diego Palma, who made the cover during the protests and was transferred to a hospital after being wounded, apparently by a truck of the public force.”

And Colombia Informa has tweeted: “They wounded our correspondent in the leg. ESMAD tank fires indiscriminately towards where members of the press were. We have a very bad connection, and we fear possible censorship.”

In 2014-15, Canada exported armoured personnel carriers to the Colombian national police. It is not known if they are being used against the national strike.

The Canadian Labour Congress, which represents more than 3 million workers in Canada, has issued this statement condemning the repression against the national strike and has backed the demand of the Colombian people for: “The dismantling of the Colombian national police riot control unit (known by its Spanish acronym ESMAD).”

PBI-Canada continues to monitor the situation with concern.

On May 6, PBI-Colombia posted: “Today PBI accompanied the Justice and Peace Commission in mobilizations at Portal de las Americas Kennedy where youth and grassroots organizations in the area have created a humanitarian space for participation in the social protests.”

PBI-Colombia continues to accompany human rights groups during the national strike. For more on that, please see Photo journal: PBI-Colombia accompanies human rights defenders during the #ParoNacional national strike.