Nomadesc tweets video of armed civilians shooting at national strike mobilization in Cali

Image from Nomadesc video.

On May 28, the Association for Research and Social Action (Nomadesc) tweeted video with the caption: “Armed civilians accompanied by police and army agents, shoot at the mobilization of students, social sectors and the front lines of the Univalle mobilization point located at Carrera 100 with Calle 13.”

That tweet also links to this video on Facebook.

Nomadesc also retweeted this video that asks: “Why are civilians shooting at the population alongside the police?”

José Miguel Vivanco, the Executive Director of the Americas Division of Human Rights Watch, then tweeted: “We have corroborated videos from Cali that show armed men in civilian clothes firing at the inaction of members of the Police. Minister Molano [the Minister of Defence] must give an urgent explanation.”

This morning, The Guardian also reported: “In Cali, which has become an epicentre of the nationwide protests, the mayor, Jorge Ospina, confirmed three of the deaths during protests on Friday [May 28]. Local media reported the fourth death occurred on the road between Cali and the town of Candelaria.”

“Two people in Cali were killed when an agent of the attorney general’s investigative unit opened fire on civilians, before also being killed, said the attorney general, Francisco Barbosa, in a televised message. The agent was not on duty at the time, Barbosa said.”

Cali, Colombia’s third largest city, has been hard hit by state violence during the national strike. On May 5, PBI-Colombia noted that of the 31 people killed by the police as of that date, 24 of those deaths were in Cali.

On May 14, the Canadian Embassy in Colombia tweeted: “Ambassador @marcel_lebleu joined the multi-party visit of @ComisionSegunda of @SenadoGovCo and diplomatic corps to listen to the people of #Cali. He met with students, indigenous and social leaders, local politicians, as well as religious, business and religious leaders.”

Webinar this Thursday June 3

To hear the latest on what is happening in Colombia, please join our webinar this Thursday June 3 at 3:30 pm EDT. One of the speakers is Berenice Celeita from Nomadesc. For simultaneous translation in English/Spanish, register here.