Colombian trade union seeks investigation of police killing of Buenaventura activist Vanessa Renteria Valencia in Canada
The Bogota-based National Union of Branch Workers, Services of the Transport and Logistics Industry of Colombia (SNTT) is calling for an investigation into the police killing in Canada of a former member of their union.
The SNTT has posted: “In light of the events that occurred in the early hours of September 19 in Surrey, Canada, which resulted in the death of our friend, colleague and former member Vanessa Renteria Valencia, we reject this act of violence and request that the authorities conduct an investigation.”
The union statement “demands from the government of Canada an impartial and fair investigation” into what happened.
Sandra Renteria, Vanessa’s sister, has also written Colombian president Gustavo Petro, vice-president Francia Márquez and other officials, asserting: “We consider that the RCMP used excessive force and did not use appropriate techniques to assess and de-escalate the situation that could have prevented this tragedy.”
37-year-old Afro-Colombian Vanessa Renteria Valencia was shot by police in her home at around 5:30 am on Thursday September 19.
Her sister says: “It is important to note that Vanessa arrived in Canada in 2022, as a refugee seeker fleeing violence in Buenaventura. Neither the Colombian nor the Canadian State were able to protect her and guarantee her right to life. Vanessa worked for 12 years in the port of Buenaventura and was a union activist in SNTT (National Union of Branch Labor, Transport and Logistics Services of Colombia).”
The incident
The Surrey Now-Leader reports: “Staff Sgt. Kris Clark, a BC RCMP media relations officer [says] when police arrived, they learned that a woman had locked herself in a room with a toddler and was allegedly holding a weapon near the child.”
But CTV News notes: “The RCMP has not confirmed whether the toddler was still in the room when the shooting happened, or whether officers recovered a weapon from the scene. The force also declined to comment on questions from local advocates about whether de-escalation tactics were employed by the officers, and whether there was an interpreter present to help communicate with Renteria.”
Vanessa’s sister adds: “We have received information indicating that Vanesa had been in a shelter for women victims of domestic violence and that she had recently returned to her home, where she lived with her partner and father of the minor. We have also had information indicating that Vanesa was looking for support to get a stable place to live alone with her daughter. Taking into account the above, we consider that the version provided by the RCMP does not reflect the reality of the facts and presents Vanessa as a dangerous person.”
The investigation
The Vancouver Sun now reports: “The Independent Investigations Office has been called in.” The IIO is “a civilian-led police oversight agency responsible for conducting investigations into incidents of death or serious harm that may have been the result of the actions or inactions of a police officer, whether on or off duty.”
CBC has previously reported: “An analysis of data from civilian police watchdogs in Canada shows that most of their investigations do not result in charges against officers. Charges were laid or forwarded to Crown prosecutors for consideration in three to nine per cent of the cases opened by the provincial agencies, a review by The Canadian Press of their most recent annual reports largely covering 2018 and 2019 found.”
That same article also notes: “A Canadian Press review found that of the 167 members involved in these units, 111 are former police officers.”
We continue to follow this.
Tweet: “Vanessa Renteria Valenica fue asesinada por la RCMP en Surrey, BC. Era una activista afrocolombiana y miembro del sindicato SNTT que huyó de Colombia a Canadá como refugiada en 2022 debido a las amenazas de muerte. Que se hunda en. Huyó de la muerte para ser asesinada por la policía.”
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