They accuse the Colombian Minister of Defense of being “responsible” for human rights violations

Opposition senators accused this Monday in a debate on the motion of censure the Colombian Minister of Defense, Diego Molano, of being one of the “politically responsible” for the human rights violations committed by the security forces during the demonstrations that began last 28 of April.

“In our opinion, you are one of the main political leaders in the systematic chain of crimes against humanity that have been perpetrated by agents and groups of the public force in Colombia since last April 28,” said leftist senator Iván Cepeda, of the Alternative Democratic Pole.

During the protests, the Police have been the target of serious accusations that include sexual attacks, physical violence and arbitrary arrests, and have also been singled out for the death of protesters.

Minister Molano, who will be the last to intervene, affirmed on social networks that he has been “listening carefully” to the Senate session, where he will clarify doubts about the actions of the public force in the framework of the national strike.

“I reiterate that we accompany the peaceful demonstrations and act to guarantee the rights and security of those who march and those who do not,” said the minister in a message posted on his Twitter account.

“Senator Cepeda, one of the most staunch opponents of the government of President Iván Duque, affirmed that the motion of censure is” appropriate “due to the state reaction that has been” ‘the most violently repressive response in times of pandemic worldwide’, as the (Portuguese) sociologist Boaventura de Sousa Santos has stated.”

It is also, he added, because “his administration and the general policy of the Government want to lead Colombia from having a simulated democracy to an openly despotic regime that is built on the destruction of the agreement and the peace process (with the FARC ), as well as the weakened rule of law. Minister, during these 25 days you are directly responsible for this situation.”

“It has designed the policy under which these massive violations have been committed, it has stigmatized peaceful mobilizations and those who have promoted or participated in them, it has encouraged violations by exalting their perpetrators and inciting violence,” he explained.

Cepeda added that “despite knowing the violations and criminal actions, he has consented to the events without condemning them and has not issued orders to stop them.”

The protests began in Colombia on April 28 against the Government’s already withdrawn tax reform, but they have continued, with less and less force, since then with a melting pot of demands and making social discontent visible.