Authorities impose curfew in capital of Colombia, deploy 20k police against protesters
by RT
Authorities impose curfew in capital of Colombia, deploy 20k police against protesters
The mayor of Bogota has imposed an overnight curfew on Bosa, Kennedy and Ciudad Bolivar – three districts in the Colombian capital – and deployed 20,000 uniformed police to “establish order” as anti-government protests continue.
“What we are facing is not a march,” said Mayor Enrique Peñalosa, announcing the measure on Friday evening, describing the protesters as a small number of “criminals, vandals, looting, stealing and wanting to practically end our city.”
The three districts have been the most affected by the violence that has erupted on the sidelines of mass protests against the austerity measures of President Ivan Duque’s government.
Over 200,000 people rallied in Bogota on Thursday. Another 20,000 rallied in Cali, prompting local authorities to impose a curfew there.
“We seek to preserve order and security in these areas, with the presence of police and national army,” Duque tweeted, confirming the curfew declaration in Bogota.
Footage from Bogota shows riot police firing tear gas at masked protesters pelting them with rocks. As the sun sets over the Colombian capital, local media describe the situation as “very complex.”
