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| Authorities impose curfew in capital of Colombia, deploy 20k police against protesters | Authorities impose curfew in capital of Colombia, deploy 20k police against protesters |
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| 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. | 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.” | “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 are located on the south side of the capital and their residents are primarily poor and working-class Bogotans. The decision to lock them down was made after violence 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. | Over 200,000 people rallied in Bogota on Thursday. Another 20,000 rallied in Cali, prompting local authorities to impose a curfew there. |
| “The vast majority of citizens are good, hardworking. We are not going to let a minority of criminals destroy the city," Duque said on Friday, confirming the curfew declaration in Bogota. | “The vast majority of citizens are good, hardworking. We are not going to let a minority of criminals destroy the city," Duque said on Friday, confirming the curfew declaration in Bogota. |
| “We seek to preserve order and security in these areas, with the presence of police and national army,” the president tweeted. | “We seek to preserve order and security in these areas, with the presence of police and national army,” the president tweeted. |
| Public transit system Transmilenio is also shutting down for the night. The mayor has blamed protesters for damaging stations and more than 60 buses in “widespread vandalism.” | |
| 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." | 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." |
| Three people have been killed and hundreds of civilians and security personnel have been injured in the protests across Colombia, Defense Minister Carlos Holmes acknowledged on Friday. Over 100 people have been detained by the authorities so far. | |
| The protests were precipitated by Duque’s proposed pension reforms, but have since escalated into general discontent with the government, with grievances ranging from social issues to human rights. | |
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