Brief
Colombia expands police authority to disperse protest roadblocks
The conservative government says the rules target aggression, while opposition warns they could fuel police violence.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Colombia's government announced on Tuesday a revision of the guidelines that govern police response to street protests, granting officers greater leeway to intervene when demonstrators vandalise public property or block essential services such as roads. The changes, issued by President Abelardo de la Espriella's administration, were published late on Tuesday, hours before the country's first major protest against the president's economic and security policies, scheduled for Wednesday in several cities.
In a nationally televised address on Monday, de la Espriella affirmed that peaceful protest would remain protected, but warned that roadblocks hindering work or commerce would now be treated as "acts of aggression" and could be broken up. He cited past roadblocks that delayed food and medicine deliveries, saying the new rules would end what he called a misuse of protest rights.
The revised protocol makes dialogue and mediation optional when aggression or vandalism occurs, a shift from the previous requirement that police first attempt negotiation. It also mandates the creation of "humanitarian corridors" to allow aid delivery during demonstrations.
Opposition senator Jennifer Pedraza criticised the guidelines, claiming they provide a legal pretext for increased police violence. Human‑rights groups and social movements have similarly rejected the changes, arguing they grant excessive power to law‑enforcement.
The guidelines follow a history of protest‑related deaths in 2021, when at least 46 people were killed in anti‑government demonstrations linked to economic inequality after the COVID‑19 pandemic.
Key facts
- Colombia's government revised protest‑response guidelines to give police broader powers to break up roadblocks and vandalism. (independent.co.uk)
- President Abelardo de la Espriella said the new rules target acts of aggression and will not impede peaceful marches. (independent.co.uk)
- The revised protocol makes dialogue and mediation optional when aggression occurs, unlike the previous mandatory approach. (independent.co.uk)
- Opposition senator Jennifer Pedraza warned the changes could lead to a rise in police violence. (independent.co.uk)
- In 2021, at least 46 people died in anti‑government protests, with human‑rights groups blaming police. (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Colombia gives police greater power to break up street protests”
