Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Soldier commits suicide citing stigmatization over support for Colombia's national strike
by Adriaan Alsema November 26, 2019
A soldier has committed suicide after leaving a video message expressing support for Colombia’s anti-government protests and denouncing that stigmatization and threats by superiors left him “no option.”
According to local media, the 21-year-old soldier Brandon Cely took his life on Saturday after recording a video in which he denounced irregularities in the military and extreme peer pressure after he expressed support for the strike.
“There are many injustices here with the courses, things we are supposed to shut up about and bow our heads. We don’t have any rights. I have heard that I was an extreme leftist and an antisocial,” the soldier said.
According to Cely, he asked permission to be relieved from duty, but was told he would be charged with desertion, a crime that could lead to six years imprisonment.
More:
https://colombiareports.com/soldier-commits-suicide-citing-stigmatization-over-support-for-colombias-national-strike/