Colombian police used excessive force during protests: HRW report
MARCH 10, 2020 / 8:36 AM / 5 DAYS AGO
3 MIN READ
BOGOTA (Reuters) - Some members of Colombia’s police used excessive force against protesters participating in marches late last year, including beatings and detentions, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report on Tuesday, as unions and student groups prepared for further demonstrations this month.
Marchers held mass protests in November and December to demand a laundry list of actions from President Ivan Duque’s right-wing government, on everything from the murders of human rights activists to youth unemployment.
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Though marches were largely peaceful, in several instances, police beat protesters and used crowd-control weapons inappropriately, advocacy group HRW said.
“We have gathered worrying accounts and evidence of abuses by Colombia’s police, including arbitrary detention and brutal beatings against peaceful protesters, detainees, and bystanders,” said Jose Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch said in a statement.
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https://www.reuters.com/article/us-colombia-protests/colombian-police-used-excessive-force-during-protests-hrw-report-idUSKBN20X1VQ?rpc=401&