By Lizeth Suesca Lizsariza on December 3, 2022
President Gustavo Petro
During the Dialogue with Presidents of Community Action Boards in Pasto, in the southern department of Nariño, President Gustavo Petro assured that in Colombia the right to protest must be re-dignified as it is a democratic right.
Therefore, he announced that his government will respect that right and that the young people who were detained during the past protests, particularly under the Duque presidency, will be released before Christmas Eve.
“The right to protest is a democratic right, the right to express oneself, to mobilize is a democratic right, governments that order their police to kill, imprison, torture and detain young people are not democratic governments”, said the head of state.
The president went on to say, “this is the government of change and this place must be re-dignified, therefore I announce that hundreds of young people detained for participating in protests will be declared peace managers before Christmas Eve in Colombia”.
The head of state said that his government does not agree with youth and social leaders and activists who were simply expressing themselves, for this reason they should not be imprisoned in jails when they have the right to spend Christmas with their families.
Source: Caracol Radio, translation Resumen Latinoamericano – US