Colombia’s Defense Minister apologized on behalf of the national police and administration for police brutality on Friday, as the country burnt with protest.
Colombia witnessed mass protests against police action against a detained man, Javier Ordonez, 46, who died in police custody in the capital city Bogota. These protests injured several hundred people and 13 people were killed in the cities of Bogota and Soacha.
"The national police apologize for any violation of the law or ignorance of regulations by any members of the institution," Defence Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo said in a video message Friday morning.
La @PoliciaColombia pide perdón por cualquier violación a la Ley o desconocimiento de los reglamentos en que haya incurrido cualquiera de los miembros de la Institución. pic.twitter.com/isBULI8qfd
— Carlos Holmes Trujillo (@CarlosHolmesTru) September 11, 2020
President Ivan Duque said, “Hundreds of protestors have been injured in the clash between the police and locals. Around 200 police officers have also been injured. At least 60 police stations have been vandalized, as well as dozens of public transport vehicles. Some 140 people have been arrested for vandalism.”
The video of Ordonez shows him pinned to the ground by police officers and subjected to successive electric shocks early on Wednesday as he begs, "please, no more."
Police said Ordonez was found drinking alcohol in the street with friends in violation of coronavirus distancing rules. He was taken to a police station in western Bogota which has become a focal point of protests and later died in hospital.
