ALCA Protest Cartegena
PROTEST AGAINST THE FREE TRADE OF THE AMERICAS AGREEMENT AND IN DEFENCE OF NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY

Around 3pm, the participants were exercising their constitutional right to demonstrate in the streets of Cartagena, when they were brutally injured by members of the Anti Riot Squad.
Since last Monday, various social, popular, workers and student sectors and organisations that have analysed the implications of the treaty had made it publicly known they would gather in the city to exercise the right for all the people to freely express themselves against decisions that affect the country socially, economically and politically. However, the national and local government declared the actions to be illegal and despatched a contingent of 2,000 police officers, reinforced by personnel from the Atlantic, Sucre and Bogotá commands, the Security Service DAS, the national Army and the Attrorney General [Fiscalia], treating the spontaneous demonstration of the community as if it were war.
Likewise, member of congress ALEXANDER LOPEZ MAYA, GUSTAVO PETRO, WILSON BORJA, VENUS ALVEIRO SILVA, PIEDAD CORDOBA, Senator JORGE ENRIQUE ROBLEDO and the Ex Mayor of Cartagena, BERNARDO HOYOS, were victims of state repression, whose political authority, as members of Parliament, were disregarded by the authorities.
This aggression left more than one hundred injured, including women and children, who needed urgent medical attention due to acute asphyxiation and pulmonary damage. More than 50 people were detained, including various students from the Atlantic University. To date, 22 people are still in detention, despite irrefutable proof of abuse by the authorities.
It is important to note that this has occurred despite an agreement with the authorities that the march would progress peacefully.

In respect of the above, we ask as a matter of urgency that:
You demand the immediate release of the 22 participants in the Cartagena march still detained with the aim of suppressing all form of protest.
Demand that the Colombian government and competent authorities respect and guarantee the exercise of legal and constitutional rights of Colombian citizens, including the defence of the detainees, the right to Life, freedom of assembly, security of the person, freedom of expression, freedom of information, opinion and protest.
Demand that the Colombian government adheres to all international treaties and conventions to which is a party.
Notify the United Nations, the Organisation of American States, the diplomatic corps in Colombia, the International Labour Organisation, in order to guarantee the human rights of the Colombian people.
Demand that the Colombian government explains its reasons for the systematic persecution of trade unions, popular, peasant and student organisations.
Association for Social Action Research NOMADESC, Union of University Workers of Colombia SINTRAUNICOLCali, Municipal Workers Union SINTRAEMCALI, Colombian Oil Workers Union USO, Association for Intergrated Social Development ECATE
CUT - VALLE DEL CAUCA, Corporation of Professional Community Services SEMBRAR, Colombia Miners Union SINTRAMINERCOL, The Student Movements of the Valle del Cauca and Nariño, Foundation for Solidarity with Political Prisoners, Valle del Cauca, Sintramunicipio Bugalagrande, Sintramunicipio Yumbo, Sintramunicipio Dagua, Sintrametal Yumbo

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