BPFNA denounces violence against protesters in Colombia • BPFNA denuncia violencia contra manifestantes en Colombia

The board and staff of BPFNA-Bautistas por la Paz are deeply disturbed by the violence against protesters and denounce the bloodshed happening by the Colombian State against its people. 

Demonstrations have erupted across the country due to a proposed tax overhaul by the government that has turned into a national outcry over rising poverty, unemployment and inequality. From what we know, at least 26 people have been killed and hundreds more have been injured during the protests; however, the situation is apparently much worse than what is being reported in foreign news. 

In Cali especially – the location of the most recent Global Baptist Peace Conference in 2019 – the violence has been extreme. On Monday, May 3, police opened fire on the crowd of protesters. We are also hearing news from friends on the ground that Cali is almost completely shut down with hardly anyone one being allowed in or out – and that curfews are being enacted across the country. UN Human Rights defenders are also being harassed and threatened. 

We pray for the people of Colombia and call for others to join us in raising awareness about what is happening there. Especially during a global pandemic where we’ve seen economic inequalities worsen, we understand and empathize with the frustration and anger of those demanding justice. We stand with the people of Colombia in demanding an end to the human rights abuses and that the President Iván Duque immediately call its security forces to stand down and end the bloodshed. We also make a call for the government to withdraw the proposed tax reform, which prioritizes money over people; the rich over the poor. 

#SOSColombia #SOSColombiaDDHH #SOSColombiaEnDictadura #ColombiaEnAlertaRoja #FuerzaColombia