"This is a government that has acted with prudence, the Security forces have been patient and have tried to maintain the calm of the community," said Defense Minister Guillermo Botero during a debate on political control in the Senate, where he was summoned to answer on the issue of law and order in Cauca.
In his speech, the Minister expressed concern about the attacks on the civilian population in Cauca where 18 civilians have been wounded, as well as members of the Military Forces in which 10 soldiers have been wounded, along with 19 police officers who have injuries, A patrolman was killed and 12 military men have been deprived of their liberty.
"We must regret the death of police patrolman Boris Alejandro Benítez, killed with a 9mm weapon, during the reopening of the Pan-American highway, on March 19," said Botero, who in the same way lamented the death of the demonstrator Deiner Ceferino Yunda, apparently by an iron ball impact from a rudimentary firearm or an explosive device that would have left another person wounded.
On the role of the Government in the dialogues with the indigenous Minga, the head of the defense was emphatic: "We have to negotiate with the authorities, but we do not negotiate on the roadside (...) Indigenous people must collaborate with the law and order and the resolutions of the Government"
For the above, Botero recalled that Article 37 of the Constitution, says that every citizen has the right to protest and has the right to meet peacefully.
"Violent actions are not acceptable, they are a violation of Article 24 of the Constitution, which emphasizes that every Colombian, with the limitations established by law, has the right to move freely throughout the national territory (...)" said Botero .
To conclude, the Minister of Defense informed that in the 23 days of indigenous protest the Mobile Riot Squad (Esmad) has made 72 interventions, 184 explosive devices have been found and 2 civilian vehicles have been attacked.
"The Security forces will continue to support the communities in the departments of Valle, Cauca and Nariño, as well as providing security on alternate roads until the law and order situation in the south of the country is normalized," he emphasized.
