“I reiterate that on September 11 forgiveness was asked”

The Minister of Defense, Carlos Holmes Trujillo, reiterated that on September 11, 2020 he asked for forgiveness, on behalf of the National Police, for cases of violation of the law or ignorance of the regulations in which an official of that institution has incurred.

Such reiteration, spread in a video published on the official Twitter account of the Ministry, responds to the order of the Supreme Court of Justice to apologize for the abuses that the public force has committed during the recent social mobilizations.

The video was published half an hour before the deadline ordered by the Supreme Court of Justice in a sentence that defends the citizen’s right to peaceful social protest, and in which the National Government, the Office of the Ombudsman, the Attorney General’s Office and the Force are requested Public, establish protocols to guarantee peaceful social mobilizations.

“On the occasion of the STC7641 guardianship judgment of September 22, 2020, of the Civil Cassation Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice, the Ministry of National Defense is allowed to reiterate to public opinion that on September 11, 2020, the Minister of Defense, in a spontaneous, sincere, transparent and respectful act, widely disseminated, indicated that the National Police apologizes for any violation of the law or ignorance of the regulations in which any of the members of the institution may have incurred. This spontaneous expression of forgiveness refers to any violation of the Law, at any time, incurred by any of the members of the Institution, thereby guaranteeing respect for due process that assists each of the members of the Public force”.

The portfolio reiterated that it will be up to the judicial and disciplinary authorities to determine the responsibilities in each individual case.

Read here: The ruling of the Supreme Court on the right to social protest in Colombia

“The National Government and the Ministry of Defense have provided and will continue to provide all their support to these authorities and are attentive to the results of the investigations that are underway.”

The Court ruling, which also ordered the suspension of the use of the 12-gauge shotgun, revealed that there were shortcomings in the Mobile Anti-Riot Squad and highlighted “a systematic violation by the security forces, especially Esmad, and the a real threat that this institution poses to this superlative guarantee ”.

In addition, he called attention to the ingrained stereotypes against those who disagree with the policies of the National Government, therefore, one of the guidelines is that the members of the Executive Branch be ordered to maintain neutrality when non-violent demonstrations occur, including, if they are directed to question the policies of the State.

The document, in the Court’s opinion, must include a permanent obligation to guarantee and facilitate, in an impartial manner, the exercise of the fundamental rights to expression, assembly, peaceful protest and freedom of the press, even during events of foreign war, commotion. interior or state of emergency.