Colombian police officers arrest a demonstrator during a protest against the government in Cali, Colombia on May 10, 2021. (Photo: Luis Robayo/AFP via Getty Images)
Amnesty Calls on Biden to End 'Outrageous' US Weapons Sales to Colombia Amid Police Repression
"The United States government has been an agonizing party to the killing, disappearances, sexual violence, and other torture and horrendous repression of dozens of mostly peaceful demonstrations."
Amnesty International on Thursday urged the Biden administration to immediately halt the sale of U.S. weapons and other law enforcement equipment to Colombia, where protests against the right-wing government's regressive economic policies have been met with violent and deadly attacks by the nation's police forces.
"The United States' role in fueling ceaseless cycles of violence committed against the people of Colombia is outrageous," Philippe Nassif, the advocacy director at Amnesty International USA, said in a statement. "The United States government has been an agonizing party to the killing, disappearances, sexual violence, and other torture and horrendous repression of dozens of mostly peaceful demonstrations."
"The United States government has been an agonizing party to the killing, disappearances, sexual violence, and other torture, and horrendous repression of dozens of mostly peaceful demonstrations."
--Philippe Nassif, Amnesty International
In a press release, Amnesty said it verified visual evidence showing that Colombian law enforcement has used Venom high-capacity grenade launchers and Penn Arms hand-held grenade launchers--both made by the U.S. company Combined Systems--to repress nationwide protests, which erupted late last month in response to a tax reform plan that would have hit working-class households while largely shielding the wealthy.
Though Colombian President Ivan Duque withdrew the unpopular tax proposal earlier this month, the street demonstrations have persisted--a reflection of widespread anger over the nation's persistent poverty, unemployment, and deep inequities.
Colombian police forces have killed dozens of people and injured hundreds more in their efforts to crush the demonstrations, which are now in their fourth consecutive week with no end in sight.
"Several instances of police abuse have been captured on video in recent days, including one in which a young protester is seen kicking a police officer on a motorbike," the New York Times reported earlier this month. "The video shows the officer respond by shooting at the protester as he runs away. The protester was Marcelo Agredo, 17, the ninth grader who went out to march with his brother. He died soon after."
In his statement Thursday, Nassif said the Biden administration must institute a suspension of weapon and equipment transfers to Colombia and keep it in place "until the Colombian security forces fully comply with international law and standards on the use of force, abuses are independently and impartially investigated, and there is full accountability for all human rights violations that have been committed by the Colombian authorities."
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken "has the power to stop the fear and terror that Colombian protesters are enduring," said Nassif, "and he must do so immediately."
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Amnesty International on Thursday urged the Biden administration to immediately halt the sale of U.S. weapons and other law enforcement equipment to Colombia, where protests against the right-wing government's regressive economic policies have been met with violent and deadly attacks by the nation's police forces.
"The United States' role in fueling ceaseless cycles of violence committed against the people of Colombia is outrageous," Philippe Nassif, the advocacy director at Amnesty International USA, said in a statement. "The United States government has been an agonizing party to the killing, disappearances, sexual violence, and other torture and horrendous repression of dozens of mostly peaceful demonstrations."
"The United States government has been an agonizing party to the killing, disappearances, sexual violence, and other torture, and horrendous repression of dozens of mostly peaceful demonstrations."
--Philippe Nassif, Amnesty International
In a press release, Amnesty said it verified visual evidence showing that Colombian law enforcement has used Venom high-capacity grenade launchers and Penn Arms hand-held grenade launchers--both made by the U.S. company Combined Systems--to repress nationwide protests, which erupted late last month in response to a tax reform plan that would have hit working-class households while largely shielding the wealthy.
Though Colombian President Ivan Duque withdrew the unpopular tax proposal earlier this month, the street demonstrations have persisted--a reflection of widespread anger over the nation's persistent poverty, unemployment, and deep inequities.
Colombian police forces have killed dozens of people and injured hundreds more in their efforts to crush the demonstrations, which are now in their fourth consecutive week with no end in sight.
"Several instances of police abuse have been captured on video in recent days, including one in which a young protester is seen kicking a police officer on a motorbike," the New York Times reported earlier this month. "The video shows the officer respond by shooting at the protester as he runs away. The protester was Marcelo Agredo, 17, the ninth grader who went out to march with his brother. He died soon after."
In his statement Thursday, Nassif said the Biden administration must institute a suspension of weapon and equipment transfers to Colombia and keep it in place "until the Colombian security forces fully comply with international law and standards on the use of force, abuses are independently and impartially investigated, and there is full accountability for all human rights violations that have been committed by the Colombian authorities."
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken "has the power to stop the fear and terror that Colombian protesters are enduring," said Nassif, "and he must do so immediately."
Amnesty International on Thursday urged the Biden administration to immediately halt the sale of U.S. weapons and other law enforcement equipment to Colombia, where protests against the right-wing government's regressive economic policies have been met with violent and deadly attacks by the nation's police forces.
"The United States' role in fueling ceaseless cycles of violence committed against the people of Colombia is outrageous," Philippe Nassif, the advocacy director at Amnesty International USA, said in a statement. "The United States government has been an agonizing party to the killing, disappearances, sexual violence, and other torture and horrendous repression of dozens of mostly peaceful demonstrations."
"The United States government has been an agonizing party to the killing, disappearances, sexual violence, and other torture, and horrendous repression of dozens of mostly peaceful demonstrations."
--Philippe Nassif, Amnesty International
In a press release, Amnesty said it verified visual evidence showing that Colombian law enforcement has used Venom high-capacity grenade launchers and Penn Arms hand-held grenade launchers--both made by the U.S. company Combined Systems--to repress nationwide protests, which erupted late last month in response to a tax reform plan that would have hit working-class households while largely shielding the wealthy.
Though Colombian President Ivan Duque withdrew the unpopular tax proposal earlier this month, the street demonstrations have persisted--a reflection of widespread anger over the nation's persistent poverty, unemployment, and deep inequities.
Colombian police forces have killed dozens of people and injured hundreds more in their efforts to crush the demonstrations, which are now in their fourth consecutive week with no end in sight.
"Several instances of police abuse have been captured on video in recent days, including one in which a young protester is seen kicking a police officer on a motorbike," the New York Times reported earlier this month. "The video shows the officer respond by shooting at the protester as he runs away. The protester was Marcelo Agredo, 17, the ninth grader who went out to march with his brother. He died soon after."
In his statement Thursday, Nassif said the Biden administration must institute a suspension of weapon and equipment transfers to Colombia and keep it in place "until the Colombian security forces fully comply with international law and standards on the use of force, abuses are independently and impartially investigated, and there is full accountability for all human rights violations that have been committed by the Colombian authorities."
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken "has the power to stop the fear and terror that Colombian protesters are enduring," said Nassif, "and he must do so immediately."