Amnesty calls for U.S. to stop selling weapons to Colombia

London, May 21 (RHC)-- Amnesty International is calling on the Biden administration to stop selling U.S.-made weapons and other equipment to Colombia, where police have been violently cracking down on popular protests. 

Earlier this month, Colombia’s human rights watchdog said at least 42 people have been killed in the ongoing protests, which are demanding an end to inequality, violence and militarized policing, and for the right-wing government of President Iván Duque to enact a number of social reforms. 

Indigenous leader Ati Quigua speaking during a rally in Bogota, said: “We would like to invite the government to stop the murders of social leaders.  In Colombia, there is a murder every three days.  In Colombia, they are murdering Indigenous leaders.  And we want respect for our lands, so that they don’t continue to be granted for extraction activities.”