The balance presented by the Grita Platform revealed that they have received reports of 362 cases of physical violence since the beginning of the strike. | Photo: EFE

Bogota, May 14 (RHC)-- On the social network Twitter, the non-governmental organization Temblores presented the balance made by the referred Platform on the repression of members of the Mobile Anti-Riot Squad (ESMAD) and the Colombian Army against the demonstrations.

Between April 28 and May 12, 2,110 cases of violence by the Public Force were reported throughout the country, as well as 362 victims of physical violence, 39 homicides and 1,055 arbitrary detentions.

In addition, they have received complaints for 442 violent interventions in the midst of peaceful protests, 30 people have been victims of eye injuries, while in 133 cases there were firearm shots, 16 victims of sexual violence and three for gender-based violence.

"In addition to the above figures, there are practices such as the presence of agents in civilian clothes inside the demonstrations, attacks with firearms by armed groups outside the law," says the organization's statement.

Users of social networks have denounced this Thursday that members of the Esmad repressed demonstrators who were in the municipality of Buga, located in the Colombian department of Valle del Cauca.  In the framework of the 16th day of the National Strike, the senator for the Comunes party, Griselda Lobo, echoed the allegations about gunshots and tear gas thrown against the demonstrators.

Likewise, other users posted videos to denounce that the Esmad launched tear gas against residential areas in Buga, affecting children and elderly people.   They report this situation to me from Buga, Valle del Cauca.

During the night, there were also complaints of repression by the ESMAD against peaceful protests in Barranquilla, Atlántico department; in Bogotá and Popayán.