Colombia: Defence minister confirms 3 dead during anti-govt. protests

SOT, Carlos Holmes Trujillo, Minister of Defence (Spanish): "In the last few hours the authorities have confirmed the death of two people in Buenaventura amid the riots, and one more in Candelaria, both municipalities of Valle [del Cauca]. With regard to this specific point, I would like to inform the following before continuing. In the evening, an attempt at looting happened in a Buenaventura shopping centre in the Puerta del Mar neighborhood, in district 12 of the city of Buenaventura. After this violent event, the public security forces arrived to face it, and were the target of violent aggression with the throwing of stones and sticks. As a result of the confrontation of the vandals and the public force, and in events that are part of the investigation by the CTI of the Attorney General’s Office, two people were killed, and a member of the national police and a professional marine were injured.” *NO CUTAWAYS AT SOURCE*
SOT, Carlos Holmes Trujillo, Minister of Defence (Spanish): “Between yesterday and today, 98 people were arrested, 207 were taken to police stations for their protection, eight minors were apprehended and 53 raids were carried out in compliance with the orders of the Attorney General's Office.” *NO CUTAWAYS AT SOURCE*
SOT, Carlos Holmes Trujillo, Minister of Defence (Spanish): “In total, 151 members of the public security forces, 148 soldiers, and three police officers were injured during the day of protests throughout the country. 122 civilians were also injured during the day; they have minor injuries or those injuries are the result of gas inhalation.” *NO CUTAWAYS AT SOURCE*
SCRIPT
Colombian Defence Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo confirmed that three people died and 273 were injured in protests that took place on Thursday against the policies of the government of President Ivan Duque. He made the comments during a press conference in Bogota on Friday.
Trujillo said that "in the last few hours authorities have confirmed the death of two people in Buenaventura, amid the riots, and one more in Candelaria, both in the departments of Valle del Cauca."
He added that among the injured are "148 military, 122 civilians and three policemen."
On Thursday, a national strike took place in Colombia in which union members, pensioners, workers and students joined together to protest "against the package of regressive measures in economic, social, labour and environmental matters, for life, peace and human rights,” as indicated by the National Strike Committee in a statement.