This Thursday, February 8, there are mobilizations in Bogotá called by different political sectors, social, educational and citizen organizations in support of President Gustavo Petro, who called the event, which is supported by Fecode and the Sena. According to the protesters, there will be three exit points from 8:00 am: the Prosecutor’s Bunker, on Calle 13 with Carrera 13 and on Calle 12 with Carrera Septima, at the headquarters of the Supreme Court of Justice.
All protesters have the meeting point at Plaza de Bolívar at 12:00 pm, located at Carrera 7 #11-10.
Follow the situation live in the capital of Colombia:
“Coexistence managers had to defend the press during the demonstrations”, Carlos Fernando Galán
At the close of the day of mobilizations in the capital, Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán denounced that several journalists were attacked by protesters. The president assured that the mayor’s office had to have coexistence managers to protect the integrity of cameramen and reporters who were besieged with insults and beatings. The most visible case was that of a journalist from Blu Radio, who had to move away from Plaza de Bolívar due to the threats he received from a woman and other protesters. Some journalists even had to hide the name of the media outlet they work for to avoid being attacked.
Today, our team of managers @Bogota had to intervene in the demonstrations to protect members of the press who were being attacked.
Freedom of the press and expression are fundamental pillars of our democratic system and we are not going to accept attacks…
— Carlos F. Galán (@CarlosFGalan) February 9, 2024
Gustavo Petro meets with the military leadership
The President of the Republic suspended his speech scheduled for the night and decided to call an extraordinary meeting with the military leadership. Together with the high command of the army, Gustavo Petro analyzes the public order situation that occurred outside the Palace of Justice. For 3 hours, the venue was blocked by nearly 100 demonstrations that had to be dispersed by ESMAD. Petro insists that the outrages were caused by infiltrators and not by the organizers of the march.
Magistrates and Palace staff are evacuated from the premises
Once ESMAD troops managed to clear access to the Palace of Justice, administrative staff and some magistrates managed to leave the premises under strict security measures. The bodyguards and other protection personnel assigned to the robes escort the magistrates.
Prosecutor’s Office forms a team to investigate the blockade of the Palace of Justice
The Attorney General’s Office announced the formation of a team that will be in charge of investigating what happened during the blockades of the Palace of Justice. The investigations, the entity announced, will be aimed at establishing the corresponding criminal actions against those who have committed criminal acts during the day. Finally, the entity asked for respect for the institutions and reiterated its defense of the right to free demonstration, as long as it is within the margin of the law.
Clashes between public forces and some protesters
Given the blockages at the entrance to the Palace of Justice on Carrera 8, the public force carried out an intervention to clear access to the premises. Through the use of gas, the Police try to disperse the protesters.
Petro Orders to remove the blockades from the Palace of Justice
Insinuating that the blockades of the Palace of Justice could have been caused by infiltrators, the president ordered the public forces to clear the exit from the premises “with respect, but forcefully.” After issuing the order, Gustavo Petro demanded a thorough investigation of the people who participated in the blockade, which has now lasted more than two hours.
Meanwhile, some Palace officials had to be evacuated from the facilities via Calle 11 and Cra 7. The exit is being heavily guarded by members of the public force.
Supreme Court of Justice rules on the blockades in the Palace of Justice
Almost immediately afterwards, the Supreme Court issued its own statement. “The Supreme Court of Justice emphatically rejects the siege of the Palace of Justice in the last few hours. “A situation that, in addition to seriously affecting the right to freedom of movement, puts at risk the life and physical integrity of judges, employees, journalists and other occupants of the country’s main seat of justice,” explained the high court, which met today unsuccessfully to elect the new prosecutor.
President of the Constitutional Court speaks out on the blockades in the Palace of Justice
At around 4:00 pm, the president of the Constitutional Court, Diana Fajardo, issued a statement about the security situation in the Supreme Court. The magistrate noted that: “I make a concerned call for common sense and calm. I highlight the legitimacy of free citizen mobilization, as a genuine expression of their demands, and I emphasize the obligation of all other inhabitants of the country and the institutions, to respect and guarantee it.”
However, says President Fajardo, “she also draws attention to the need not to block, pressure or intimidate the Institutions of Justice. Judges at all levels require time, space and conditions suitable for adequate deliberation and decision of their own matters and assignments.”
Finally, in the statement from the Court, it sends its voice of support, “unrestricted encouragement and support and hopes that its independence is respected, its decisions respected and its magistrates protected.”
Gustavo Petro asks the Police to identify and act on the protesters blocking the Palace
The head of state published a tweet on the social network X, asking the Police to act and identify the people who are promoting the blockades of the Palace of Justice. Likewise, in response to a request from journalist Vicky Davila to call for order, Petro said that the “extreme right” feared that a new prosecutor would be elected.
Here the only one attacking justice is the extreme right that fears a decent prosecutor. Therefore, I order the national police to act on the people who impede the free mobility of magistrates and present a public report on who they are. https://t.co/CfIcoCDxI2
— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) February 8, 2024
General Salamanca talks with the magistrates about the situation at the entrance to the Palace
Around 3:00 pm, the director of the Police, William René Salamanca, arrived at the high court to take stock of security matters. “I am preparing to speak with the magistrates and I have no information that there is violence or an excessive expression of insecurity. If there is, we will have to act,” said the senior officer. Regarding the alleged attack with stones that a magistrate would have suffered, he indicated that he also had no information about it.
What he made clear is that, if the blockades persist, the public forces will act. “The safety of the magistrates and officials takes precedence. I have not received information from any magistrate about their safety and that is why I have come to speak with them. “I preferred to come here to see the situation,” said the Police director.
Protesters block entrance to the Palace of Justice on Carrera 12
A group of at least 80 people is blocking the entrance to the Palace of Justice on Carrera 12. After the prosecutor’s election was postponed, a group of protesters headed to the entrance of the Palace. Some people claim that they have not allowed the lunches of the magistrates and people who need to enter the premises. The District’s coexistence managers are present at the scene to normalize the situation.
Citizens continue to protest and demand the election of the new prosecutor
Demonstrations demanding the election of the next prosecutor continue. The sit-in is at 12th and 8th Street, this after the Plenary Chamber of the Supreme Court did not choose the new attorney general.
Faced with the decision, a group of protesters tried to enter the Palace of Justice. According to Senator María José Pizarro, “a sector of saboteurs wanted to stage an alleged attempt to “take over” the Court.”
A sector of saboteurs wanted to stage an alleged attempt to “take over” the Court.
As you can see in the videos, it is precisely the peaceful mobilization that sanctions and separates some unknown people who wanted to set the scene. Not like that!
Our respect to the authorities of… pic.twitter.com/rSmZ5BtpqE
— María José Pizarro Rodríguez (@PizarroMariaJo) February 8, 2024
20,000 people go out to march in Bogotá
Hundreds of citizens arrive around noon at the facilities of the Supreme Court of Justice. And some advance towards the Plaza de Bolívar. According to the Government Secretariat of Bogotá, around 20,000 people are expected to march in Bogotá on February 8.
Citizens came out to demonstrate in support of the Petro Government, in the center of Bogotá.
Photo: Mauricio Alvarado Lozada
Senator Martha Peralta, of the Historical Pact, speaks in the middle of the demonstration
Fabio Arias, president of the CUT, speaks out
Fabio Arias, president of the CUT, one of the organizations that called today’s marches, said that if the prosecutor has evidence that the president committed a crime within the framework of the campaign, he should take it to the Commission of Accusations and step aside. of the discussion.
Representative Leyla Rincón, of the Historical Pact, goes out to demonstrate
Representative Leyla Rincón, of the Historical Pact, requested the prompt election of the next attorney general from the sit-in at the Prosecutor’s Office Bunker.
Protesters in front of the Supreme Court of Justice
A group of people gather at this time in front of the Supreme Court of Justice, for the eighth race, to ask the high court to elect today the new attorney general, who will replace Francisco Barbosa.
“Citizens have the right to mobilize”: Minister of the Interior
The Minister of the Interior, Luis Fernando Velasco, spoke out against the mobilizations of this February 8 in Bogotá. “Citizens have the right to mobilize and express their demands non-violently,” he wrote in his X account and spoke out against the raid by Fecode, a federation that accompanies today’s marches in support of the Petro Government.
Citizens have the right to mobilize and express their demands non-violently. Today @fecode after his headquarters were raided to find out if he contributed 500 million pesos to the party @ColombiaHumana_ (contribution that could be found with a simple visit to the…
— Luis Fernando Velasco Chaves ???? (@velascoluisf) February 8, 2024
Demonstrations at the Prosecutor’s Office
This is the panorama in the vicinity of the Prosecutor’s Office in Bogotá. Within an hour, more people arrive to demonstrate at this point in the capital.
Citizens arrive at the National Park
At this time, citizens with flags, banners and megaphones begin to arrive at the National Park, located on Carrera Septima and Calle 35. The protesters are expected to advance towards the headquarters of the Supreme Court of Justice.
Demonstration advances along Esperanza Avenue
The Ministry of Mobility reported that citizen mobilization on Esperanza Avenue towards the west is progressing. Likewise, there is traffic congestion and the protesters are advancing towards the Prosecutor’s Bunker.
Demonstrations begin on Carrera 30
The mobilization begins in the NQS Seine with 17th Street. The protesters advance from east to west, heading to the Prosecutor’s Office Bunker. There is an approximate capacity of 200 people.
????Manifestation
[07:45 a.m.]#At this time A demonstration takes place on 17th Street and 33rd Street. Participants advance in an East-West direction towards the Prosecutor’s Office Bunker.
Authorities provide support. pic.twitter.com/TNHcbUflxe
— Bogotá Tránsito (@BogotaTransito) February 8, 2024
Police Accompaniment
Bogotá Metropolitan Police announced that it has deployed a device of more than 900 uniformed personnel to accompany the event on February 8.
For more news from the capital and Cundinamarca, visit the Bogotá section of El Espectador.