Rio de Janeiro (dpa) – Colombian President Ivan Duque on Friday night said military assistance would be sent to support police in the Valle del Cauca Department after several people died in protests earlier in the day.
«Starting tonight the maximum deployment of military assistance will begin,» the president said in a statement delivered from the western province’s capital of Cali.
«We can’t have islands of anarchy in this country,» Duque said.
Earlier in the day Valle del Cauca Governor Clara Luz Roldan declared a curfew from 7 pm to 5 am «to preserve the health, life and safety of Valle del Cauca residents,» she said.
Four people died on Friday in Cali in armed clashes over street blocks which have been affecting the mobility of residents and goods, local media reported.
Since the end of April, there have been numerous protests in different cities in the South American country. As of Wednesday at least 42 people died in connection with the demonstrations.
Initially, the demonstrators had protested against a tax reform that has since been withdrawn. Opposition to a health reform – now also scrapped – and advocacy for the fragile peace process were then some of the new isues that brought people out onto the streets.