Security update
October 14: the first big march against the new government, and 131 extraditions in 67 days
Here's what happened since the last update, and what each one means.
1The first big march against the government stays mostly peaceful
On Wednesday, October 14, unions, the teachers' union and Petro's party, the Pacto Histórico, marched in Bogotá, Medellín, Cali and other cities, in the first big protest against the new government. Former president Gustavo Petro walked with the march in Bogotá, but he didn't speak from the stage. Most of the day was peaceful. In Bogotá, a hailstorm around 1 PM broke up much of the crowd, and closed TransMilenio stations affected more than 270,000 riders. Protesters threw paint at the Palace of Justice. In Ibagué, riot police used tear gas to break up a group in a downtown park, and in Medellín the police cleared a road that hooded men had blocked, throwing bottles. It was the first day under the new protest rules, Decree 1525. Senator Jennifer Pedraza called the military presence disproportionate and said she'll take it to the Council of State. The organizers ended the day announcing preparations for a national strike in November.
What it means for usThe new rules got their first test without major violence. The next test is the national strike in November, and strikes bring roadblocks. When the date is set, plan your travel around it.
2131 extraditions in 67 days, he says
At 12:40 PM, the president posted that in 67 days in office he has "unblocked and signed 131 extradition processes." The next line of the same post says 142. "Extradition is a fundamental tool of international cooperation, and under my government we're using it with all the force of the law," he wrote.
What it meansExtradition is back as one of the main weapons against the groups, the way it was under Uribe. His own post gives 2 different totals, so the exact number isn't clear yet.
On social media
His extradition post drew about 126,000 views, 6,000 likes and 285 replies. The most-liked replies were attacks. The top one (42 likes) mocked his follower count and his "bots" and ended: "YOU ARE NOT MY PRESIDENT... Clown." Another threw the Santa Marta escape back at him: "And 41 got away from you in Santa Marta. Drop the show about the transfers. Don't be an idiot." (38 likes) One reply (32 likes) posted a video of Petro at the march in Bogotá. Supporters had fewer likes: "Proud of our president. My #Tigre" (23 likes), and "Mr. President, we long to see this picture become a reality all over Colombia. All for the Homeland!" (11 likes) The new theme: the critics say his support online comes from bots. This comes from the top replies on X, not a poll.
I support most of this. But it doesn't go far enough. These groups use any space they're given to reset and grow. They need to be crushed, not contained.