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| Colombia protests: Seventy-nine police officers taken hostage | Colombia protests: Seventy-nine police officers taken hostage |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Watch: Police held hostage in Colombia protest | Watch: Police held hostage in Colombia protest |
| Watch: Police held hostage in Colombia protest | Watch: Police held hostage in Colombia protest |
| A police officer has died and 79 others taken hostage during protests in Colombia's southern Caquetá province. | A police officer has died and 79 others taken hostage during protests in Colombia's southern Caquetá province. |
| Violence erupted on Thursday after residents blockaded the compound of the oil exploration company Emerald Energy. | Violence erupted on Thursday after residents blockaded the compound of the oil exploration company Emerald Energy. |
| They were demanding its help to repair and build new roads in the area. | They were demanding its help to repair and build new roads in the area. |
| A civilian was also killed and nine oilfield workers captured alongside the police officers. Video showed the hostages sitting in a crowded room on rows of chairs and on the floor. | |
| Colombian President Gustavo Petro said he hoped they would be "unilaterally" released before any escalation of violence, and asked for medical help from the Red Cross. | Colombian President Gustavo Petro said he hoped they would be "unilaterally" released before any escalation of violence, and asked for medical help from the Red Cross. |
| Many of the protesters are rural and indigenous people who want Emerald Energy to build new road infrastructure around the San Vicente del Caguan area. | Many of the protesters are rural and indigenous people who want Emerald Energy to build new road infrastructure around the San Vicente del Caguan area. |
| The oil company did not respond when approached by Reuters news agency for comment. | The oil company did not respond when approached by Reuters news agency for comment. |
| Colombian police paid tribute on Twitter to the police officer killed in the clash, who they named as Ricardo Monroy. | Colombian police paid tribute on Twitter to the police officer killed in the clash, who they named as Ricardo Monroy. |
| "Today we are more united than ever," they wrote, adding that Mr Monroy had "offered his life in the line of duty". | "Today we are more united than ever," they wrote, adding that Mr Monroy had "offered his life in the line of duty". |
| Local government officials said the officer died from a machete attack, while the civilian was killed by gunfire. | Local government officials said the officer died from a machete attack, while the civilian was killed by gunfire. |
| Colombia's human rights ombudsman Carlos Camargo - who was on site to mediate - said he had spoken with protesters and stopped them from firing Molotov cocktails at the oil facility. | Colombia's human rights ombudsman Carlos Camargo - who was on site to mediate - said he had spoken with protesters and stopped them from firing Molotov cocktails at the oil facility. |
| Protests in areas near energy and mining operations in Colombia are common as communities demand companies build infrastructure, including roads and schools. | Protests in areas near energy and mining operations in Colombia are common as communities demand companies build infrastructure, including roads and schools. |
| Police said a dissident subgroup of Farc rebels which rejected the 2016 peace deal were present in the region and may have been provoking the unrest. | Police said a dissident subgroup of Farc rebels which rejected the 2016 peace deal were present in the region and may have been provoking the unrest. |
| Separately, Mr Petro on Thursday unexpectedly published a statement on Twitter asking the country's prosecutor general to conduct a criminal investigation into allegations of corruption involving his own son and brother. | Separately, Mr Petro on Thursday unexpectedly published a statement on Twitter asking the country's prosecutor general to conduct a criminal investigation into allegations of corruption involving his own son and brother. |
| The statement did not specify the accusations against his eldest son, Nicolas Petro Burgos, and brother, Juan Fernando Petro Urrego, but it did say: "my government will not give out benefits to criminals in exchange for bribes". | The statement did not specify the accusations against his eldest son, Nicolas Petro Burgos, and brother, Juan Fernando Petro Urrego, but it did say: "my government will not give out benefits to criminals in exchange for bribes". |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Oil | Oil |
| Colombia | Colombia |