Colombian Miners Report Use of Snipers Against Demonstrators

Miners in Remedios and Segovia in Colombia have reported on Wednesday the alleged use of snipers by police forces as a repressive measure against protests that they say led to the death of 18-year-old Brando Stid Ochoa.

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According to the Vice Chairman of the Mining Bureau, Jaime Gallego, the alleged police sniper use occurred when demonstrating miners clashed with police, and Brandon was struck by a bullet in his chest. Two others were also non-fatally injured and taken to a hospital in Medellin.

Local residents strong denounced the presence of snipers in the community, as well as the presence of the Mobile Anti-Riot Squad (ESMAD) in Segovia, and the police take-over of a local school.

“What the authorities say is false, such as what the mayor of Segocia and the government secretary of Antioquia are saying, that the demonstrators were inside the Liborio Bataller school. The ones inside there were the ESMAD. They took the school, installing themselves in there and firing on the population,” Gallego said.

Miners in Segovia and Remedios have been striking indefinitely since July 21st, and their demonstrations have been heavily repressed by state authorities on several occasions.

According to Gallego, demonstrators in Segovia have been met with “high hostility” from police. The state, he said, is “trying to justify their actions, but we do not need to lie to the people.”

Following the death of Ochoa, police originally said that he was killed by an explosive device thrown by protesters, a claim that was immediately challenged by many local residents.