Colombia will begin "the maximum deployment" of military personnel in the western province of Valle del Cauca and its capital, Cali, President Ivan Duque said on Friday, after four people died in protests to mark a month of anti-government demonstrations. 
 
The four died in and around Cali on Friday as tens of thousands marched across the country in the latest in demonstrations that started on April 28 to oppose tax reform but have since expanded to include wide-ranging demands. 
 
Talks between the government and the protest leaders, including union leaders who have formed a national strike committee, have stalled. 
 
"From tonight begins the maximum deployment of military assistance to the national police in Cali and the province of Valle," Duque said in a televised message. 
 
He added that more than 7,000 personnel will be sent to lift road blockades, including members of the navy, but did not give any more specifics. 
 
Clara Luz Roldan, governor of Valle del Cauca, earlier declared a curfew would start in the province from 7:00 p.m. 
 
On Friday in Cali, an epicenter of the protests, Mayor Jorge Ospina confirmed three deaths. Local media reported the fourth death occurred on the road between Cali and the town of Candelaria. 
 
Two people in Cali were killed when an agent of the attorney general`s investigative unit opened fire on civilians, before also being killed, Attorney General Francisco Barbosa said in a televised message. The agent was not on duty at the time, Barbosa said. 
 
The demonstrations have been plagued by violence. 
 
As of Thursday 17 civilians have died in connection with protests, the government said. Human rights groups say dozens more have been killed by security forces. Two police officers were also earlier reported killed. 
 
Human Rights Watch`s executive director for the Americas, Jose Miguel Vivanco, said on Twitter the advocacy group had verified videos published on social media showing armed men in civilian clothes firing weapons while police look on. 
 
Vivanco called on Defense Minister Diego Molano to explain. Colombia`s defense ministry did not immediately respond to questions. 
 
DEMANDS 
 
The demonstrations have pressured the government and lawmakers into shelving the tax and health reforms and prompted the resignation of former finance minister Alberto Carrasquilla. 
 
Protester demands now also include a basic income, opportunities for young people and an end to police violence. 
 
Although demonstrations outside Valle del Cauca on Friday were mostly peaceful, clashes between police and protesters were reported in some areas, such as the municipality of Madrid, near Bogota, as were incidents of violence in the city of Popayan. 
 
Amid singing and music in the capital Bogota, protesters said they would keep marching. 
 
"Until the government listens to us, we have to stay in the streets," Alejandro Franco, 23, told Reuters. Close to graduating, he said he was marching for better education and health, among other reasons. 
 
"If the people don`t have peace then neither will the government," he added. 
 
Despite the government and protest leaders reaching a "pre-agreement" for ending demonstrations this week, strike organizers on Thursday said the government had not signed the deal and accused it of stalling. 
 
"We have already reached the agreement, the only thing missing is the president`s signature to start the negotiations," Francisco Maltes, president of the Central Union of Workers (CUT), said on Friday, accusing the government of delaying talks. 
 
The government said it had not signed the deal because some protest leaders would not condemn road blocks, calling the issue non-negotiable, and adding that talks will resume on Sunday. 
 
Colombia`s finance ministry estimates protests and roadblocks have cost the country $2.68 billion, with the roadblocks leading to shortages of food and other supplies, boosting prices, and disrupting operations in the country`s main seaport as well as for hundreds of companies. 
 
"I have to close my shop every time there are protests," Laudice Ramirez, 62, said in the south of the city. "I`m going bankrupt, but the youth don`t have any other options for opportunities." 
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Colombia will begin "the maximum deployment" of military personnel in the western province of Valle del Cauca and its capital, Cali, President Ivan Duque said on Friday, after four people died in protests to mark a month of anti-government demonstrations.

Colombia will begin "the maximum deployment" of military personnel in the western province of Valle del Cauca and its capital, Cali, President Ivan Duque said on Friday, after four people died in protests to mark a month of anti-government demonstrations. The four died in and around Cali on Friday as tens of thousands marched across the country in the latest in demonstrations that started on April 28 to oppose tax reform but have since expanded to include wide-ranging demands. Talks between the government and the protest leaders, including union leaders who have formed a national strike committee, have stalled. "From tonight begins the maximum deployment of military assistance to the national police in Cali and the province of Valle," Duque said in a televised message. He added that more than 7,000 personnel will be sent to lift road blockades, including members of the navy, but did not give any more specifics. Clara Luz Roldan, governor of Valle del Cauca, earlier declared a curfew would start in the province from 7:00 p.m. On Friday in Cali, an epicenter of the protests, Mayor Jorge Ospina confirmed three deaths. Local media reported the fourth death occurred on the road between Cali and the town of Candelaria. Two people in Cali were killed when an agent of the attorney general`s investigative unit opened fire on civilians, before also being killed, Attorney General Francisco Barbosa said in a televised message. The agent was not on duty at the time, Barbosa said. The demonstrations have been plagued by violence. As of Thursday 17 civilians have died in connection with protests, the government said. Human rights groups say dozens more have been killed by security forces. Two police officers were also earlier reported killed. Human Rights Watch`s executive director for the Americas, Jose Miguel Vivanco, said on Twitter the advocacy group had verified videos published on social media showing armed men in civilian clothes firing weapons while police look on. Vivanco called on Defense Minister Diego Molano to explain. Colombia`s defense ministry did not immediately respond to questions. DEMANDS The demonstrations have pressured the government and lawmakers into shelving the tax and health reforms and prompted the resignation of former finance minister Alberto Carrasquilla. Protester demands now also include a basic income, opportunities for young people and an end to police violence. Although demonstrations outside Valle del Cauca on Friday were mostly peaceful, clashes between police and protesters were reported in some areas, such as the municipality of Madrid, near Bogota, as were incidents of violence in the city of Popayan. Amid singing and music in the capital Bogota, protesters said they would keep marching. "Until the government listens to us, we have to stay in the streets," Alejandro Franco, 23, told Reuters. Close to graduating, he said he was marching for better education and health, among other reasons. "If the people don`t have peace then neither will the government," he added. Despite the government and protest leaders reaching a "pre-agreement" for ending demonstrations this week, strike organizers on Thursday said the government had not signed the deal and accused it of stalling. "We have already reached the agreement, the only thing missing is the president`s signature to start the negotiations," Francisco Maltes, president of the Central Union of Workers (CUT), said on Friday, accusing the government of delaying talks. The government said it had not signed the deal because some protest leaders would not condemn road blocks, calling the issue non-negotiable, and adding that talks will resume on Sunday. Colombia`s finance ministry estimates protests and roadblocks have cost the country $2.68 billion, with the roadblocks leading to shortages of food and other supplies, boosting prices, and disrupting operations in the country`s main seaport as well as for hundreds of companies. "I have to close my shop every time there are protests," Laudice Ramirez, 62, said in the south of the city. "I`m going bankrupt, but the youth don`t have any other options for opportunities."

Colombia sends military to western province after four die during protests

As Colombia burnt with protests, the country's Defence Minister apologised on behalf of the national police and administration for police brutality.

The country erupted in protests after the death of a detained man. These protests have lit the cities of Bohota and Soacha on fire. Several hundreds have been injured, while 13 people have lost their lives.

"The national police apologize for any violation of the law or ignorance of regulations by any members of the institution," Defence Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo said in a video message Friday morning.

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La <a href="https://twitter.com/PoliciaColombia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PoliciaColombia</a> pide perdón por cualquier violación a la Ley o desconocimiento de los reglamentos en que haya incurrido cualquiera de los miembros de la Institución. <a href="https://t.co/isBULI8qfd">pic.twitter.com/isBULI8qfd</a>
— Carlos Holmes Trujillo (@CarlosHolmesTru) <a href="https://twitter.com/CarlosHolmesTru/status/1304440177373466630?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The protests started after a 46-year-old man, Javier Ordonez, was&nbsp;repeatedly shocked with a stun gun by police while he was pinned to the ground and kept begging to stop with cries of 'Please, no more'. The incident was caught on a video and was widely circulated in the country, which led to the wide outrage. Ordonez, later, died in the hospital where he was undergoing treatment.

President Ivan Duque said on Friday evening that all the deaths would be investigated swiftly and no abuse by security forces would be tolerated.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/colombia-death-toll-rises-to-10-in-rioting-over-police-killing-326730">Also read|&nbsp;Colombia: Death toll rises to 10 in rioting over police killing</a>

Police said Ordonez was found drinking alcohol in the street with friends in violation of coronavirus distancing rules. Two police officers implicated in Ordonez's death have been fired and face charges of abusing authority and homicide. A further five officers connected to his death have been suspended.

Urging his citizens to exercise peace, Duque said during his nightly television broadcast,&nbsp;"We will work quickly so the events in which their loved ones died can have not only clarification but model sentences."

Hundreds of protestors have been injured in the clash between the police and locals. Around 200 police officers have also been injured.&nbsp;At least 60 police stations have been vandalized, as well as dozens of public transport vehicles. Some 140 people have been arrested for vandalism, Duque said.

As Colombia burnt with protests, the country's Defence Minister apologised on behalf of the national police and administration for police brutality. The country erupted in protests after the death of a detained man.

As Colombia burnt with protests, the country's Defence Minister apologised on behalf of the national police and administration for police brutality. The country erupted in protests after the death of a detained man. These protests have lit the cities of Bohota and Soacha on fire. Several hundreds have been injured, while 13 people have lost their lives. "The national police apologize for any violation of the law or ignorance of regulations by any members of the institution," Defence Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo said in a video message Friday morning. La @PoliciaColombia pide perdón por cualquier violación a la Ley o desconocimiento de los reglamentos en que haya incurrido cualquiera de los miembros de la Institución. pic.twitter.com/isBULI8qfd — Carlos Holmes Trujillo (@CarlosHolmesTru) September 11, 2020 × The protests started after a 46-year-old man, Javier Ordonez, was repeatedly shocked with a stun gun by police while he was pinned to the ground and kept begging to stop with cries of 'Please, no more'. The incident was caught on a video and was widely circulated in the country, which led to the wide outrage. Ordonez, later, died in the hospital where he was undergoing treatment. President Ivan Duque said on Friday evening that all the deaths would be investigated swiftly and no abuse by security forces would be tolerated. Also read| Colombia: Death toll rises to 10 in rioting over police killing Police said Ordonez was found drinking alcohol in the street with friends in violation of coronavirus distancing rules. Two police officers implicated in Ordonez's death have been fired and face charges of abusing authority and homicide. A further five officers connected to his death have been suspended. Urging his citizens to exercise peace, Duque said during his nightly television broadcast, "We will work quickly so the events in which their loved ones died can have not only clarification but model sentences." Hundreds of protestors have been injured in the clash between the police and locals. Around 200 police officers have also been injured. At least 60 police stations have been vandalized, as well as dozens of public transport vehicles. Some 140 people have been arrested for vandalism, Duque said.

Colombia: Defence Minister apologises for police brutality; vows justice

As many as 10 people were killed and hundreds injured after rioting took place in the Colombian capital Bogota over the death of a man after police repeatedly used a taser on him, officials said on Thursday.&nbsp;

Protests hit the streets of Bogota on Wednesday after a video of attorney Javier Ordonez pleading to cops came to fore, in which cops are using the taser on him at least five times as he lied on the ground.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/violence-across-colombia-leaves-17-dead-322462">Violence across Colombia leaves 17 dead</a>

Several police stations were targetted, attacked and destroyed and the violence has spread to cities of Medellin and Cali.&nbsp;

"We are facing a massive act of violence," Defense Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo said, adding that soldiers and military police officers would be sent to control the situation.&nbsp;

Bogota mayor said the earlier death toll of seven jumped to 10 on Thursday and most of them died from gunshot wounds.&nbsp;

As many as 10 people were killed and hundreds injured after rioting took place in the Colombian capital Bogota over the death of a man after police repeatedly used a taser on him, officials said on Thursday.

As many as 10 people were killed and hundreds injured after rioting took place in the Colombian capital Bogota over the death of a man after police repeatedly used a taser on him, officials said on Thursday. Protests hit the streets of Bogota on Wednesday after a video of attorney Javier Ordonez pleading to cops came to fore, in which cops are using the taser on him at least five times as he lied on the ground. Also read | Violence across Colombia leaves 17 dead Several police stations were targetted, attacked and destroyed and the violence has spread to cities of Medellin and Cali. "We are facing a massive act of violence," Defense Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo said, adding that soldiers and military police officers would be sent to control the situation. Bogota mayor said the earlier death toll of seven jumped to 10 on Thursday and most of them died from gunshot wounds.

Colombia: Death toll rises to 10 in rioting over police killing