COLOMBIAN STATE VIOLENCE AGAINST DEMOCRATIC PROTESTORS

That this House notes the Agrarian Strike on-going in Colombia in light of the Colombian government's failure since 2013 to fulfil its agreements to address the economic crisis in rural Colombia and the specific demands of the Agrarian Coalition; supports the Agrarian Coalition's democratic right to protest; condemns the excessive use of force by Colombian state security forces against the strikers which has left three indigenous protestors dead and more than 135 people wounded; regrets the lack of guarantees for peaceful protest in Colombia during a crucial time in the peace negotiations between the Colombian government and the FARC; is concerned about the actions of the riot control unit of the National Police, ESMAD, throughout the strike, and condemns its excessive use of force and abuse of authority since its inception; supports the calls coming from the Colombian society for the dismantling of the unit to guarantee the legitimate right to protest essential to a democratic and peaceful society; and invites the Government to put pressure on President Santos of Colombia in view of his visit to the UK in November 2016.