Thousands of people marched in Colombia Monday to condemn the deadly car bombing that killed 20 police academy cadets and the alleged attacker, in a strike blamed on ELN rebels that derailed peace talks.
The protest was held in several cities around the country, with marchers in white waving Colombian flags and chanting slogans like "cowardly killers" and "life is sacred." "We are demonstrating to reject all forms of violence -- against the police or social leaders," Yeison Torres, a 19-year-old university student, told AFP.
In Bogota, the day was scheduled to end with a religious service in memory of the victims, all between the ages of 17 and 22, killed Thursday in the deadliest attack with explosives in the city since 2003.
"A group that takes part in drug trafficking, kidnapping and blowing up oil pipelines is not showing signs that they want peace. Much less then, blowing up 20 young people?" said Amanda Ramirez, 49, a beauty salon worker.
The government and some opposition leaders joined the march and walked through the Colombian capital.
"I am really devastated. But I also want to come out and honor these heroes and honor their memory -- rejecting violence, rejecting terrorism and coming together as a country," said President Ivan Duque.
Several of the marchers spontaneously ran up to police officers to embrace them or express their gratitude.
The president, who after the attack decided to cancel the peace talks started in 2017 by his predecessor, Nobel Peace Laureate Juan Manuel Santos, also invoked support to "overcome this threat." "Today, Colombia is telling you, the ELN, 'enough,' and no more terrorism. Colombia has come together to defeat this crime," Duque added.
The peace talks had been aimed at ending more than five decades of insurgency by the Marxist-inspired guerrillas.
Colombia has experienced several years of relative calm since the 2016 peace accord signed by then-president Santos and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas.
With the landmark agreement turning the former rebels into a political party, the smaller National Liberation Army is considered the last active rebel group in the country.
True to his election promises, Duque has taken a hard line against the ELN, including his demand they release all hostages as a prerequisite to kick-start the peace process. The group is believed to be holding at least 17 hostages.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)