00:00In Colombia, right-wing President Abelardo de las Priegas has enacted Decree 1525 of 2026,
00:07expanding police powers to suppress peaceful social protests across the country.
00:11In this context, taking effect this week, Decree 1525 authorizes security forces to intervene directly against demonstrations and dismantle road
00:21blockades.
00:22Signed ahead of announced nationwide marches by social movements and labor unions, human rights groups condemned the measure as a
00:32mechanism to legalize police violence and criminalize popular dissent.
00:36Despite state intimidation, grassroots organizations vowed to flood the streets to defend demographic rights against government repression.
00:56Colombian President announced the decree through his official account on X where he posted,
01:02I kept my word and here is my decree.
01:05In Colombia, peaceful protest is suspected, but violence, vandalism and road blockades that trample on the rights of millions of
01:13citizens will not be tolerated.
01:16Today, I issued Decree 1525 of 2026 to strengthen the rights of those who protest peacefully and to ensure that
01:25authorities act within the framework of the law against those who seek to sow chaos.
01:31The right to protest does not take precedence over the right to work, study, move about and live in peace.
01:38To citizens who protest peacefully, all guarantees, for those who resort to violence, the full weight of the law will
01:45be applied, with respect for due process.
01:48The mass is over. Protests are respected, but violence will not be tolerated.
01:54I promise it. I deliver it. And I will continue to deliver.
01:59I stand firm for my country. Long live Christ the King.
02:09And prior to this action, the Colombian government amended Decree 003 and eliminated the requirement for prior dialogue before law
02:18enforcement intervenes to disperse a protest.
02:21This means that the police will be able to disperse gatherings using tear gas, stun guns and other so-called
02:28non-lethal weapons without having to exhaust mediation procedures.
02:33The new protocol also states that road blockades may be disperse immediately and provides for administrative penalties for the presence
02:42of minors in protests on the grounds that they are being used as tools.
02:46The unified command center, which will be established directly by President de la Espriera, will take control of operations in
02:56the streets without requiring the presence or endorsement of human rights organizations.
