The protesters, farmers and indigenous people of the province of Caqueta in southern Colombia, demanded that the oil company Emerald Energy take care of building roads.
The hostage situation of dozens of people in the Caqueta province of southern Colombia had a happy ending. President Gustavo Petros announced yesterday (Friday) the release of 88 people – police officers and employees of Emerald Energy – who were being held hostage by demonstrators, after the bloody incidents in protest against the oil company.
On Thursday, two people were killed in riots that broke out when farmers and indigenous people in the region blocked access to an oil well, setting up makeshift roadblocks and setting fires, demanding the company build roads. Demonstrators held 79 police officers and nine oil company workers hostage.
A police officer and a civilian were killed by bullets, Colombia’s Interior Minister Alfonso Prada said earlier yesterday, arguing that although the protests were led by farmers, armed groups were operating in the area and could be involved in the incidents.
Protests near oil facilities or mines are common in Colombia, where residents pressure companies to build infrastructure to benefit their communities.
Source :Skai
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