De la Espriella calls for “iron fist” against crime in Colombia
Colombia’s President Abelardo de la Espriella called on the security forces to impose the law “like a giant with an iron fist, the iron fist of the State.” During a meeting with commanders of the security forces, De la Espriella stressed that security “is the cornerstone of our government and the most forceful government policy.” […] The post De la Espriella calls for “iron fist” against crime in…
President Abelardo de la Espriella of Colombia has appealed to his security forces to enforce the law with "the iron fist of the State," emphasizing security as the "cornerstone of our government and the most forceful government policy." He urged the armed forces to combat crime aggressively, assuring them of the government's complete support.
De la Espriella stated that all criminals, regardless of their specific activities, should be treated as "terrorist groups" because the criminal network in Colombia is "perfectly interconnected," ranging from drug trafficking to illegal mining, extortion, and smuggling. He aimed to eliminate the distinction between organized crime and armed groups, asserting that all should be categorized and dealt with uniformly.
De la Espriella also indicated a shift in policy from previous peace negotiations, asserting that the government no longer recognizes these groups as anything less than terrorists and will treat them accordingly.
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