Tag: Santos

BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA: “WEEK OF INDIGNATION” ~ PROTESTS

Published on by jacquelinemhadel4 Comments

I had no idea when I walked out of my flat yesterday that I would be walking into a protest, the size I’d never seen before. While I’m at Colombian protests, I never really realize fully what’s going on. I try to piece together the pictures and words that are on their marching banners, but still I’m left wondering what exactly it’s all about. So I take as many pictures as I can (I wasn’t prepared with the Canon, so had my handy iPOD Touch with me) and then I go home and wait for a newsfeed to come up in English.

Turns out yesterday’s protest in Bogota was one of many throughout the country and one of many that will take place all week. Hence, the moniker: “Week of Indignation.” I wish I could articulate what these protests do for me, as I can’t really understand them as they’re taking place, yet, the spirit around them, the feeling that these people are free to voice their opinions, and that the police for the most part, are prepared for them and help them (again, for the most part) march in an organized fashion, obeying traffic lights, etc. In Bogota, they aim for peaceful protests, and they are allowed to really say how they feel. So, even though I don’t understand their words to the fullest, I do understand the feeling of free human spirits bonding for causes greater than themselves. It’s so inspiring.

"We don't believe Santos, He's a Liar"
“We don’t believe Santos, He’s a Liar”

Needless to say, the protesters are not fans of President Santos.

Robo-Cops
Robo-Cops

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Protesters Under an Ominous Sky
Protesters Under an Ominous Sky

Protesters on Septima crossing Calle 19 on their way to Simon Bolivar Plaza.

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Protesters Joining Up at the Plaza
Protesters Joining Up at the Plaza

ImageJudicial employees have been fighting for pay raises for most of this year. Due to all of the protestations, there’s a massive backlog of cases that are not being seen in the courts.

In front of the Court of Justice
In front of the Court of Justice
Crowds Gather at the Plaza
Crowds Gather at the Plaza

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NOW it's a Revolucion!
NOW it’s a Revolucion!

ImageAnd these people are protesting against budget cuts to “SENA,” the government trades school.

Santos the Devil
Santos the Devil

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This was a really inspirational moment. One of  the final groups to make their way to the Plaza, started jumping up and down and chanting and then they made a break for it, running and chanting all the way…

All Pictures: 30OCT12. Bogota, Colombia. (iPOD Touch, Instagram Lo-Fi, Early Bird, and Sutra Aspects)

BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA STREET ART: ‘A CRISP(Y) CLARIFICATION’

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Message from Crisp in response to my questions about the above murals: “Yeah, the Obama with Kogi and Amazon Indian is mine, whereas the President Santos and Amazon child on the other side is a friend of mine from the UK. His street name is MIKO, short for “Mi Kolombia”. His side depicts Santos in indigenous clothes while the child is wearing the Colombian presidential sash. He wrote “we are all mixed” between the 2 figures.

My side is actually a statement that, not everyone benefits from the recent free trade agreement signed between the USA and Colombia. We recently repaired this wall as it was defaced pretty quickly due to the directness of the mural. It used to have “TLC:Nadia Gana” written on it, but this and all the faces and money were erased with black paint. Seemed very specific and probably done by government people rather than other grafiteros. So when I repaired it, I toned it down a bit.

The “L” is added by someone else. It’s always risky doing graffiti about politics and heads of state as it’s at high risk of being defaced by people who don’t agree or don’t understand the statement. The MIKO wall has been defaced quite a bit due to depicting Santos. Still, that’s all part of street art, it’s not protected and people can add, alter, adjust, deface, or completely destroy at their own will.” – Crisp

I also notice that APC has written on Santos’ head. Did the REAL APC tag it, or was it done by an impostor? This is all so intriguing…7OCT12. Chapinero, Septima, Bogotá, Colombia.