Thousands rally to support fired Bogota mayor
Some Colombians believe Petro’s dismissal could threaten country’s attempts to make peace with rebel group FARC.
Thousands of people have massed in Bogota’s main square to support the Colombian capital’s leftist mayor, who was ousted this week for trying to fire private contractors.
Some of the demonstrators on Friday evening viewed Mayor Gustavo Petro’s dismissal as a blow to the country’s attempts to make peace with its main leftist rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
“[Petro was] the only leader who has worked on behalf of the poor,” said Adelmo Martinez, a 48-year-old schoolteacher.
What we have is a punishment that doesn't fit the crime.
Petro, a former member of the M-19 rebel movement, has also been barred from elected office for 15 years by Colombia’s inspector-general, a conservative ally of former President Alvaro Uribe.
As a senator, Petro led investigations that uncovered collusion between far-right militias and Uribe allies, helping to send dozens of officials to prison.
Al Jazeera’s Alessandro Rampietti, reporting from Bogota, said international pressure is mounting on the country to address the rationale for sentencing Petro to “political death.”
“The show of force we’re seeing today is very important to keep the pressure on,” our correspondent said.
An opinion poll published on Friday found 54 percent of Bogota residents opposed Petro’s ouster, with 38 percent in favour.
‘Serious blow’
The M-19 rebel movement’s 1990 peace pact is considered an inspiration for the government’s current talks in Cuba with FARC, and after this week’s announcement of sanctions against Petro, the group questioned how its members would be treated if an accord is reached.
FARC called the mayor’s dismissal “a serious blow” to the government’s credibility in the year-long negotiations, which have so far led to partial agreements on land reform and rebel political participation.
The official reason for Petro’s ouster was that he tried to fire private contractors in a failed bid to overhaul garbage collection in the capital.
“What we have is a punishment that doesn’t fit the crime,” said Navarro Wolff, a former M-19 rebel and Petro’s former chief of staff, although he did not believe the move would threaten peace.
To keep his job, Petro must file an appeal to Ordonez, and a final ruling could take weeks.