WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, this week met with Vice President of Colombia Marta Lucia Ramirez to discuss recent protests in the country and reports of violence the Colombian government’s troubling response. After the meeting, Murphy released the following statement:

“For years, Colombia and the United States have enjoyed a strong partnership on a range of security issues and I especially appreciate Colombia’s compassionate policies assisting Venezuelan refugees. But the Colombian authorities’ treatment of protestors – specifically the use of lethal force  – is very disturbing. I communicated my concerns directly to Vice President Ramirez this week, and I specifically urged the Colombian government to immediately allow in international human rights bodies so that there can be an independent accounting of the violence that has consumed the country,” said Murphy.    

###