EMERGENCY IN BOGOTA

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28270, 7 May 1957, Page 14

EMERGENCY IN BOGOTA

Demonstrations Dispersed

(N.Z. Press Association Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) BOGOTA (Colombia), May 6.

Police broke up demonstrations with tear gas and streams of dyed water yesterday, interrupting Mass in a church where a priest had renewed his attacks on the Government. The action shattered the brief calm in Bogota that followed Saturday’s student anti-Government outbreaks.

Opposition to plans to have President Gustavo Rojas Pinilla re-elected by a constituent assembly has caused pronounced unrest. A call for a general strike today appeared to have wide support.

Police threw tear gas shells at a crowd around the church where the Rev. Teodoro Velazquez renewed attacks on the Government that marked his Holy Week sermons.

The congregation applauded his belligerent tone and sang the National Anthem. Father Velazquez told his congregation no-one could keep him from speaking freely. Tear gas seeped into the church and halted the Mass.

One youth was fatally wounded by - police outside the church, while singing the National Anthem with a group of fellow students. In breaking up another demonstration, the police twice turned streams of red-dyed water on the crowds. The' dye was to mark demonstrators for identification later.

Any massing of the populace has been forbidden in the current political emergency.