Colombia's Council of State limits right to protest

Colombia's Council of State has issued a ruling establishing that the right to protest is not absolute and can lead to legal sanctions and indemnifications if it involves vandalism, road blockades, or damage to third parties. The decision stems from protests held between July 31 and August 15, 2017, at Ecopetrol's Chichimene station in Acacías, Meta.

The court found that the demonstrations included the occupation of facilities and damage to equipment, which directly impacted production. Ecopetrol reported a deferred production of approximately 32,000 barrels, with estimated losses of 4.056 billion pesos due to lost profits.

As a result, the Council of State held the Corporación Juntas de Acción Comunal San Isidro de Chichimeney and its legal representative, Sandra Patricia Ruiz Riaño, jointly liable for proven damages. The ruling emphasizes that while Article 37 of the Constitution protects the right to peaceful assembly, constitutional protection is lost when protests are used to cause damage, pursue illicit ends, or illegitimately restrict the rights of others.