COLOMBIA’S specialist riot police unit Esmad was accused of treating opponents of the government as enemy soldiers today in its latest violent crackdown on peaceful protesters.

Indigenous leader Martha Peralta made the charge as right-wing President Ivan Duque was called upon to respect the right to protest in the South American country.

At least 22 people were detained and 10 injured during the latest round of government protests in the restive city of Cali, south of the capital Bogota.