The principal of a police academy in western Colombia must now find something else to do after his students on Thursday arranged a celebration of “cultural exchange” in honor of Germany, reports the news agency AFP.
On official account
It is not known what links were made to the event committee, but the result was clear on Twitter post on the official account of the Colombian national police:
CORD CUTTING: Police officers in ordinary Colombian uniforms cut a string in the colors of the Federal Republic – while a student with a Hitler mustache stood in tight guard and witnessed it all. Photo: The Colombian National Police
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Several students were dressed in Wehrmacht and SS uniforms, the latter with clear swastikas. One also had a Hitler mustache. In addition, an airplane model was on display, also with a swastika, similar to the tablecloths.
Somewhat confusing was also the flag of the Federal Republic of Germany hung up, along with a banner with the inscription «Police history».
During the ceremony, a string in Federal Republic colors was cut by two policemen in ordinary Colombian uniforms.
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«From the Simon Bolivar Academy in the city of Tuluá, we are arranging a #InternationalUke with the guest country Germany. With these cultural exchanges, we strengthen the knowledge of our police students “, it read on the national police’s official Twitter account.
The record has now been deleted, but not before the image material was stored and shared in abundance.
It is unclear whether any German citizens were present during the “cultural exchange”.
CARDBOARD MASSAGE: Police students in SS uniforms, as well as “Adolf Hitler” with a German Shepherd (Hitler had one) outside a fortress in a cardboard box. Photo: The Colombian National Police
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The President
Not entirely unexpectedly, the reactions are strong. Police were quickly skinned on social media, and President Iván Duque had to step out on Friday and apologize for the incident.
– Any excuse for Nazism is unacceptable, and I condemn any demonstration that uses or refers to those responsible for the extermination of the Jews, which cost over 6 million lives, he tweeted.
In Colombia, the police are under the Ministry of Defense, which strongly denies that the incident on Thursday is in any way representative of the country’s police training.
SWASTIC TABLECLOTH: The tablecloths also had the swastika flag sewn in. Photo: The Colombian National Police
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The national police have published an apology, and apologize to the Jewish community, according to Vice.
The German and Israeli embassies in Bogotá have sent out a joint statement where they express “total rejection of any form of excuse or display of Nazism.”
The Nazi effect scandal comes at a time when the Colombian police are under heavy pressure after brutal behavior against protesters earlier this year. They are currently running a “transformation campaign” to improve their image, and are scheduled to, among other things, change their uniforms.
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