It should be noted that the disturbances at the National University arose as a result of tensions accumulated during the process of electing the new rector.
For weeks, different student and academic sectors had expressed their disagreements regarding the candidates and the selection procedure. However, the situation escalated this Thursday.
Reports indicate that the protesters, mostly students and members of the university community, expressed their discontent with what they considered an opaque and undemocratic election process. In addition, they pointed out alleged irregularities and lack of transparency in the process, which generated growing indignation and led to more vigorous protest measures.
Many expected that it would not be José Ismael Peña Reyes but Leopoldo Múnera, who had a historic victory of 15,395 votes.