The president of the coffee-growing country has asked the Colombian Mining Association to understand that people's lives, people's rights, and the fight against genocide can "never" be subordinated to business.

The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, has defended his decision to suspend Israeli exports, arguing that the treaties of the World Trade Organization (WTO) allow this act if these shipments go to a place "with serious human rights violations." ".

"They took over South Africa, why not where almost 16,000 children have been murdered?" questioned the Colombian president through his 'X' account (formerly Twitter) this Tuesday, in response to the criticism received from the responsible for the sector.

In this sense, he has asked the Colombian Mining Association to understand that people's lives, people's rights, and the fight against genocide can "never" be subordinated to business.

"Are the owners of the coal plants that export Colombian nationals? Don't they have ethical commitments in their own countries? What does Glencore think?" Petro insisted.

After learning of this decision by the Petro Government at the end of last week, the mining employers' association maintained that it was a measure that would be in breach of international commitments acquired by Colombia that must be respected and that confidence in the markets and the foreign investment.

"This type of measure must weigh the economic and social implications for the country and the regions. In a complex economic situation like the current one, with low levels of collection and deep needs in terms of social investment, it is essential to responsibly consider the viability of this type of measures and the various factors that come into play," the association said in a statement.