President Santos during the announcement of the dismissal of Petro as mayor of Bogotá. 19 March, 2014. Photo by Latin America Photojournalism, copyright Demotix. President Juan Manuel Santos confirmed the dismissal of Gustavo Petro as mayor of Bogotá after rejecting the ruling by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) for Petro to continue in office. The IACHR granted precautionary measures in favor of Petro after the State Council rejected several writs of protection to stop the dismissal of the now former mayor of Bogotá. “I have to proceed in accordance with the Constitution and the law,” said Santos when he addressed the nation to confirm the removal of Petro which had been ordered in December 2013 by Attorney General Alejandro Ordóñez Maldonado. Santos appointed Labor Minister Rafael Pardo to replace Petro, adding that the ousted mayor had had every opportunity to defend himself before the Colombian justice system. Meanwhile, the IACHR scheduled a hearing on this case that Colombia does not plan to attend. Given his dismissal, which leaves him ineligible politically for 15 years, Petro recalled that the President had publicly announced that “if the precautionary measures are favorable, they will be respected.” Petro said that “the President of Colombia lied” and described the decision to dismiss him as a coup d’etat because his appointment was an elected position. Petro will introduce new writs, and called on his supporters to mobilize a constituent assembly. Security measures were redoubled because of thousands of people heading towards the presidential palace and they are on alert for new public demonstrations. On Twitter, the tags #ChaoPetro, #DestituciónPetro, #FuerzaPetro are some of the most used: #DestituciónPetro sin duda alguna este gobierno el poder está en manos de unas pocas personas que pertenen a la clase social privilegiada — NANDO (@JUFERMUR) marzo 20, 2014 There’s no doubt that this government is in the hands of just a few from the privileged class ¿Qué autoridad le queda a Colombia para criticar a aquellos países, que como Venezuela y Ecuador, desacatan la CIDH? — Manuel Rodríguez B. (@manuel_rodb) marzo 20, 2014 By what authority does Colombia criticize countries like Venezuela and Ecuador, flouting the IACHR? Tengo el honor de conocer a @petrogustavo es un hombre honesto muy trabajador que no se merece 15 años de inhabilidad, que dolor tan grande — Diana Marcela Otavo (@dianamotavo) marzo 21, 2014 I have the honor of knowing Petro [he] is a hard working honest man who does not deserve 15 years of ineligibility, what a shame ¿Y si la CIDH no tiene competencia por qué el Procurador Ordónez fue a Washington a hacer lobby en contra de Petro? — Daniel Coronell (@DCoronell) marzo 19, 2014 If the IACHR has no power, why did Attorney General Ordóñez go to Washington to lobby against Petro? Others were pleased with the government's decision: Hoy con mucha felicidad puedo decir #chaopetro — Andre Kass (@andrecasadu) marzo 20, 2014 Today with much joy I can say ‘ciao Petro’ Esta noche me voy a dormir con una sonrisa de #ChaoPetro en mi linda carita. Que duerman! — Mónica Mojica (@MoniMojica) marzo 20, 2014 Tonight I’ll sleep with a smile of ‘ciao Petro’ on my pretty little face. Sleep well. Viva El Consejo de Estado, Viva Alfonso Vargas, Viva El Procurador Ordóñez. #ChaoPetro. — Camilo Andrés (@camilofz45) marzo 18, 2014 Viva State Council, viva Alfonso Vargas, viva Attorney General Ordóñez While some, like Jorge Vivas, call for harmony: Nada bueno sale de la polarización frente al tema #DestitucionPetro. El odio entre hermanos es la raíz de la tiranía. Venga de donde venga. — Jorge Vivas (@yorchvivas) marzo 20, 2014 Nothing good comes from the polarization on the issue. Hatred between brothers is the root of tyranny. Wherever you come from. For his part, Petro is still using his Twitter account. There he recalls what happened 40 years ago with another one of the country’s leaders, Jorge Eliecer Gaitán, who was also removed: Historia que debemos recordar . pic.twitter.com/jnEDPsUuUF — Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) marzo 20, 2014 History we should remember. Gustavo Bolivar in his blog Sin Censura [es] is outraged and stresses the “bandidocracia” as synonymous with corruption and theft: Con la decisión del Presidente Santos queda claro, clarísimo, que no hay otra forma de gobernar, sin provocar la furia implacable de las mafias del poder, distinta a la bandidocracia. El gobierno de los hampones. El mensaje es claro: O robas y dejas robar, o no tienes posibilidades, o te perseguimos, o te hacemos gavilla y te sacamos.