Petro Declares himself “Miserified” at UN, Accuses US of Killing Youth with Missiles
NEW YORK – Colombian President gustavo Petro, speaking ahead of the United Nations General Assembly’s 80th session on september 22nd, declared himself a “miserified president” and leveled sharp criticism at international drug policies and the United states, alleging the US military has ordered attacks resulting in the deaths of young people involved in drug trafficking.Petro framed his remarks as a defense of his nation and a challenge to global power dynamics influencing the categorization of dangerous substances.
Petro’s address,previewed by Semana,centered on what he described as a double standard in how the United Nations classifies drugs. He argued that substances are deemed dangerous not based on scientific evidence, but on their origin, specifically whether they come from the “south” or the “north” of the world. He cited cannabis as an example,stating it was previously considered dangerous but is now understood to be less harmful than alcohol – a substance,he noted,not subject to the same international scrutiny despite its widespread use in the northern hemisphere.
“Not my government, my armed forces, my police, that I am commander in chief, but the person. That is, the one who speaks, the president of Colombia by popular election. And I still have a year of mandate,” Petro stated, emphasizing his direct obligation and remaining term in office.
He further claimed, “They are killing young people with missiles, ordered by a president who is from the United States.” Petro specified this has resulted in the deaths of “more than 15 young people” and the imprisonment of “thousands and thousands of young Caribbean” individuals, including those from Colombia’s san Andrés and Providencia islands, due to vessels carrying substances deemed dangerous by the United Nations. He linked these actions to the US-led drug war and accused the UN of unfairly targeting substances originating in the south.
