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The protesters took to the streets for the fourth week, demanding that the government take action on poverty, police violence and other issues.
In Colombia, anti-government demonstrations have continued until the fourth week. Student groups, trade unions and other organizations took to the streets again on Wednesday, demanding that the government and strike leaders continue their dialogue to demand social change.
The mayor’s office said about 8,000 people participated in the protests in the capital Bogotá.
68-year-old lawyer Roberto Hermida told Reuters: “Even though we have been fighting for so long, we are still with our young people, children, grandchildren, but they still lack opportunities. .”
Ermida said he wanted to provide more educational opportunities and better health care.
protest activity begin Last month, after the government of the right-wing Colombian President Ivan Duque implemented a tax reform, critics said it would severely harm the working and middle classes that have been hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. .
Duque withdrew the proposal, but the demonstration continued because the demonstrators expanded The list of their demands includes the cancellation of the proposed health care reform, the end of widespread violence in the country, and steps to address economic inequality.
The protest was characterized by violence, but the exact death toll is still unclear. The Attorney General’s Office has confirmed 15 deaths related to the protests, while a human rights organization said the total number is more than 40.
Duque blamed most of the violence on armed groups, but United Nations Some human rights organizations condemned the Colombian police for “shooting” at the demonstrators.
On Wednesday, former President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Juan Manuel Santos urged Duque to take responsibility for the abuses committed by the police.
Santos told W Radio: “We need more gestures. We need more empathy and humility to make the country realize:’Look, we committed abuse.'”
The National Strike Committee, composed of major unions, student groups and other organizations, has discussed the protesters’ demands with government representatives many times, but the two sides have not yet held formal talks.
They are expected to meet with the government again on Thursday morning.
At the same time, Elizabeth Dickinson, a senior Colombian analyst at the International Crisis Group, said that the rally showed “severe social and economic inequality, a sense of frustration with police brutality, and general disagreement with the government. trust”.
Pass through #Colombia Today, another day of mass mobilization is underway #ParoNacionalColombia Reflects severe social and economic inequality, frustration with police brutality, and general distrust of the government
As we enter the 21st day of the protest, here are some emerging trends ???? pic.twitter.com/DjAa1lAX5k
-Elizabeth Dickinson (@dickinsonbeth) May 19, 2021
Dickinson said on Twitter that the protesters’ demands fall into two categories: social justice and security. Although both of these problems are exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, they are historical dissatisfaction.
According to data from Johns Hopkins University, the pandemic has killed more than 82,000 people, but it has also exacerbated long-standing economic inequality.
“Protests are everywhere. The demonstrations reflect a deep national crisis that transcends geography. Although dissatisfaction differs in different regions, anger and frustration are shared.” Dickinson wrote.
She said: “The crisis is serious and far-reaching, and it requires a compelling attraction that we have not yet seen.”
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