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Four people have died Colombia Tens of thousands of protesters held demonstrations across the country for a month, and negotiations between the government and the National Strike Committee were deadlocked.
In Cali, which has become the center of national protests, Mayor Jorge Ospina confirmed the deaths of three of them during Friday’s protests. Local media reported that the fourth death occurred on the road between the towns of Cali and Candelaria.
Demonstrations in other places were mostly peaceful, but clashes between police and protesters were reported in some areas such as the city of Madrid near Bogotá.
“There must be a dialogue between the people calling for strikes, the national government and society as a whole. If there is no negotiation, the cycle of violence will continue, and unfortunately, more people may die,” Ospina said.
Attorney General Francisco Barbosa (Francisco Barbosa) said in a televised message that Cali’s two were killed when an agent of the Attorney General’s investigation team opened fire on civilians, and then also killed. Barbossa said that the agent was not on duty at the time.
In the past four weeks, violence marked demonstrations.
So far, the government has confirmed that 17 civilian deaths are directly related to the protests, while human rights organizations claim that dozens of other civilians were killed by security forces. According to reports, two other policemen were killed in the protest earlier.
The demonstrations began on April 28, forcing the government and legislators to shelve tax and healthcare reforms, and led to the resignation of former Finance Minister Alberto Carrasquilla.
During the demonstration in the capital Bogotá, amidst the sound of singing and music, the protesters said they would continue the march Even after a month of demonstrations.
Since the tax reform was cancelled earlier this month, the protesters’ demands have been expanded to include basic income, opportunities for young people, and an end to police violence.
Alejandro Franco, 23, said: “We must stay on the street until the government listens to our opinions.” As he approached graduation, he said that he was working hard for better education and health. Wait for reasons and march.
“If there is no peace for the people, neither will the government,” he added.
Some people said that the prolonged protests put them under financial pressure.
“I have to close my shop every time there is a protest,” 62-year-old Laudice Ramirez said in the south of the city. “I am going bankrupt, but young people have no other choice.”
Although the government and protest leaders reached a “pre-agreement” on ending the demonstrations this week, the strike organizers said on Thursday that the government had not yet signed the agreement and accused the agreement of delays.
The chairman of the Central Workers’ Union, Francisco Maltes, said on Friday, “We have reached an agreement. The only thing missing is the president’s signing to start negotiations.” He accused the government of delaying the negotiations.
The government said it has not yet signed the agreement because some protest leaders will not condemn the roadblocks, saying that the issue is not negotiable, adding that negotiations will resume on Sunday.
The Colombian Ministry of Finance estimates that protests and roadblocks have cost the country US$2.68 billion. These roadblocks have caused shortages of food and other supplies, increased prices, and disrupted the operations of the country’s main seaports and hundreds of companies.
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