In the capital Bogotá, Medellin and Cali, among others, there were demonstrations against the government’s health, safety and education policies and the violent repression of the security authorities. In Bogotá, demonstrators called for President Ivan Duque to resign.
Protesters tried to enter the congress building
Thousands of people gathered in the center of the capital near the presidential palace, most of them with masks against the spread of the corona virus. The police prevented a group of demonstrators from entering the convention building. The demonstrations remained peaceful in many places, but clashes occurred in several cities.
On Wednesday night numerous police stations in Bogotá were devastated. The mayor’s office said 46 people were injured, including 16 police officers.
Protests in Medellin and Cali
In the second largest city of Medellin in the north-east of the country, around 8,000 people had gathered by morning and chanted slogans against Duque’s powerful mentor, ex-President Alvaro Uribe. In Cali, in southwest Colombia, numerous roads were still blocked on Wednesday, leading to a lack of fuel. Several thousand members of indigenous groups joined the protest.
The protests were sparked a week ago by government plans for tax reform, which would have hit the middle class particularly hard. After days of demonstrations, the government withdrew the tax reform on Sunday. The protests continued, however, and are now directed generally against Duque’s government.
Protests are overshadowed by violence
Some of the security forces took action against the demonstrators with great severity. In addition to the police, soldiers are also on duty. According to official figures, at least 24 people have been killed so far, including a police officer. The non-governmental organization Temblores put the number of deaths at 37. Hundreds of people were injured, 89 reported missing.
Published: May 6th, 2021, 11:20 am
Last updated: May 6th, 2021, 11:34 am