Anti-Government Protests Continue In Colombia

News Americas, BOGOTA, Colombia, Thurs. Dec. 5, 2019: Trade unions, student and indigenous groups are still marching in Colombia’s major cities to increase pressure on the government of President Iván Duque.

The protests started almost two weeks ago with hundreds of thousands of people taking part in rallies against the social, security and economic policies of the current government. Wednesday marked the third national strike.

“We’ll be out on the streets until Duque listens to us,” Andres López, a student at a gathering on one of Bogotá’s main commercial streets, was quoted by the Guardian as saying. “We’re not scared of the government.”

Protesters are also angry at the lack of support for the historic 2016 peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), which formally ended five decades of civil war that killed 260,000 and forced more than 7 million to flee their homes.

The two sides are due to meet again today, but so far little progress has been made in talks between them. Five people have died in connection with the protests since November 21st.