Colombia protests: Three dead as more than 200,000 demonstrate
22 November 2019
Three people were killed in Colombia on Thursday amid nationwide mass protests against the right-wing government of President Ivan Duque, officials say. More than 200,000 people took to the streets to show discontent over possible austerity measures. The protests were mostly peaceful but clashes between demonstrators and police broke out in cities including the capital, Bogota, and Cali. There has been a surge in anti-government protests in Latin America. Colombian protesters are concerned about possible changes to the minimum wage, pension and tax reforms, and the privatisation of state companies. The government insists there are no planned pension or labour reforms and that any changes would take place in consultation with labour groups. Protesters are also angry about alleged corruption and what some see as the government's failure to honour a 2016 peace deal with left-wing Farc rebels amid a rise in violence. Thursday's general strike was called by unions and student groups, and more protests were expected on Friday. President Duque said he had heard Colombians and vowed to deepen "social dialogue". The details of the deaths, all of them in the western province of Valle del Cauca, were still under investigation, Defence Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo told journalists on Friday. Two people died in the city of Buenaventura, where a group of people tried to loot a shopping centre. "Because of this violent act, the security forces went to confront the event, while being subject to violent aggression with the throwing of rocks and sticks," Mr Trujillo said. A third death was reported in the town of Candelaria, he added. According to Mr Trujillo, 98 people were arrested nationwide while 122 civilians and 151 members of the security forces were injured. Eleven preliminary investigations into alleged misconduct by members of the security forces were being carried out, Mr Trujillo said, after images were posted on social media of police treating protesters roughly. They included a riot police officer kicking a protester in the face. In Valle del Cauca's capital, Cali, security forces clashed with demonstrators who blocked roads and vandalised buses and shops. In Bogota, police fired tear gas against crowds gathered in the historic Bolivar Square next to the president's office. Buses and public buildings were attacked and the mayor, Enrique Penalosa, estimated $5.8m (PS4.5m) in damages. A ban on alcohol sales in the capital will be imposed from 12:00 local time (17:00 GMT) on Friday until 12:00 on Saturday. The demonstrations were the largest in the country in many years, and authorities said rallies were held in 350 towns and cities. The organisers of the protests, the National Strike Committee, said in a statement (in Spanish): "Colombia won on this historic day of citizen mobilization... We call on all citizens to be ready to take further action in the street if the national government continues to neglect our demands." A 65-year-old pensioner and Duque voter, Pablo Merchan, told Reuters news agency: "People from across the spectrum marched and I hope our president understands he has to grab the reins of the country and give us an assured path and hope for the young." In a televised address on Thursday, Mr Duque said: "Today, Colombians spoke. We hear them. Social dialogue has been a main principle of this government and we need to deepen it with all sectors of society and speed up the social agenda and the fight against corruption." The president, who took office in August 2018, also condemned the violence, saying the government would not tolerate "lootings and attacks on private property". Protesters have taken to the streets in several Latin American countries in recent months, including in Chile, where conservative President Sebastian Pinera is grappling with the country's biggest crisis since its return to democracy in 1990. In Bolivia, claims of election fraud led to the resignation of long-time leftist President Evo Morales amid nationwide protests. Demonstrations have also taken place in Ecuador and Nicaragua.
The details of the deaths, all of them in the western province of Valle del Cauca, were still under investigation, Defence Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo told journalists on Friday. Two people died in the city of Buenaventura, where a group of people tried to loot a shopping centre. "Because of this violent act, the security forces went to confront the event, while being subject to violent aggression with the throwing of rocks and sticks," Mr Trujillo said. A third death was reported in the town of Candelaria, he added. According to Mr Trujillo, 98 people were arrested nationwide while 122 civilians and 151 members of the security forces were injured. Eleven preliminary investigations into alleged misconduct by members of the security forces were being carried out, Mr Trujillo said, after images were posted on social media of police treating protesters roughly. They included a riot police officer kicking a protester in the face. In Valle del Cauca's capital, Cali, security forces clashed with demonstrators who blocked roads and vandalised buses and shops. In Bogota, police fired tear gas against crowds gathered in the historic Bolivar Square next to the president's office. Buses and public buildings were attacked and the mayor, Enrique Penalosa, estimated $5.8m (PS4.5m) in damages. A ban on alcohol sales in the capital will be imposed from 12:00 local time (17:00 GMT) on Friday until 12:00 on Saturday. The demonstrations were the largest in the country in many years, and authorities said rallies were held in 350 towns and cities. The organisers of the protests, the National Strike Committee, said in a statement (in Spanish): "Colombia won on this historic day of citizen mobilization... We call on all citizens to be ready to take further action in the street if the national government continues to neglect our demands." A 65-year-old pensioner and Duque voter, Pablo Merchan, told Reuters news agency: "People from across the spectrum marched and I hope our president understands he has to grab the reins of the country and give us an assured path and hope for the young."
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What's known about the deaths?
In a televised address on Thursday, Mr Duque said: "Today, Colombians spoke. We hear them. Social dialogue has been a main principle of this government and we need to deepen it with all sectors of society and speed up the social agenda and the fight against corruption." The president, who took office in August 2018, also condemned the violence, saying the government would not tolerate "lootings and attacks on private property". Protesters have taken to the streets in several Latin American countries in recent months, including in Chile, where conservative President Sebastian Pinera is grappling with the country's biggest crisis since its return to democracy in 1990. In Bolivia, claims of election fraud led to the resignation of long-time leftist President Evo Morales amid nationwide protests. Demonstrations have also taken place in Ecuador and Nicaragua.
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What has the president said?