Colombia’s bloody protests could be a warning to the region
3 years, 8 months ago

Colombia’s bloody protests could be a warning to the region

CNN  

CNN — Tensions have hardly dissipated in Colombia after President Ivan Duque withdrew a controversial fiscal reform proposal this weekend. Thousands of people are still taking to the streets to protest against police brutality and the economic cost of the pandemic amid Colombia’s extreme inequality. And with both issues common across South America – and exacerbated by the pandemic – many international observers are watching Colombia’s cycle of protest closely for signs of deeper regional effects. Human rights concerns Colombia’s ongoing protests have also prompted fear and outrage at law enforcement’s handling of demonstrators – a concern echoed by rights organizations and foreign observers. Multilateral organizations, foreign ambassadors and even Colombian pop star Shakira have issued statements of concern over law enforcement’s response – on Tuesday, the US State Department publicly urged “the utmost restraint by public forces to prevent additional loss of life.” In the early hours of Wednesday, Bogota’s mayor, Claudia Lopez, made a tearful plea to all sides to abandon violence: “I beg Bogota and Colombia to stop.

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History of this topic

Huge crowds protest Colombian president’s planned reforms
8 months, 2 weeks ago

Huge crowds protest Colombian president’s planned reforms

Al Jazeera  

Protesters call Gustavo Petro’s policies ‘dire’ as his government attempts to reform healthcare and other sectors. Large rallies also took place in other cities across the country in opposition to Petro’s proposed economic and social reforms. ‘Topple the government’ President Petro said in a post on X that the protests were large in Medellin, Bogota and Bucaramanga but “weak” in …

Colombia’s leftist president presents ambitious tax plan
2 years, 5 months ago

Colombia’s leftist president presents ambitious tax plan

Associated Press  

BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombia’s first leftist president presented an ambitious tax plan on Monday that aims to raise up to $11 billion a year for anti-poverty programs. Less than 24 hours after taking his presidential oath, the new president presented a tax reform plan to his nation’ s congress that will increase income taxes on wealthy individuals and place a …

Colombian authorities say ex-FARC behind recent Duque attack
3 years, 5 months ago

Colombian authorities say ex-FARC behind recent Duque attack

Al Jazeera  

Authorities say they arrested 10 former Colombian FARC rebels based in Venezuela responsible for two attacks last month. Colombia has arrested 10 people accused of involvement in attacks on a helicopter carrying President Ivan Duque and a military base last month that officials said on Thursday were planned by former FARC rebel leaders based in Venezuela. Molano said the attacks …

More protests in Colombia as government unveils new tax plan
3 years, 5 months ago

More protests in Colombia as government unveils new tax plan

ABP News  

Bogota, Jul 21 : Protests against poverty and inequality resumed in Colombia as President Ivan Duque presented a USD 4 billion tax plan aimed at helping the government pay for social programs and pandemic-related expenses. The new plan is smaller than a USD 6.3 billion package that was presented in April and set off huge protests across Colombia, in which …

More protests in Colombia as government unveils new tax plan
3 years, 5 months ago

More protests in Colombia as government unveils new tax plan

Associated Press  

BOGOTA, Colombia — Protests against poverty and inequality resumed on Colombia’s independence day Tuesday as President Ivan Duque presented a $4 billion tax plan aimed at helping the government pay for social programs and pandemic-related expenses. Thousands joined in marches in Colombia’s main cities while Duque outlined to congress his government’s achievements and presented a tax plan for financing subsidies …

Colombia presents new tax reform to Congress amid more protests
3 years, 5 months ago

Colombia presents new tax reform to Congress amid more protests

Al Jazeera  

The finance ministry says the bill will not affect most taxpayers, after a proposed increase in April drew protests. Colombia’s government formally presented a $3.95bn tax reform bill to Congress on Tuesday, as unions and student groups sought to revive the street protests that helped scupper the reform’s original iteration. “The social investment law, which we will build between all …

Can protesters in Colombia win change?
3 years, 6 months ago

Can protesters in Colombia win change?

Al Jazeera  

On Tuesday, July 6 at 19:30 GMT: Protesters are still regularly taking to the streets of cities and towns across Colombia, more than two months after thousands of demonstrators began calling for widespread economic and social change. Protesters are also demanding major reforms to the police, which Human Rights Watch says has committed “egregious abuses” in a crackdown on the …

Violent protests erupt in Colombia anew over ‘egregious abuses’
3 years, 6 months ago

Violent protests erupt in Colombia anew over ‘egregious abuses’

Al Jazeera  

Anti-government protesters and police traded blows in demonstrations across Colombia that marked two months of unrest in which more than 60 people have died. Colombia has been rocked by protests since April, following opposition to a proposed tax hike that morphed into a mass movement against the right-wing administration of President Ivan Duque. In the capital, Bogota, dozens drew silhouettes …

Colombia protest leaders suspending weekly demonstrations
3 years, 6 months ago

Colombia protest leaders suspending weekly demonstrations

Al Jazeera  

A spokesman for the national strike committee says the fight for better social and economic policies will continue. National strike committee spokesman Francisco Maltes said on Tuesday that the umbrella group of workers’ unions, student organisations and others had decided to “temporarily” pause the protests that have taken place on Wednesdays. “Protest in Colombia will continue because the reasons behind …

Ivan Duque least popular Colombian president on record: Poll
3 years, 7 months ago

Ivan Duque least popular Colombian president on record: Poll

Al Jazeera  

Pressure has increased on Duque amid widespread anti-government protests in recent weeks. Colombian leader Ivan Duque, who has faced widespread anti-government protests in recent weeks, has become the country’s most unpopular president ever, according to a new poll. A telephone survey of 1,200 people by Invamer pollster found that 76 percent of respondents disapproved of the right-wing politician’s performance as …

The Colombian protests reflect a deep legitimacy crisis
3 years, 7 months ago

The Colombian protests reflect a deep legitimacy crisis

Al Jazeera  

The country could slip into another cycle of violence if the government continues to ignore people’s grievances. The government’s response: Violence and slander The initial response of the government to cross-sector criticism of its tax reform proposal was completely tone-deaf. Mobilisation as an outcome of the 2016 peace accords While the proposed tax reform was the trigger of the recent …

In Pictures: Cali – The epicentre of protests in Colombia
3 years, 7 months ago

In Pictures: Cali – The epicentre of protests in Colombia

Al Jazeera  

Cali, Colombia – Cali has become the epicentre of anti-government protests since April 28 over a tax reform proposal by President Ivan Duque’s right-wing government that intends to tax basic goods and food for an already impoverished working class struggling through the pandemic. The streets of Cali, the third largest city of Colombia with almost 2.5 million inhabitants, have witnessed …

Colombia enters third week of anti-government protests
3 years, 7 months ago

Colombia enters third week of anti-government protests

Al Jazeera  

Protesters are calling for end to police violence and more economic support during pandemic, among long list of demands. Anti-government protests have entered their third week in Colombia, as union members, students, pensioners and more took to the streets to protest against recent violence and demand economic assistance in the pandemic-hit country. Cristian Urena, a student at the protest, told …

Colombia’s Duque seeks to calm protest as grievances fester
3 years, 8 months ago

Colombia’s Duque seeks to calm protest as grievances fester

Al Jazeera  

Protest groups are sceptical of dialogue with embattled president saying similar talks accomplished little after 2019 demonstrations. “We had a productive meeting with the coalition of hope, a great opportunity for dialogue, overcoming differences and without political point-scoring,” Duque wrote on social media on Friday, referring to the group of politicians. The group “entered talks with President Ivan Duque as …

Colombia’s protests, explained
3 years, 8 months ago

Colombia’s protests, explained

CNN  

CNN — More than a week of violent protests across Colombia have seen least 25 people killed and hundreds injured, prompting statements of concern from the US government and the European Union. Fueled by frustration over Covid-19’s crushing economic pain and exacerbated by a heavy-handed police response, the upheaval has reached 247 cities and towns, according to Colombia Interior Minister …

Deadly protests in Colombia
3 years, 8 months ago

Deadly protests in Colombia

Al Jazeera  

The UN rights office has condemned the “excessive use of force” by security officers in Colombia, after numerous deaths during days of protests. The protests, which began last week, demanded the withdrawal of a tax reform proposed by the government of President Ivan Duque – he did so on Sunday, but the protests have continued. The UN rights office said …

Colombia protests continue after government withdraws tax reform
3 years, 8 months ago

Colombia protests continue after government withdraws tax reform

Al Jazeera  

Colombia’s finance minister has resigned, but experts say public anger goes beyond the widely-decried tax proposal. “The fact that the tax reform stood little chance of being approved in the Congress, combined with the growing unruliness of the protests and domestic and international condemnation of widespread police brutality, likely factored into the president’s decision.” In a local media interview last …

Colombia’s president withdrawing tax reforms after mass protests
3 years, 8 months ago

Colombia’s president withdrawing tax reforms after mass protests

Al Jazeera  

Colombian President Ivan Duque has said he is withdrawing a contentious tax reform proposal after thousands of protesters took to the streets across the South American nation for several days to denounce the measures. “They’re robbing us poor people, while they give everything to the rich.” Human Rights Watch said it had confirmed six deaths related to the protests. The …

Colombia protests: Five civilians and one police officer die in unrest
3 years, 8 months ago

Colombia protests: Five civilians and one police officer die in unrest

CNN  

CNN — At least five civilians and one police officer have died during protests against a government tax reform in Colombia since the start of unresrt this week, the country’s Ombudsman said Saturday. Ombudsman Carlos Camargo said three civilians died in the city of Cali, one civilian in Bogota, one civilian in Neiva and one police officer in Soacha, citing …

Thousands march in Colombia over tax proposals, rising insecurity
3 years, 8 months ago

Thousands march in Colombia over tax proposals, rising insecurity

Al Jazeera  

Strike went ahead despite calls for it to be postponed because of COVID-19, with riot police using tear gas to disperse the crowds. Bogota, Colombia – Tens of thousands of protesters answered the call of Colombia’s biggest unions to take to the streets over the government’s proposed tax proposals despite a court order to postpone the strike over concerns of …

‘The fight continues’: Colombia protests persist despite pandemic
4 years, 1 month ago

‘The fight continues’: Colombia protests persist despite pandemic

Al Jazeera  

Bogota, Colombia – Hundreds of people gathered at a street corner in downtown Bogota on Monday to commemorate the anniversary of Dilan Cruz’s death. Throughout the vigil, the mostly young crowd chanted: “Dilan didn’t die, Dilan was killed!” The killing of Cruz, who was shot with a projectile by riot police at close range, fuelled Colombia’s burgeoning anti-government protests in …

Colombia: Protesters sceptical of Duque’s call for dialogue
5 years, 1 month ago

Colombia: Protesters sceptical of Duque’s call for dialogue

Al Jazeera  

Many protesters say Duque’s call for talks is too little too late as discontent grows with right-wing government. Bogota, Colombia – Protesters in Bogota have expressed scepticism over President Ivan Duque‘s call for “national dialogue” to quell the demonstrations that have rocked Colombia since last week. “They’re not going to negotiate with us,” said Hector Paez, a 60-year-old university professor …

Colombia protests: What prompted them and where are they headed?
5 years, 1 month ago

Colombia protests: What prompted them and where are they headed?

Al Jazeera  

Discontent over inequality, education, Duque’s slow implementation of the 2016 peace deal has been simmering for months. Protester Jonathan Ramirez said: “Colombia is tired of injustice, bad governance and social inequality.” The 34-year-old told Al Jazeera: “Colombia is our life, our home and we’re ruining it”. Duque has so far offered to hold a “national dialogue” with “all social sectors” …

‘Referendum on Duque’: Thousands march against Colombia president
5 years, 1 month ago

‘Referendum on Duque’: Thousands march against Colombia president

Al Jazeera  

Bogota, Colombia – Hundreds of thousands of protesters marched through the dense city streets of Bogota and other cities across Colombia on Thursday as the country joined a wave of others in South America experiencing anti-government demonstrations. “I’m so scared because I have kids.” Civil society groups opposing economic reforms by Duque’s right-wing government announced the strike last month. “It’s …

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