After Chile and Bolivia, another large-scale demonstration broke out in South America! Hundreds of thousands of people in Colombia took to the streets on the 21st local time to protest and express their dissatisfaction with the government, the New York Times reported. Several foreign media reported that this was one of the largest protests in the country in recent years.
It is reported that hundreds of thousands of people, including students, teachers and trade union organizers, participated in protests throughout Colombia. According to police estimates, about 207000 people participated. The protests were largely peaceful, but turned violent at night.
According to the guardian, the parade began in the capital Bogota. On the same day, police helicopters circled over the city, while riot police fired tear gas at protesters who blocked the bus route. Despite the downpour, thousands of people gathered in the city's historic Bolivar square. In the evening after the rain stopped, more conflicts broke out in Bogota, and explosions could be heard throughout the city.
Public anger began with the government's proposal to cut pensions a few weeks ago. The guardian said that although the relevant policy has not been officially announced, it has become a 'fuse' for people's general dissatisfaction with the government.
In addition, it was reported that the protesters also expressed anger at the government's slow progress in promoting a peace agreement signed in 2016.
In June 2016, the Colombian government signed a final ceasefire agreement with the revolutionary armed forces of Colombia (FARC), the country's largest rebel organization. In August of that year, the two sides announced that they had reached a final comprehensive peace agreement to end the 52 year civil war. However, due to opposition from the opposition parties, the agreement was rejected in a referendum held in October of the same year. On November 24, Santos, then president of Colombia, signed a new peace agreement with Rodrigo londonio echeveri, the leader of "Colombia", which was adopted by the National Congress.
Not only that, but also the current president Ivan Duke. According to the guardian, some people say Duke has done little to protect Colombian social leaders and indigenous people. They are being murdered at an alarming rate.
In addition, the recent air raid on the opposition drug trafficking camp also aroused public anger, which killed 8 minors.
On August 7, 2018, Duke was sworn in at the Bolivar square in the center of Bogota, the capital of Colombia, and officially began his four-year presidential term. A number of foreign media reported that since taking office, the president's support rate has dropped to 26%.
Source: World Wide Web