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Mobilization against the Colombian government resumed Tuesday, January 21, with marches and road blockades, especially in Bogota. REUTERS / Luisa Gonzalez

In Bogota, Tuesday, clashes with the police punctuated the demonstrations, scattered throughout the city. A day worth testing for the new mayor from the Green Party who had promised to use the riot police only as a last resort

With our correspondent in Bogota, Marie-Eve Detoeuf

Demonstrations resumed Tuesday against the social policy of President Ivan Duque and in defense of the peace agreement with the guerrillas. The date of January 21 was symbolic. The demonstrators wanted to let the government know that the mobilization started two months ago continues. Johana, 40, returned to Bolivar Square, in the center of Bogota.

" We have been demonstrating since last year for various reasons, " she recalls. At first, it was the students who started protesting the cost of studying in Colombia. Then the movement grew to express widespread social unrest. The other important subject is the peace agreement. "

Two streets away, the tear gas is fired. With a scarf on his nose, John 20 explains: " We want to move on and they indiscriminately threw gas at us when there are children and the elderly," he is indignant. Even mothers, peace officers, have received it. "

Claudia Lopez put to the test

Peace officers are civilians responsible for promoting dialogue between the police and the demonstrators. They are part of the strategy put in place by the new mayor who took office on January 1, Claudia Lopez, to limit the violence of the demonstrations. The results of this first experience are mixed, she admitted. New demonstrations are expected to take place in the coming days.

A total of 165 marches, rallies and roadblocks were reported throughout the country and 94 people arrested, the majority in the capital, according to the police.

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