Thousands of protesters storm the streets of Colombia again

Policemen during a clash with protesters.

AFP

Thousands of people protested again, the day before yesterday, against the regime of President Ivan Duque in Colombia, where mass demonstrations, since the end of April, have killed dozens of people, while negotiations with the government stalled.

The demonstrators, who took to the streets of many cities, demanded an end to police repression and the adoption of more unified public policies in the face of the economic impact of the "Covid-19" epidemic, which has impoverished more than 42 percent of this country's population of 50 million. breeze.

“We need opportunities and that education and health be rights, not privileges,” said Sophia Perico, a 15-year-old schoolgirl who came to demonstrate with her family in front of a hotel in the center of the capital where a delegation from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights was holding its meetings.

"We want a change in social policy and economic policy," said Professor Derner Galves, who also came to demonstrate. "People simply can't take it any longer."

The social crisis, which erupted on April 28, against a plan to raise taxes despite the government's retreat from it, led to almost daily demonstrations and roadblocks, especially in the southwest of the country, and violent clashes with the police.

The international community denounced the excesses and abuses of the police, which motivated the visit of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights from the 6th to the 10th of June.

In Bogotá, indigenous peoples also tried to bring down statues of Christopher Columbus and the "Catholic" Queen Isabella, located on a street leading to El Dorado International Airport.

"We want from this place to denounce the crimes against humanity, which took place more than 500 years ago, and which are still being committed today," said Edgar Velasco, a 36-year-old Indigenous citizen, who was protesting near the two statues that police cordoned off the entrances to. .

Conservative President Evan Duque announced on Sunday a police reform focused on respect for human rights, but drew criticism over the limited scope of the promised measures.

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