Colombian conservative president Ivan Duque on Tuesday summoned officials of the massive protest that has shaken his country for five days, announced Monday, November 25, the Minister of Labor, Alicia Arango. But the representatives of the national strike did not confirm their presence in the immediate future.
The meeting, which will bring together union leaders and students, will take place as part of the "Social Dialogue" convened by the head of state in response to daily demonstrations against the economic and social policies of his government.
Under pressure from demonstrators, the Colombian president on Friday called for a "national conversation" with all sectors of the population to discuss possible reforms.
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Ivan Duque, a very unpopular right-wing head of state after less than 16 months in power, began talks Sunday with mayors and governors elected in late October, who will take office in January.
"The impatience of the citizens is great, their demands too (...), but it is also very important to understand that the governments can not make only promises and that they do not have magic wands allowing them to 'have immediate and miraculous solutions,' warned the Colombian president.
Death of a young 18-year-old protester
The Central and the public school teachers' union took the lead on Monday of a major event coinciding with the International Day Against Violence Against Women. Thousands of people, including many young people, took part in several cities in Colombia.
The demonstrations, mostly peaceful, were riddled with violence and brutally suppressed by the riot police, killing four people and injuring 500 others. The fourth death, Monday, is a young 18-year-old protester wounded in the head by a tear gas fire from the police during a demonstration in Bogota two days earlier.
President Ivan Duque said on Twitter deeply regret the death of Dilan Cruz and offer his condolences to the family of the young man.
Lamentamos profundamente the muerte del joven Dilan Cruz. Expresamos nuestras sinceras condolencias su mamá, su abuelo y sus dos hermanas. Reitero mi solidaridad con esta familia.
- Iván Duque (@IvanDuque) November 26, 2019The announcement of this death could feed critics against the methods used by the riot police and the anger of the demonstrators, who protest against possible economic reforms and denounce the government's inaction in the face of police abuse.
For his part, the head of state met Monday the National Commission for Labor Concertation, bringing together ministers of finance, labor and trade with representatives of employers and employees, not recognized by the unions.
In power since August 2018, Ivan Duque, 43 years old and without political experience if not a senator's mandate, does not enjoy a parliamentary majority. He suffers 69% of adverse opinions and his party, the Democratic Center (CD), suffered serious setbacks in the local elections of 27 October.
With AFP and Reuters