Thousands of Colombians took to the streets again on Wednesday, May 5 against the right-wing government of President Ivan Duque, under the watchful eye of the international community which condemned police repression and violence lasting a week of protests.

Trade unions, students, natives and other sectors have mobilized in several large cities against health, education, security policies and to denounce abuses by the police.

The violence left at least 24 dead and some 850 injured, according to official sources.

But local NGOs announced higher figures, including Temblores with 31 dead.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) deplored 76 attacks on journalists, 10 of whom were injured by the police.

President Duque denounced Wednesday "acts of violent vandalism, of urban terrorism", the Minister of the Interior, Daniel Palacios, launching "a call for non-violence".

In Bogota, clashes pitted protesters against police who dispersed them with tear gas as they attempted to enter parliament, adjacent to the presidential seat.

About 5,000 people gathered in the heart of the capital, carrying slogans such as "Duque resigns".

Groups then headed for the president's home in the north.

A "deaf government"

Traces of violence remained visible in the city: burnt police stations, vandalized bus stations and bank branches, burnt tire residues, after serious clashes the night before which left 46 injured, including 16 officers.

"It hurts to see that, but hurts us even more the negligence of this deaf government, which prefers to resort to the public force, to support the banks, the big companies, rather than to help" the people, declared to the AFP Hector Cuinemi, a 19-year-old student.

The situation seemed calmer than in recent days in Cali (southwest), with a march counting some 3,000 natives.

Access to the city remained blocked, however, as shortages, especially fuel, began to be felt. 

The demonstration was also quiet in Medellin (north-west), where around 8,000 people marched against the backdrop of slogans against the hard-right ex-president Alvaro Uribe (2000-2010), political mentor of Ivan Duque. 

Beginning of dialogue

The mobilization began on April 28 against a tax reform project which, according to its critics, affected the middle class and was inappropriate in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. The president withdrew it, promising a new text without the most contested points like the VAT hike and the broadening of the income tax base. But the mobilization was maintained on Wednesday under new slogans against the policy of Ivan Duque.

The Head of State denounced Wednesday "a criminal organization, which hides behind legitimate social aspirations to destabilize society, generate terror".

While providing support to the police, it organized "spaces for dialogue", ie 11 meetings starting with various entities, without yet including representatives of the mobilization.

With AFP

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