A Colombia strike is now on its fifth day with dozens of injured people, nearly 100 arrests, while 30 roads remain blocked while protesters continue waiting to hold negotiation talks with the government.
A first attempt at dialogue occurred on Thursday without success in the central department of Boyaca, where the ministers of the Interior and Agriculture, representatives of the potato union, mayors of 20 municipalities and Governor Juan Carlos Granados did not reach any agreement.
Peasants highlight they are not willing to unblock roads without achieving actions that allow to solve their problems.
Minister Counselor for Social Dialogue Luis Eduardo Garzón stated the Government has not minimized the importance of the agricultural strike since it has paved the way for holding talks, but maintaining its stance of not allowing road blockades.
A new communiqué issued by the Bureau of National Dialogue and Agreement (MIA) stated that, contrary to what the president said via the national media, the strike has been a complete success. Nearly 200,000 people have mobilized throughout the country against the Government’s anti-people policies, the communiqué underlines.
The protest’s spokespersons noted they will continue to seek dialogue with the Government to convene a National Table.
FARC-EP Condemn Gov’t Actions vs. Protests in Colombia
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC-EP) condemned in this capital today the militarist treatment of the government towards the agrarian and popular national strike in that South American country. In a statement read by the member of the guerrilla delegation to the peace talks, Marco Leon Calarca, the insurgency states that multiple expressions of social discontent against the neoliberal policies of starvation and looting have joined the protest.
About this issue, Leon Calarca says more than 14 million peasants have thus far gone bankrupt, and about 30 million Colombians are still in poverty.
The indefinite nationwide strike entered today its fifth day with dozens injured people, almost 100 detainees and nearly 30 roads still blocked, while the protesters are still waiting an opportunity to install a negotiating table with the government.
The FARC-EP announced that they will make a statement today on the decision by President Juan Manuel Santos to present to Congress a draft bill, which will allow possible peace agreements to coincide with the upcoming elections.
Both sides, which are discussing the issue of political participation, the second item of the agreed agenda, began on Monday, August 19, the 13th cycle of talks held at the Havana’s Conference Center since November 2012.