Demand is growing for Colombians on the eighth day of mass protests New protests

Bogota Colombia – Protests against the government took place on Wednesday for the eighth day in a row across Colombia as rights groups continue to raise concerns excessive violence security forces.

Police against incidents used the crying gas to scatter the protesters from the main public square of Bogota capital, as well as gathered people in other places in the city.

But protesters have said they will continue to take to the streets, despite Ivan being the right-wing president Retirement of the controversial Duke tax reform which prompted them to protest last week.

“Yes, they have withdrawn the reform, but they have not changed it,” said Olga Cabos, a 48-year-old emerald union worker who took part in the second national strike in central Bogota on 28 April.

“We cannot let this Duque government continue to make things difficult for the poorest among us,” he told Al Jazeera, marking a sign against the government.

The protests were sparked by an unusual tax reform, the government said, aimed at stabilizing the economy destroyed by the coronavirus pandemic. But middle- and middle-class Colombians said the plan was in favor of the rich putting more pressure.

The Duke withdrew the proposal on Sunday and his The finance minister resigned a day later, but protesters are now proposing a health reform and demanding a bailout to ensure a basic income of one million pesos ($ 260) for all Colombians, among other demands.

“Although tax reform was an initial spark, today’s protests in Colombia reflect numerous social, political, and economic grievances that will make it difficult for the Duque government to deal with existing national dialogue scripts,” said politician Arlene Tickner. Professor of Science at the University of Rosario in Bogotá.

Increasing violence

Late violence escalated late Monday in the country’s third-largest city, Calin, and protesters said police fired on them to disperse people. Videos of Cali’s police misconduct – which Al Jazeera could not independently verify – were posted on social media on Tuesday.

Sources on the ground said police fired on the protesters indiscriminately, including from helicopters.

The number of deaths related to the protests remains highly debated and widespread among the government and independent NGOs. Colombia’s human rights ombudsman says 24 people have been killed, and the local NGO Temblores, which documents police abuses, estimates 37 have been killed.

The protests have been reported as robbery and vandalism, and these actions have been condemned by local politicians.

On Tuesday afternoon, 30 people were injured and 16 policemen were injured, the mayor said in a statement that a crowd had tried to “burn alive” 10 policemen by setting fire to a small police house.

Meanwhile, several U.S. officials, the United Nations and the European Union have complained that national police have fired on protesters. Celebrities, including Colombian-born musician Shakira – who has been known to comment on political issues – have also spoken out about the violence.

“I urge the government of my country to take urgent measures now to stop human rights violations and restore the value of human life above any political interest,” the singer tweeted in Spanish on Tuesday.

But, according to Tickner, “the growing international pressure to stop police brutality and respect human rights has had little impact on the violence and responsibility perpetrated by states.”

Hundreds were arrested

In a video on Wednesday, the Duke reiterated allegations by the government that illegal armed groups are engaged in acts of vandalism and robbery and that more than 550 arrests have been made.

“There will be no truce with those who commit these crimes – it will bring all societies to justice,” Duque said.

The president had earlier called for a national dialogue before the marches to “listen and build solutions,” similar to 2019, when Colombians took to the streets because of economic inequality. carrying out the peace process and increasing insecurity.

Elizabeth Dickinson, Colombia’s chief analyst at the International Crisis Group, said that although the illegal group may in some cases have infiltrated the current protests, “there is no reliable way to say that an armed or criminal group is pushing or forcing protesters into the street.”

He told Al Jazeera that what was happening was a “legal social movement”.

“In the capital Bogota, the number of people living in extreme poverty has tripled in one year, so it’s a real moment of social crisis across the country and I think the protests could be more lasting than in 2019.”

Police are seen in Bogota Protests on May 5 [Luisa Gonzalez/Reuters]

However, political analyst Sergio Guzman, who runs Colombia Risk Analysis, said many of the protesters’ demands were unrealistic, and that the Duque government would not welcome them.

“Requests like universal basic income are not viable in any case,” he told Al Jazeera, and protesters have yet to establish a negotiating stance that the government would be realistic or acceptable.

However, he said the government needs to start responding to more concerns from protesters, especially police brutality.

Dickinson agreed, and said the two sides are now firmly entrenched in their positions.

“Demand for protesters is growing day by day,” he said. “It’s a list of very significant changes for the state. To make right or wrong, it would involve very important and profound reforms in the way states operate.”