Four other Colombian protesters have been killed as the death toll rises Human Rights News

Four people were killed in Colombia on Friday as tens of thousands of protesters marched month of demonstrations across the country, while talks between the government and the national strike committee were stalled.

Kalian has become the epicenter of the Center national protests, Mayor Jorge Ospina confirmed three of the deaths. Local media reported that the fourth death occurred on the road between Cali and the town of Candelaria.

Demonstrations in other places were mostly peaceful, although in some places clashes between police and protesters were reported, such as in the municipality of Madrid, near Bogota.

“There must be a dialogue between those who call for a strike, the national government and society as a whole. If there is no dialogue, the whirlwind of violence will continue and unfortunately more people could be killed,” Ospina said.

Two people from Cali were killed when an agent of the Attorney General’s investigation unit shot at civilians, even before he was killed, Attorney General Francisco Barbosa said in a television message. The agent was not working at the time, Barbosa said.

Violence has marked protests over the past four weeks.

The government has so far confirmed 17 civilian deaths as a direct link to the protests, and human rights groups say security forces have killed dozens more civilians. Two police officers were also reported dead earlier in the protests.

Protests began after the right-wing Colombian president last month Ivan Duque‘s government introduced tax reform, critics said, would disproportionately harm workers and the middle class, already hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among the songs and music during the demonstrations in the capital Bogota, protesters told Reuters news agency that they will continue to march even after a month of demonstrations.

Since the tax reform was withdrawn earlier this month, protesters ’demands have included basic income, youth opportunities and an end to police violence.

“Until we hear from the government, we need to stay on the street,” said Alejandro Franco, 23. Near graduation, he told Reuters that he was advocating for better education and health, among other things.

“If the people don’t have peace, so does the government,” he added.

Some have said long-standing protests put financial pressure on them.

“Every time there is a protest I have to close my shop,” said Laudice Ramirez, 62, south of the city. “I’m failing, but young people have no other choice but to.”

Although the government and the head of the protest reached an “pre-agreement” to end the protests this week, strike organizers said on Thursday that the government had not signed the agreement and accused it of stopping.

“We have already reached an agreement, the only thing missing is the president’s signature to start negotiations,” Francisco Maltes, president of the Central Workers’ Union (CUT), said on Friday, accusing the government of delaying talks.

The government has said it has not signed the agreement because some protest leaders will not condemn the roadblocks, have called for the issue to be negotiated and added that talks will resume on Sunday.

Protests and blockades estimated by the Colombian Ministry of Finance have cost the country $ 2.688 billion, and the blockade could lead to a shortage of food and other supplies, raise prices and disrupt operations at the country’s main seaport, as well as hundreds of businesses.