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A spokesman for the national strike committee said the fight for better social and economic policies would continue.
Leaders mass protests against the government They have said they intend to suspend weekly demonstrations in Colombia, but have promised to continue fighting for comprehensive social and economic reforms.
National strike committee spokesman Francisco Maltes said on Tuesday that the umbrellas of workers’ unions, student organizations and other groups had decided to pause protests on Wednesday “temporarily”.
“That doesn’t mean the protests will stop in Colombia,” Maltes said. “Protest in Colombia because the reasons are there it will still remain. “
Anti-government demonstrations It began across the South American nation in late April after the right-wing government President Ivan Duque critics who introduced the now-withdrawn tax reform said it would disproportionately harm the middle class and workers.
Large rallies have continued, and protesters have expanded the list of demands to provide health and education reforms, police reform and a guaranteed basic income to millions of people, among other things.
Violence has also escalated, especially in Calian, the third largest city in the country the protest arose as the epicenter.
Exactly number of dead it remains debated in connection with the protests, but human rights groups say security forces have killed dozens of people.
Human Rights Watch said report last week Colombian forces have called for “tremendous” abuses against “mostly peaceful protesters” during weeks of mass demonstrations and called on the government to “take urgent measures” to protect human rights.
Protest leaders on Tuesday accused the Duque government of undermining its efforts to start negotiations after the talks were suspended earlier this month.
The government said in a statement that it had opted for talks, and reiterated that roadblocks across the country were not protesting peacefully.
After 6 weeks of mobilization, # Colombianational strike committee #ParoNacional political pivot.
The focus will be on addressing local demands, convening public meetings, building political infrastructure and becoming a consensus
The next protest is on July 20thhttps://t.co/RNev2sWIim
– Elizabeth Dickinson (@dickinsonbeth) June 15, 2021
Locks Demonstrations have led to a shortage of basic goods and a rise in prices, and the Ministry of Finance said the total economic losses are more than $ 3 billion.
Meanwhile, Maltes said unions and business associations will meet when he begins a new session on July 20 to write bills to share with Congress, another protest is also expected on that day.
“We hope that Congress and parliamentarians like President Ivan Duque will fail Colombians,” he said.
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