The Colombian duke wants to quell the protests by scaring off complaints Politics News

Colombian President Ivan Duque has met with political opponents and expressed more optimism than critics about the progress he has made throughout the week in spreading street protests and sometimes calming the deadly.

“We had a fruitful meeting with the coalition of hope, a great opportunity for dialogue, to overcome differences and without political scores,” Duque wrote on social media on Friday, referring to the group of politicians.

Opposition participants said the Duke had to work hard to address demands for action to end poverty, unemployment and police violence.

The group “entered into talks with President Ivan Duque as an opposition and left us as an opposition,” said Colombian Dignity party senator Jorge Robledo.

“We posted our views and he shared his own.”

Duque was asked to meet with civil society protest organizers.

Peaceful marches were held in Bogota and Medellin, while roadblocks across the country delivered food, while some prices went up.

Duque said it is never justified to interfere with the supply of food and other products, such as oxygen.

“Yes to the interview … but not to the roadblocks,” he told reporters. “They are not peaceful because they affect the rights of others.”

‘Two-sided government’

The government is scheduled to meet with the national strike committee on Monday – made up of unions and other groups – but said it is ready to hold a meeting earlier.

Demonstrations began last week in the Andean country fueled by anger over the plan to raise sales taxes. This proposal was rejected, but the demands of the protesters receive a basic income and the withdrawal of the long-discussed health care reform from opponents has been said to be vague in resolving the differences.

The Human Rights Ombudsman has reported 26 deaths since the protests began, but said the seven marches themselves have no connection. The human rights group Human Rights Watch has called 36 dead and described police violence as “worrying.”

The armed justice system said a major man was arrested late Thursday night for homicides linked to the death of a protester last weekend.

Protest groups are skeptical of an interview with Duque, saying few similar talks took place after the 2019 demonstrations.

The government must stop police violence, said Green Party congresswoman Katherine Miranda.

“The government has two faces. During the day, he offers dialogue and conciliation, but at night he only shows repression, ”he told Reuters.

One of the main demands of the protesters is to disband the ESMAD group, a formidable police force against riots that has been rejected by the Duke.

“The protests will continue as long as there are no results of the dialogue,” Francisco Maltes, president of the Central Workers ’Union (CUT), said this week.

Some Colombians demanded an end to the demonstrations.

“The government decided to withdraw at the time [the tax reform], was to be declared a popular victory, ”left-wing senator Gustavo Petro and the 2022 presidential hopeful said on Friday.

“At the moment, there is no clear goal,” he said.

Poverty and unemployment rose during coronary artery disease closures, deepening entrenched social inequalities. According to government statistics, nearly half of Colombia’s 50 million people lived in poverty by the end of 2020.

The talks provide a way to move forward, said Democratic Party center leader Edward Rodriguez Duque.

“The success of the conversation depends on listening to everyone,” Rodriguez said. “And that leads to public policy.”

It is likely that voters will bring unrest to the polls in 2022, Miranda added, adding that “there will be a change in the country’s model.” [of government]”.

The duke cannot run next year, but continuing protests could hurt the chances of his party’s candidates.

What is happening in the protests “is not beneficial for the government, nor for his party, nor for the electoral fate in 2022,” said analyst Sergio Guzman, Colombia Risk Analysis.