Post

Wustenok wrote:

What happened to Colombia?

Pilgrimtown wrote:

Government wanted make a new tax reform (had tried two times before, but had not could), will add VAT and increase taxes for many products and specialy for urban middle class (this was because the pandemy Colombia got new debt and supposedly the reform is for get more money to national coffers). In the main colombian cities started protests: the majority was pacific, others was violent, so president Iván Duque ordered stop the new laws, but people is still protesting. Since last tuesday colombian army and police used public force for suppress protests: even opened fire against people during night. And you know, is Latinamerica: very politiced, have much corruption (Colombia finished a war againts FARCS, had extrajudicial deaths by army, army became violent). In summary. You can research more.

P.D. Forgive my English, i'm spanish-speaker, and I practice write in English in NS. I wish you can understand me.

To add to the good summary made by Pilgrimtown, I would add that despite the fact that the tax reform that originated the protests (and has already been withdrawn), there is a generalized discontent in the background. The protesters also call for structural changes in the police in the face of the increase in violence, they resist a health reform, they want the peace agreement that was signed in 2016 to be fulfilled - especially with regard to the protection of social leaders and ex-combatants - and reject inequality and the increase in poverty.

The tax reform sought a collection of around 6,302 million dollars and, to achieve this, it sought to increase taxes for the middle and lower class. This included a 19% increase in public services and basic products of the family basket, just at a time when the closures to mitigate the pandemic have increased unemployment.

The number of civilians killed during the protests varies depending on who is counting. While the state Ombudsman's Office speaks of 24 deceased, the local NGO Temblores assures that there are 37 fatalities. Some of them were killed by gunfire by police officers. And national NGOs and international organizations have warned about events related to human rights violations by the public forces in the framework of the protests. On the other hand, violent acts by some civilians have also increased. On May 4, they set fire to a police station in Bogotá when there were uniformed men inside. There have also been looting of supermarkets, destroyed shops, and incinerated public buses throughout the country during the mostly peaceful demonstrations. With the recent complaints of police abuse, voices calling for a restructuring of the public force were rekindled.

The cessation of the murder of social leaders and former combatants, plus compliance with the peace agreement is also one of the reasons why many march. In 2016, the government of President Juan Manuel Santos signed a peace agreement with the then oldest guerrilla in Latin America, the FARC, now a political party. Now, the demobilized and citizens in general who supported the process ask that the commitments be fulfilled, especially the points referring to guaranteeing the life and safety of those who laid down their arms. Until the end of April, Comunes, the political movement of the former guerrilla, reported that 269 signers of the peace process had been assassinated. Added to this are the deaths of social leaders. On April 20, the transitional justice mechanism reported that at least 904 have been murdered since 2016.

Regarding claims for poverty and inequality the unemployment rate in Colombia by February 2021 rose to 15.9%, according to official data. During one year of the pandemic, about 468,000 people lost their jobs and the number of unemployed reached 3,437,000 in March 2021. In addition, official data also ensure that 40% of Colombians are now poor and 15% lives in extreme poverty.

PS: Sorry for the long post, I'm not Colombian either, but I love that country (I've been there 3 times and traveled almost entirely), and I have many friends and acquaintances with whom I am in permanent contact.