Colombia: The Government tries to stop the protests by calling a meeting with its organizers

The Government of Colombia has reiterated its intention to meet with the National Strike Committee to discuss their demands and stop the wave of protests that have once again plagued the country for the ninth consecutive day this Thursday, when clashes between protesters have again developed and security forces. The Minister of Labor, Ángel Custodio Cabrera, has assured that the Government wants to advance its meeting with the organizers of the strike, initially planned for May 10, to discuss the issues “that they have been raising” and “Build an agenda for dialogue.” “We have just spoken with the president of the republic, he is willing to receive a delegation from the strike committee to start working and watch the discussion,” Custodio stated after a government meeting with the High Cortes.The High Commissioner for Peace of Colombia, Miguel Ceballos, also present at the meeting, has confirmed Duque’s position to meet with the representatives before the committee, whom he has already invited to Casa de Nariño “to advance on the fundamental issues.” For its part, the National Unemployment Committee has concluded, after a meeting, to enter into dialogue, although they have insisted on negotiation of the Emergency Document and have indicated that the strike will continue at least until the meeting is held, which could take place this Friday, reports Radio Caracol.On the other hand, the meeting of the Government with the presidents of the High Courts has resulted in a joint declaration of “condemnation and rejection” of “criminal acts of violence, terrorism, vandalism and de facto routes, which directly affect the fundamental right to protest, to free expression within the framework of the Political Constitution and to the general functioning of society. ”At the meeting, the importance of investigating the crimes that have been registered against civilians or public servants was also expressed “Let this be an occasion to show that the public powers, in the midst of circumstances, always in their separation of powers, unite to protect, to preserve the institutionality of our country,” said Iván Duque about the appointment, after the one that has called on Colombia to “unite to overcome the ravages of the pandemic and reject violent acts and de facto means.” The joint declaration of the Government and the High Courts has provoked of discrepancies in the Constitutional Court, whose president, Antonio José Lizarazo, has signed the statement, an action that has been criticized by two of the court’s magistrates, Diana Fajardo and Jorge Enrique Ibáñez, in which, in his opinion, affects the separation of powers. “The separation of functions, without prejudice to harmonious collaboration, obliges the Constitutional Court to maintain its independence for the exercise of judicial control functions, which includes the decisions, omissions or abstentions of the National Government”, they have recalled the magistrates, collects ‘El Tiempo’.Ninth day of protests While pushing towards a path of dialogue, the protests have continued for the ninth consecutive day, in which the confrontations and violence have been repeated in different parts of the national geography. In the department of Valle del Cauca and one of the most affected by violence and repression, attendees at the protests and neighbors have denounced that police officers have shot at protesters from a truck, through videos circulating on social networks, Citizens have denounced that they were attacked with a firearm by plainclothes police officers who were mobilizing in a truck, in the west of Cali, reports ‘El Espectador’, which adds that the Police have confirmed that those who were mobilizing in the vehicle did belong the body, but that they have been the victims of attacks by citizens. In Bogotá there have been blockades, sit-ins and different concentrations throughout the day , in which riots have also been reported between attendees and members of the Mobile Anti-Riot Squad (Esmad) and the Police.The city has also hosted acts with candles, posters and chants as a form of protest and in memory of the deceased since a week ago The marches began, 24 according to the Ombudsman’s Office and more than 30 according to social organizations.Among the demonstrations this Thursday, the young Lucas Villa was especially remembered, who would have been shot in a peaceful protest in Pereira and was considered a leader of the marches. “The Police are already taking all the information that corresponds to them so that the perpetrators of the act can be prosecuted,” said Defense Minister Diego Molano in this regard.This Thursday, the Ministry of Health reported that the medical mission in Colombia has been the target of 126 violent events since last April 28, the day the national strike began. “64 correspond to personal injuries and threats against health personnel and 62 against ambulances, their crews and patients on board,” the portfolio indicated. In addition, more than 370 people have disappeared in Colombia for a week, according to has alerted at the work table about forced disappearance, made up of 26 human rights organizations and victims, who have filed a report with the data with the Ombudsman’s Office.