To protest the social and economic policies of President, Ivan Duque and the killing of human rights activists and police violence, thousands of union members, teachers, students and indigenous people participated in a national strike in Colombia on Wednesday
The government warned protesters of increased risk of corona virus infections. Colombia, which was under lock down for more than five months, is set to top one million confirmed infections this weekend. The marches are the latest in a sporadic series of protests which began late last year, including September demonstrations against police brutality that led to 13 deaths.
Variety of government concessions, including guaranteed income for those who lost jobs in the pandemic, more funding for health and education and steps to stop gender-based violence are the demands of the protesters.
“Not even the pandemic will stop our movement,” said Hermes Pete, head of the Regional Indigenous Council of Cauca (CRIC), according to a report by Reuters.
Protest leaders had demanded a meeting with Duque to discuss the murders of activists, whose deaths the government attributes to criminal gangs and leftist rebels.
Some 10,000 indigenous people came to Bogota to protest this week, principally from southwestern Colombia.