Colombian President, Ivan Duque, has promised to engage in a dialogue with protesters after days of protests throughout the South American country. The protests have taken place in the capital city of Bogota and other cities throughout the country.
Protesters cite numerous reasons for taking to the streets, including human rights issues, corruption, and concern over economic issues, including worries that the government intends to cut salaries and pension benefits. Thus far, 146 people have been detained, 6 people have died, and numerous injuries have been reported. The police allegedly used tear gas on the protesters, who defied a curfew in order to congregate outside of the president’s home.
Demonstrators have stated that the promise of a dialogue, without specific measures to modify governmental policies, is insufficient to address their concerns. This raises the risk of ongoing unrest and possible escalation of the conflict in the country.
