National Unemployment Committee to seek more than dialogue with government, so protests will continue

The National Unemployment Committee met after the national government invited them to a meeting with the President Iván Duque and Vice-President Marta Lucía Ramírez to engage in dialogue as part of a great national conversation.

According to the committee, they will be looking for more than a conversation, since they want to come in to negotiate several points that they established a few days ago. Likewise, they assured that the protests would continue.

What they ask the committee

Once the tax reform was reversed, this group of trade unionists, students and social organizations assured that the strike should continue. “With this announcement, the mobilization is not deactivated. The people on the streets are demanding much more than the withdrawal of tax reform, ”they said in their latest statement.

They assure that there are pendants who have been left since the mobilization of November 21, 2019. “The national government has had the opportunity to respond to and resolve the demands of the major mobilizations carried out since November 21, 2019 and of the agreements not respected with the populations and their organizations, but it has never undertaken to set up a negotiation table and an agreement. On the contrary, he has always stigmatized and acted with violence against the demonstrators “, they said.

In the committee, they demand the demilitarization of the cities, the end of the massacres and the punishment of those responsible. And, likewise, the disassemble the ESMAD. In addition, the following points would enter into negotiation with the National Unemployment Committee:

1. Withdrawal of Bill 010 on health and strengthening of mass vaccination.

2. Basic income of at least a statutory monthly minimum wage.

3. Defense of national production (agricultural, industrial, artisanal, peasant). Subsidies to MSMEs and employment with rights and a policy that upholds food sovereignty and security.

4. Zero enrollment and no alternation in school.

5. Gender non-discrimination, sexual and ethnic diversity.

6. No privatizations and repeal of Decree 1174.

Its demands also include an end to the forced eradication of illicit crops and the aerial spraying of glyphosate.

After the meeting of Iván Duque at the highest courts, authorization was given so that this Thursday, if this is the case, committee heads attend a meeting with the chair and vice-chair.

“After having consulted the President of the Republic and the Vice-President, as the Minister said, we are ready to meet the representative members of the national strike committee. But there is something very important that must be underlined, we call as did the high courts, which were in meeting, that by then all acts of violence in the demonstrations cease. Likewise, we insist on the need for there to be no blockade, blockages affect the supply of oxygen, they affect the supply of medical supplies, they directly affect the progress of the national immunization plan. ”Ceballos said.

The official added that, “There is no reason to continue these blockages and that is why we ask all the Colombian people to support this institutionality, not only that today it has been represented by the Cortes, but for our government which, as the Minister of Labor has said, is quite ready to meet here at the Casa de Nariño, now with the President of the Republic and the Vice-President to move forward on the fundamental issues to which our nation expects ”.

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