Second meeting between Unemployment Committee and national government ends again without agreements

The Unemployment Committee and the Colombian government have already met twice in an attempt to reach consensus, but this has not been possible. Union and student leaders said there was “no empathy from the government” and that is why the dialogue did not advance. They even stressed on May 17 that the government did not want to take their demands into account and, on the contrary, they are determined to continue to militarize the cities to contain social discontent.

“Today, we were waiting for a response to our demands for guarantees for the demonstration, to be able to start negotiations, and the government said no to everything, and even on various issues to which it did not refer. The real response we received today was the brutal police violence unleashed since last night in Yumbo (Valle del Cauca) with at least two murders, 24 injured and 18 missing. “the Committee said in a press release.

The leaders of the strike are upset because while meeting with government officials, in particular the High Commissioner for Peace, Miguel Ceballos, who is leading the dialogue, President Iván Duque addressed the Colombians and ordered the “deployment of the public force “. The committee assures us that this is a betrayal and shows that there is no guarantee of reaching a consensus.

During this speech, Duque ensured that he was working with the entire cabinet of ministers, governors and mayors of the country to be able to create strategies to lift the blockades. He said he created Unified Command Posts (PMUs) and, along with the National Police, Mobile Riot Brigade (Esmad) and the National Army, monitored every point for follow-up.

Regarding the reasons for the blockades, the president assured that they are promoted by criminals who have a criminal interest of “Affect and sabotage”.

For the Unemployment Committee, this is clear action that Duque only seeks to unblock the roads but does not reach a fair agreement and, above all, that it is respected. In addition, he stressed that the government did not recognize the seriousness of the complaints of police and military repression filed since April 28, when the strike began.

“The national government does not recognize the gravity and dimension of state violence against protesters. It does not recognize cases denounced by human rights organizations. And what is most serious about the government figures is the mixed damage to things, with damage to people.said the statement of the Unemployment Committee.

Ahead of the statement, High Commissioner Ceballos said he hoped the Unemployment Committee would reject the blockades and demand that they be lifted.

“Good evening to all those demonstrating in the country, including the National Unemployment Committee. Today we ask you to expressly express your condemnation of the blockades and the use of violence during demonstrations ”, Said Ceballos.

In addition, he called a new meeting between sectors to be held on Thursday, May 20 at 7:00 a.m. at Compensar’s main headquarters in Bogotá. This meeting, according to Ceballos, would again be accompanied by the representative of Colombia to the United Nations (UN), Carlos Ruiz, and Monsignor Héctor Fabio Henao, delegate of the Catholic Church, who offered to accompany the process as observers. neutral.

As the two sectors come to an agreement, the Unemployment Committee has called for another day of nationwide protests on Wednesday, May 19. Likewise, he assured that he would continue to coordinate humanitarian corridors to avoid the shortage of food and medicine.

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