Protesters tear-gassed in Colombia’s capital Bogota as president starts ‘national conversation’ to quell public anger
- Protests are swelling in Colombia against a government seen as inefficient and prone to human rights abuses
- Protests have coincided with demonstrations elsewhere in Latin America, from anti-austerity marches in Chile, to protests over vote-tampering allegations in Bolivia
Security forces tear-gassed protesters who filled the streets of Bogota on Saturday for a third straight day, as President Ivan Duque announced the start of a “national conversation” to assuage popular anger.
Duque, a conservative who is deeply unpopular 18 months after his election, had proposed the talks on Friday in response to nationwide protests a day earlier that descended into violence, leaving three dead.
“Tomorrow, with Mayors and Governors elected from all over the country we will start the National Conversation,” he wrote on Twitter on Saturday evening, referring to officials who won October polls.
Duque said he would meet Monday with the ministers of finance, labour and trade, along with representatives of business owners and workers, while dialogue with “different social sectors” would take place this week.
Following an overnight curfew in Bogota, demonstrators returned to the streets on Saturday as crews cleared debris from earlier clashes and looting.
