Colombia peasant protests shut down roads, spur violent police response
Source: Colombia Reports
Colombia peasant protests shut down roads, spur violent police response
written by Stephen Gill June 1, 2016
Expanding agrarian and indigenous strikes hit at least half of Colombias 32 provinces Tuesday. Ignoring government warnings, protesters blocked important roads and even retained four soldiers.
The farmers and indigenous protesters demand the government keep its word on promises made in 2013 to end a similar national strike that left dozens dead.
The protests began Monday and immediately escalated just outside Buenaventura, Colombias main port city, where a man died and protesters attacked trucks, effectively blocking the main road connecting the port city with the rest of the country.
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The latest strike is calling on the Santos administration to deliver on the promises made following a strike in 2013 which saw 12 protesters killed, nearly 500 wounded and 600 detained, according to reports.
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