The ACTU calls on the Duque government to end violence against Colombian protestors. Working people in Colombia, led by an alliance of trade unions and social groups, have taken to the streets every day since 28 April against the far-right Duque government and its planned tax reform, which would deepen inequality. The scale of the demonstrations forced the government to withdraw the bill. But in the past week, the government deployed the notorious Anti-Riot Squad (ESMAD) across the country against the protesters.
The ACTU calls on the Colombian government to end the repression now: demilitarise urban areas, dismantle ESMAD, punish those responsible for the violence against the demonstrations, guarantee the right of peaceful protest and start negotiations over the Unified Emergency Plan with the National Strike Committee.
