Around 1,500 delegates from trade unions, social organisations, grassroots groups, farmers’ organisations, ethnic groups and political organisations gathered in Bogotá for the National Meeting in Defence of Life, Dignity, Democracy, Peace, Sovereignty and Social Reforms.
As part of a strategy of mobilisation and opposition to Abelardo de la Espriella’s new government, they decided to call a national strike between 11 and 20 November, although they have not yet set a definitive date. This will be preceded by other regional preparatory and mobilisation events on 10, 12 and 14 October.
Among the reasons for these days of mobilisation are opposition to the government’s security and defence policies, the breakdown of the peace processes, and the need to protect social reforms. Other issues include education and public services, as well as opposition to what the organisations consider to be the current government’s subservience to the imperial interests of the United States.
In their statement, they question the government’s economic direction and warn of the impact of the 2027 National Budget and the proposed ‘fiscal rescue’ plan. Trade union federations, amongst other participants, maintain that rising debt and austerity measures would ultimately shift the costs of the fiscal crisis onto the working classes.
The organisations also rejected the policies announced regarding privatisation, mining and energy, the potential handover of strategic resources to foreign capital, and the resumption of aerial spraying to combat illicit crops.
They also announced further days of action relating to the defence of human rights, state education, women’s rights and solidarity with Palestine.
In their conclusions, they also proposed building a broad front bringing together trade unions, rural communities, indigenous peoples and Afro-descendants, social organisations and opposition political groups to coordinate actions against the Government.
The authorities of the Cauca Regional Indigenous Council (CRIC) held a board meeting in the San Bernardino Collective Territory, in the city of Popayán.
During the meeting, they analysed the situation of indigenous peoples and their territories, and addressed issues of conflict, the presence of armed groups, peace, collective rights and national decisions affecting the communities.
Edgar Fernández, senior councillor of the CRIC, stated:
‘With regard to prior consultation, the government intends to fast-track the amendment of this legal instrument – that is, to reduce the number of steps involved. We have other issues such as regulation and social protest. All of this is going to have a very severe impact on the territories.’
He also announced preparations for 12 October, the Day of Indigenous, Afro-Colombian and Popular Resistance.
They also addressed the challenges facing autonomy, self-government and territorial defence, as well as the need to strengthen communication, coordination between authorities and the capacity to respond to different scenarios.
In light of the ongoing violence in the territories, they emphasised the importance of not normalising such situations, of continuing to support communities and of strengthening coordination with other social sectors.
Last Friday, 11 September, students from various universities in Bogotá took to the streets under a range of slogans, including the defence of public and secular education. They also expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people and other peoples around the world who are victims of US imperialism.
They also commemorated the violent events of 9 September 2020 in Bogotá as a day of remembrance, condemnation and struggle against police violence.
The march set off at midday from the National Pedagogical University (UPN) and passed, along its route, by the District University and the Colegio Mayor de Cundinamarca. After gathering at the Palestinian Embassy, the march proceeded to the US Embassy, where police forces attacked the demonstrators with tear gas and stun grenades. The students were forced to take shelter in the National University’s newspaper library.
