Colombian National Strike Committee plans new protests

The Colombian National Strike Committee (CNP) has called for new protests to be held in the next couple of months as no agreement was reached with Ivan Duque’s government.

President of the Unitary Workers’ Union (CUT) Diogenes Orjuela said: "The government does not like the word negotiation."

The Colombian government has said that many of the requirements requested by the CNP are beyond its powers, so they have stressed that it will not discuss issues such as security and national defense policy.

After 44 days and no meeting with Duque administration, a meeting was finally held but no agreement was reached. For this reason, the coordinating group behind the nationwide protests decided to convene its next march for 21 February.

The CNP said in a statement that "it has stood for the defense of life and peace. In this context, we have defended the Havana peace agreements and have demanded their implementation and realization."

In addition to the 21 February mobilization, other protests have been scheduled for 8 March, 9 April, 1 May and 8 and 9 June. A national strike has been planned for 25 March.

On 21 November millions of Colombians took to the streets to hold the biggest protest against Duque since he came to power in August 2018.