OMM Newsroom
Opposition groups, trade unions, Indigenous organizations and social movements took to the streets across Colombia on Wednesday to protest President Abelardo de la Espriella’s government.
De la Espriella said the right to protest was respected, but added that it did not extend to destroying property, attacking security forces, assaulting people or causing chaos.
The decree permits police to intervene against violent protesters without completing all stages of dialogue and mediation. The government said it would protect peaceful demonstrations while allowing authorities to respond to vandalism, assaults and disruptions to essential services.
Protesters are opposing the government’s economic and social policies and calling for labor rights, increased funding for public education and guarantees for peaceful demonstrations. Teachers’ unions are seeking better working conditions and health care, while student and Indigenous groups are calling for greater protection of their rights.
Authorities monitored the demonstrations and traffic in several cities, including Bogota. The mobilizations are a major test of opposition groups’ ability to challenge De la Espriella’s administration.
Former President Gustavo Petro urged Colombians to join the protests, highlighting the minimum wage and rising food prices. “If the real minimum wage falls, what we have is a decline in the standard of living of all Colombians,” Petro said in a video on “X”.
The decree also sets out a mechanism to address social conflicts before they escalate. Under the system, local authorities must convene a dialogue meeting within five working days of an early warning being activated.
The government said the mechanism is intended to ease tensions through dialogue, while critics have questioned whether the rules adequately protect the right to peaceful protest.
