00:49Colombia: The sixth day of protest met with the state's force
Colombia: The sixth day of protest met with the state's force
Agricultural protests in Cundinamarca Province continued on Saturday, with participants demanding changes in the government's policies. Around 100 potato farmers clashed with the police. Police responded with tear gas.
The protests, which started peacefully, took a violent turn on Thursday, when teargas was fired at protesters who threw rocks on police forces and set fire to vehicles in attempt to block the main highways. Farmers complain that free trade agreements with Europe and the United States have made it difficult to compete with cheap imports. They call for more state support after a poor harvest, mixed with inflation which has affected quality of life.
Unions, political activists and parties joined the protests, which are billed as the largest the country has faced since 1977. The protests that have been largely focused on areas outside the nation’s capital of Bogota, but are now moving closer as protesters block roads to the city. President Juan Manuel Santos announced that authorities are ready to deal with any kind of action that threatens the state’s stability.
00:49Colombia: The sixth day of protest met with the state's force
Agricultural protests in Cundinamarca Province continued on Saturday, with participants demanding changes in the government's policies. Around 100 potato farmers clashed with the police. Police responded with tear gas.
The protests, which started peacefully, took a violent turn on Thursday, when teargas was fired at protesters who threw rocks on police forces and set fire to vehicles in attempt to block the main highways. Farmers complain that free trade agreements with Europe and the United States have made it difficult to compete with cheap imports. They call for more state support after a poor harvest, mixed with inflation which has affected quality of life.
Unions, political activists and parties joined the protests, which are billed as the largest the country has faced since 1977. The protests that have been largely focused on areas outside the nation’s capital of Bogota, but are now moving closer as protesters block roads to the city. President Juan Manuel Santos announced that authorities are ready to deal with any kind of action that threatens the state’s stability.