Thousands of Colombians march to protest tax proposals

Thousands of protesters answered calls from Colombia’s biggest unions to come out on streets around the country in protest against a controversial tax reform proposal.

Forty people were arrested for alleged vandalism, reports said, and 42 police officers were injured. Police in major cities deployed tear gas amid some isolated disturbances.

In Bogota, 31 police and civilians were injured, the mayor’s office said. The city of Cali deployed the army and put in place a 1 p.m. curfew after several buses were burned.

Union leaders called for marches to continue on Thursday and announced another protest for May 19.

“We are asking President Duque to withdraw the tax reform,” Francisco Maltes, president of the Central Union of Workers (CUT) said during a press conference.

Unions insisted demonstrations would go ahead despite a court order to postpone it on coronavirus concerns.

Colombia hit a new record of 490 daily reported coronavirus deaths on Wednesday. Intensive care units in Bogota are more than 90% occupied, while in Medellin occupation hovers near 100%.

President Duque said he understood peaceful protest but “criminal vandalism” had occurred.

This protests is the most recent in a series of marches which began near the end of 2019 against Duque’s policies.

Roberto Angulo, Surgeon marched in Bogota to demand better working conditions for healthcare staff he says are underpaid.

“We are good people and we deserve better life conditions,” he said.

Olusola Akintonde/Reuters