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(CNN) - Colombia closed its borders before a national strike supported by a broad coalition of social movements, in which tear gas was launched in the capital, Bogotá, and a curfew was ordered in the city of Cali.
President Iván Duque, a social conservative, came to power in August 2018 and now faces widespread discontent over rising unemployment, economic reforms and the deterioration of the security situation.
Ecuador, Chile and Bolivia have already experienced major social unrest this year, at a time when the governments of the region struggle to deal with popular complaints about economic stagnation, corruption, inequality and more specific national problems.
- National strike in Colombia ends in cacerolazo
Students, unions and indigenous groups protested on November 21, 2019. (Credit: RAUL ARBOLEDA / AFP via Getty Images)
The protests were described as peaceful in general and under control by the director of the Colombian National Police, General Óscar Atehortua, and the Minister of the Interior, Nancy Patricia Gutiérrez.
In Bogotá, 13 marches and 27 concentrations were held. Despite some blockages, public transport continues to function normally, they said during a press conference on Thursday.
While other cities saw minor incidents, most of the violence was reported in the western city of Cali, where protesters attacked a local news team, burning most of their equipment, police said.
An investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made, Atehortua added.
Protesters in Cali also clashed with the Universidad del Valle Police and 11 public transport vehicles were destroyed, but authorities did not report any injuries.
Hooded men intercepted an armored police tank in Cali with improvised explosive devices, Atehortua said. Three unidentified people were arrested.
The mayor of the city, Maurice Armitage, imposed a curfew from 7 pm ET until Friday morning due to violence. "People who are outside during this period will be arrested by the authorities," wrote Maurice Armitage, mayor of Cali, on Twitter.
- Iván Duque faces his first general strike in rejection of his government
Towards the end of the night, after the massive marches throughout the country, and some clashes, a spontaneous cacerolazo occurred in many sectors of Bogotá to express its rejection of the government.
Border closures
Border closures mean that any entry by land or sea from Ecuador, Peru, Brazil and Venezuela will be restricted, according to the director of the Colombian Migration Agency, Christian Krüger Sarmiento.
The closings began on Wednesday at midnight and were valid until Friday at 5 am, according to immigration authorities.
The government also gave permission to local authorities to impose exceptional measures such as curfews, restrictions on freedom of movement and bans on the sale of alcoholic beverages, according to a Presidency statement.
In a series of videos posted on Twitter, Duque said he recognized the peaceful protest as an expression of democracy and that Colombia faces multiple challenges.
Duke spoke against those who, he said, saw the protests as an opportunity for "agitation" and asked the protesters to march peacefully.
"We will guarantee public order and defend, with all the tools that our constitution provides us, the right of Colombians to live in peace," he said.
On Thursday night, Duke condemned the violent events and said that what happened after the mobilization was "pure vandalism and not due to an expression of popular will."
“Today the Colombians spoke. We are listening to you, ”said the president.
Groups of students and unions called unemployment citing a package of economic reforms that have been dubbed the "Paquetazo." Duque has denied that his government is planning significant labor or pension reforms.
Marta Lagos, director of the Latinobarometer survey firm, drew parallels with other South American nations where frustrations over inequality have vanished.
Lagos said that although things are improving for some people, tensions have arisen due to the speed at which different groups of society are advancing.
Duke's popularity plummets
President of Colombia, Iván Duque. (JUAN BARRETO / AFP via Getty Images)
“While some of them reach the end of the tunnel very quickly, the others that remain think they will never reach the end and this is one of the reasons that triggers the protests,” said Lagos.
The president has also faced great criticism for his handling of the peace process with the demobilized FARC guerrillas, and his defense minister was forced to resign in early November for the death of at least eight children during an operation of the army that took place in August.
Indigenous leader Aida Quilcué told CNN that violent attacks against indigenous groups have increased under Duque's government, and that she is concerned about mining, violence against social leaders and increasing militarization, including the presence of groups paramilitaries
Quilcué said the indigenous groups decided to join the national strike and add their demands to the wider protests because of what she called growing attacks on human rights.
"They have forgotten people," he said. "I think there are structural problems that force us to defend our rights."
Duque's popularity has plummeted since he came to power more than a year ago.
According to a survey conducted in August 2019 by Gallup, 64% of respondents disapproved of his government and only 29% said he was doing a good job.
- Tatiana Arias of CNN contributed to this report.
Protests in Colombia