Violence in Colombia: Iván Duque calls for dialogue amid escalating protests

05/04/2021 21:25

• Clarín.com

• World

Updated 05/04/2021 21:25

The president of Colombia, Iván Duque,

called for dialogue

on

Tuesday

amid escalating protests and violence in the country.

The president called for the creation of a

national dialogue table

with the aim of reaching solutions to the citizen discontent expressed in the national strike that filled the country with protests in

the last seven days

in rejection of the tax reform.

"We will install a space to listen to citizens and build solutions. Ideological differences should not mediate, but a deep patriotism. It is vital to have

all the institutions

, parties, the private sector, governors, mayors, and leaders of the civil society, "stressed Duque.

Likewise, the president assured that the objective of the dialogue space "is to reject violence in all its forms, accelerate the National Plan for Mass Vaccination, ensure the resources to guarantee the continuity of social programs and the protection of the most vulnerable, and, of course, the economic reactivation. "

The talks will

start this Wednesday, April 5,

according to Duque.

On that day, he will meet with "the institutionality" of Colombia, with the presence "of the Courts, the control entities, the Prosecutor's Office, the presidents of the Senate and Chamber, and also representatives of civil society, governors, mayors, associations, the private sector and those who are on the Community Action Boards, among others. "

Likewise, the Colombian president reiterated that with the appointment he hopes to start with the "clear defense of the values ​​that we must always have as Colombians and in this process, which is always open to listen, act quickly for the benefit of all," indicates 

Radio Caracol

.

Duque also asserted that "if an action outside the Constitution is presented that affects people's rights," he will not accept it "in any way."

"As appropriate in the rule of law, we will promote all

internal investigations

and with the control bodies. But we must be clear: to those who work for the safety of Colombians, all the support and at the same time all the demands," he added, in reference to the response of the security forces to the protests in recent days.

In this regard, the Colombian media

El Tiempo

published that the Government is already making progress in the dialogue, having held some meetings with sectors linked to unemployment.

Since the beginning of the protests, five days ago, Colombia has registered

at least 19 deaths

in repressive circumstances and 87 missing persons.

News in development

DS

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