Colombia’s National Strike in perspective

Juan Diego García, La Pluma, 17/6/2021

Translation by Michael Otto.

The author is a Colombian political analyst living in Spain.

Iván Duque, the Colombian president, has confronted the current protest movement with the same methods used by previous rulers of this Andean country, albeit with less intelligence, bringing him more defeats than victories.  

It is traditional in Colombia that when confronting social and political opposition movements, the authorities typically engage in dragged out and useless negotiations (and what they agree to, they never fulfill). At the same time, the police and military, backed up by paramilitary groups, employ brutal and murderous repression in obedience to a systematic extermination plan.

Apparently, the government has no plan beyond the traditional one, resulting in an impressive plunge in support, according to various polls that measure popular opinion. Duque has had to accept the resignation of several high-ranking officials (including two ministers) and has been unable to cover up dramatic scenes exposing government repression -- leaving his crimes exposed before national and international opinion. 

‘If there is no bread for the poor, there will be no peace for the rich’

Of so-called Colombian democracy, only a memory remains. In spite of the official version that insists on presenting this country as “the oldest democracy on the continent,” the harsh repression shows Colombia looking more like a dictatorial regime and, for many, like a colonial form of fascism.

Que el último apague la luz/Let the last one turn off the light

 Sergio Rodríguez Gelfenstein, 5/5/2021 

Mi apreciado amigo Luis Casado me ha dicho varias veces que los títulos de mis artículos no se corresponden con su contenido. Razón no le ha faltado, reconozco que es una habilidad que no tengo. Al contrario, los escritos de Luis dicen mucho desde su propio enunciado. Uno de sus textos recientes fue denominado “Salvar el negocio” y tal vez no haya mejor forma de expresar los avatares que atraviesa el sistema neoliberal de democracia representativa para sostener el poder a cualquier precio, inclusive haciendo maquillajes para que “todo cambie sin que nada cambie” con el objetivo de mantener privilegios a costa de la exclusión y represión de las mayorías con uno de los pocos recursos que les va quedando: el de la fuerza. 

Al hacer un recorrido por algunos países de América Latina se puede percibir tal situación. Al escribir estas líneas, Colombia entra en su octavo día de manifestaciones populares de rechazo a la reforma tributaria que trató de imponer el gobierno de Iván Duque. Después de 31 ciudadanos asesinados por las fuerzas militares y policiales, 124 heridos, 13 personas con daños oculares, 6 hechos de agresión sexual, 726 detenciones arbitrarias, 45 defensores de derechos humanos detenidos o limitados para realizar sus funciones y 1089 casos de violencia policial, las manifestaciones han continuado y las demandas han crecido mientras se hacen desesperados llamados a que cese la masacre. Como respuesta, el jefe del ejército hablando como si estuviera en guerra informó que “480 hombres orgánicos, que son 16 pelotones tengo en este momento desplegados” (sic). A continuación explicó que eso es solo para cumplir la primera orden del presidente de la república. Y para la segunda, tiene helicópteros tanto de la policía como del ejército “que ya están dispuestos allá”, refiriéndose a la ciudad de Cali. Seguir leyendo

My dear friend Luis Casado has told me several times that the titles of my articles do not correspond to their content. Reason has not lacked, I recognize that it is a skill that I do not have. On the contrary, Luis's writings say a lot from his own statement. One of his recent texts was called “Saving the business” and perhaps there is no better way to express the vicissitudes that the neoliberal system of representative democracy is going through to sustain power at any price, even making makeup so that “everything changes without anything change ”with the aim of maintaining privileges at the cost of exclusion and repression of the majority with one of the few resources that they have left: that of force.

When taking a tour of some Latin American countries, such a situation can be perceived. As of this writing, Colombia enters its eighth day of popular demonstrations of rejection of the tax reform that the government of Iván Duque tried to impose. After 31 citizens murdered by the military and police forces, 124 injured, 13 people with eye damage, 6 acts of sexual assault, 726 arbitrary arrests, 45 human rights defenders detained or restricted to carry out their duties and 1089 cases of police violence, the demonstrations have continued and the demands have grown as desperate calls are made for an end to the massacre. In response, the army chief, speaking as if he were at war, reported that "480 organic men, which are 16 platoons, I have at this time deployed" (sic). He then explained that this is only to fulfill the first order of the president of the republic. And for the second, it has helicopters from both the police and the army "that are already ready there", referring to the city of Cali. Read more