On May 3, PBI-Colombia tweeted: “PBI accompanies NOMADESC in monitoring mobilization points in [the city of] Cali within the framework of the [national strike]. The Defend Freedom Campaign has reported 21 homicides and 503 people arrested during the social protest in Colombia between April 28 and May 1.”

On April 28, the first day of the national strike protests, PBI-Colombia accompanied the Committee in Solidarity with Political Prisoners (CSPP) at the protest in Bogota and the Social Corporation for Community Advice and Training (COSPACC) in Yopal.

On April 30, PBI-Colombia tweeted: “Organizations including NOMADESC and dhColombia warn of excessive and excessive use of force by state agents against protesters in Cali.”

Noting reports of shots fired by the ESMAD riot police in the locality of Engativa (in Bogota), the Inter-Church Commission for Justice and Peace has tweeted: “We demand guarantees for the protest. No more deaths!”

The José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers’ Collective (CCAJAR) has tweeted: “97 social, trade union, environmental, women’s and human rights networks and organizations alerted the [Inter-American Commission on Human Rights] on human rights violations committed in the framework of protests in Colombia. We request urgent intervention from the international community!”

And the Luis Carlos Pérez Collective Lawyers Corporation (CCALCP) has tweeted: “Mr. Clément Voule, United Nations Rapporteur for the right to peaceful assembly and association, expresses his concern about the police violence that occurred against protesters during the protests in Colombia.”

In early April, Colombia’s largest unions – including the Central Union of Workers (CUT) – called for a national strike on April 28 to protest the Colombian government’s proposed ‘tax reform’ package and labor and pension reforms.

VOA explained: “The widely unpopular tax reform would add a 19% tax on things like Internet service, gasoline, electricity, water, among other things, and impose income taxes on people who earn more than $700 a month.” According to Reuters, the reforms also included increasing the retirement age and making it easier to fire workers.

While Colombian President Ivan Duque said on Sunday, May 2 that he would withdraw the controversial tax reform package, the protests continue.

On May 3, CREDHOS tweeted: “The mobilization day continues within the framework of the National Strike. [The city of] Barrancabermeja maintains its banners of the struggle for the withdrawal of the neoliberal policies of the National Government, against actions of abuse of authority and for the right to social protest.”

The Financial Post is now reporting: “One major union said in a message on Twitter it would hold another national strike on Wednesday [May 5] to protest a health reform, among other things.”

For updates, see #ParoNacional3M on Twitter.

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