Colombia’s vast forest is fast receding, partly because guerrillas and criminals are clearing land for farming, ranching and other pursuits. These unregulated activities are causing both dire environmental harm and deadly conflict. Bogotá should take urgent steps to halt the damage.
Civilians with Machetes Take on Leftist Rioters in Colombia
LUIS ROBAYO/AFP via Getty Images
9 Jun 2021
Locals in Barranquilla, Colombia, responded to leftist riots in their neighborhood by taking the streets with machetes on Tuesday, Colombian media and citizen journalists revealed.
Colombia has experienced nationwide riots since late April, initially organized against a progressive tax proposal by conservative President Iván Duque. Even though Duque walked back the near-universally unpopular proposal days later, Colombian leftist groups organized a “national strike” against him, most prominently featuring the burning down of police stations and historic monuments and building illegal roadblocks that have resulted in needless deaths.
Colombia sinks healthcare reform amid pressure from anti-government protests
May 19, 2021
Colombia’s Congress sunk a government-proposed health reform, dealing a major blow to far-right President Ivan Duque on behalf of anti-government protesters on Wednesday.
The health reform is the second major government reform bill to bite the dust after the president withdraw a loathed tax reform proposal earlier this month.
Health Minister Fernando Ruiz, who said he would resign if the reform didn’t make it through Congress, did not immediately respond to the congressional vote.
If Ruiz keeps his word, the health minister would become Duque’s third minister to resign under pressure from the protests that kicked off on April 28.