By Róger Calero May 24, 2021
Militant/Dan Fein1,500 people march in Chicago May 8 backing Colombia protests against government attacks. Sign says, “Fight so you don’t have to emigrate for a better future for you and your children.”
In the face of mass demonstrations and nationwide strikes that broke out April 28, Colombian President Iván Duque withdrew a “reform” bill May 2 raising sales taxes that would hit working people the hardest. But the protests continued. Brutal police attacks on peaceful demonstrations are adding fuel to the fire.
Called by the National Strike Committee, which includes Colombia’s main union federations, farmer associations, organizations of indigenous peoples, student groups, independent truckers and others, the protests have become an outpouring of pent-up popular outrage over government and employer moves to make working people pay for the deep capitalist crisis.
By Syndicated Content
May 7, 2021 2:42 PM
HAVANA (Reuters) â Communist-run Cuba called in Colombiaâs ambassador on Friday to protest the expulsion of one of its diplomats from the Andean country amid a wave of violent protests against its right-wing government.
Colombiaâs foreign ministry had on Thursday accused Omar Rafael GarcÃa Lazo, the first secretary of Cubaâs embassy in Bogota, of breaching the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, without adding further details.
Cuba has faced charges of fomenting anti-government protests in recent years by conservative governments in Ecuador and Bolivia allied with the former U.S. Trump administration which vowed to end socialism in Latin America.
Reuters Reuters
8 May, 2021, 12:28 pm
FILE PHOTO: A demonstrator takes part in a protest demanding government action to tackle poverty, police violence and inequalities in the health and education systems, in Bogota, Colombia May 6, 2021. REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez/File Photo
Communist-run Cuba called in Colombia’s ambassador on Friday to protest the expulsion of one of its diplomats from the Andean country amid a wave of violent protests against its right-wing government.
Colombia’s foreign ministry had on Thursday accused Omar Rafael García Lazo, the first secretary of Cuba’s embassy in Bogota, of breaching the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, without adding further details.
Colombia expels Cuban; Havana says move groundless Follow Us
Question of the Day
By ANDREA RODRÍGUEZ - Associated Press - Friday, May 7, 2021
HAVANA (AP) - Colombia‘s government has expelled the No. 2 Cuban diplomat in the country for “activities incompatible” with his position, and Cuba lashed back Friday by accusing Colombia of trying to divert attention from a wave of protests.
Cuban officials issued an official letter demanding more explanation and calling the removal of Omar Rafael García Lazo “an unfriendly act.”
A public statement by Colombia‘s Foreign Ministry on Friday did not detail reasons for the removal or identify the diplomat, though the ministry assured it put a “priority on the diplomatic relationship and cooperation” with Cuba.
2021/05/08 04:16 HAVANA (AP) Colombia s government announced Friday that was expelling a Cuban diplomat for “activities incompatible” with his position, and Cuba identified the official as its second-ranking emissary to the country. It accused Colombia of trying to divert attention from a wave of protests. Cuban officials issued an official letter demanding more explanation and calling the removal of Omar Rafael García Lazo “an unfriendly act.” Friday s public statement by Colombia s Foreign Ministry did not detail reasons for the removal or identify the diplomat, though the Foreign Ministry s Twitter account assured it put a “priority on the diplomatic relationship and cooperation” with Cuba.