TRADE unions, student organisations and civil society groups in Colombia are set to defy a government ban on May Day demonstrations by taking to the streets in protest at unpopular tax changes.
This follows days of strike action “for life, peace, democracy” and against an economic reform package being pushed by President Ivan Duque, which unions warn will have a devastating impact on the country’s poor.
A Bogota court suspended the right to public protest earlier this week after Mr Duque called for a ban on demonstrations on Wednesday and International Workers’ Day celebrations on May 1.
Judge Valentina Arboleda caused mirth by accidentally announcing a ban on “pubic” protests, although he clarified later in the ruling that the right to peaceful demonstration had been suspended.