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News > Colombia

Colombia: Students to 'Bang Pots' for Public Education March

  • Students, farmers, workers and Indigenous peoples protest against President Ivan Duque's austerity policies in Bogota, Colombia on Nov. 28, 2018.

    Students, farmers, workers and Indigenous peoples protest against President Ivan Duque's austerity policies in Bogota, Colombia on Nov. 28, 2018. | Photo: EFE FILE

Published 6 December 2018
Opinion

After three weeks of unsuccessful dialogue with President Ivan Duque's administration, students from 32 public universities call for a new massive march that will culminate with a concert.

The Colombian Association of University Student Representatives (Acrees) called for protesters to bang pots at Thursday's 8th march in defense of Higher Education in Bogota, Colombia.

RELATED:
Colombia: Students Occupy the Streets For The Seventh Time

"The universities are in the pot. Let's go out with our pots in defense of education," Acrees's message urged, inviting students to take the streets once again. 

"The march will be full of color and joy... we are students fighting for the same goal: a quality education," Camilo Muñoz, a representative of the University of Cali, told El Heraldo.

Colombian student mobilizations began on Oct. 11, demanding US$1 billion to guarantee the functioning of public universities. In addition, students requested US$4.8 billion for infrastructures.

“54 day-strike at University of Cauca. Students remain at the negotiating table in Bogota, although there are no agreements. In order to pressure the government, the Colombian students call for a new march on Thursday, Dec. 6.”

Although on Oct. 26 President Ivan Duque and universities chancellors reached a decision to gradually increase resources for education, the government has not been able to reach an agreement with students.

The Unitary Workers Central (CUT), the General Confederation of Labor (CGT) and the Confederation of Workers of Colombia (CTC) are joining the bang-the-pot march.

These organizations are protesting against Duque's tax reform, which will significantly affect the working class. The groups are also demanding a resolution for the administration's deficit, which will reach US$4.3 billion in 2019, without resorting to austerity measures. 

The presence of citizens is expected to be massive at the bang-the-pot march, given that the Colombian Congress approved President Duque's Financing Law  Wednesday.

The student protest will terminate in Bogota's Plaza de Bolivar with a "concert for education," Acrees disclosed.

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