Thousands of Colombians demonstrated to criticize President Gustavo Petro for the violence that continues to hit the South American country.
“Back off, Petro!” that’s the writing on a banner carried by protesters in Bogota while waving the Colombian flag.
“Insecurity is everywhere, in rural areas and in cities. People are tired,” protester Luis Chaparro, a retired soldier, told AFP.
“We are in the midst of two threats: violence and crime on the one hand, and the stupidity of Gustavo Petro’s government on the other,” added Miguel Uribe, an opposition senator and organizer of the demonstration.
Demonstrations also broke out in Cali, Medellin, Barranquilla, Bucaramanga and other cities.
Petro, Colombia’s first left-wing president, has only about 35% support, according to opinion polls.
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His government has negotiated with armed groups that have continued fighting even though the FARC, the main guerrilla force, was disarmed after a 2016 peace deal.
Violations of ceasefire agreements often occur in succession, with civilians – especially in rural areas – caught in fighting between left-wing guerrillas, right-wing paramilitary groups, drug cartels, and the military.
Protesters also criticized Petro’s proposed reforms to the pension system and healthcare, as he wants to curb dependence on private funds.
Many fear this will leave too much of Colombian society’s hard-earned savings in the hands of a public service that has a long history of corruption.
His efforts to expand worker benefits were also widely rejected as wasteful public spending in a country historically distrustful of leftist political groups and state institutions. (AFP/M-3)
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