News / Colombia

Colombians stage anti-government protests across country

Sunday, 03 April 2016 5:12 AM [ Last Update: Sunday, 03 April 2016 5:12 AM ]

People hold a banner with the picture of Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and the message “Traitor, resign now” as they take part in an anti-government march in the city of Cali, Colombia, April 2, 2016. (Photo by AFP)

Thousands of people have taken to the streets in over 20 cities across Colombia to express anger at the government for its peace talks with the rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

The Saturday protests came just days after the government of Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos launched peace talks with the country’s second-biggest rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN), in a bid to end a half-century-old bloody conflict in the country.

The demonstrations were called by the Democratic Center party of former president, Alvaro Uribe, who has always expressed opposition to negotiations with rebel groups.

Carrying banners with the picture of Santos and the messages “Traitor resign now” and “No more impunity,” the protesters swarmed through city centers.

Despite heavy rain, an estimated 20,000 protesters filled the main Bolivar Square in the capital, Bogota. No clashes occurred between police and the demonstrators.

The demonstrators also shouted slogans against the government over its handling of the economy.

“This protest is a general dissent against the government of President Santos. We do not want impunity in the peace processes. We are tired of so many lies and bad economic management, taxes and inflation,” Francisco Santos, a former vice president, said.

Colombians hold a banner as they take part in an anti-government march in the city of Cali, April 2, 2016. (Photo by AFP)

Bogota and FARC have been at war since the guerrilla movement rose to prominence in 1964. The conflict has so far killed more than 260,000 people, displaced 6.6 million others and left a further 45,000 missing.

The two sides have been holding peace talks in the Cuban capital, Havana, since November 2012. The negotiations have made a number of advances in recent months.

Several main areas of disagreement have been discussed in the talks, and deals have been reached on transitional justice, land reform, political participation for former rebels, putting an end to drug trafficking, removing land mines and efforts to find missing persons.

The issue of disarmament and a mechanism for ratifying the final accord are still under discussion.

A United Nations mission will monitor the group’s disarmament once a peace deal is inked.

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