Colombia, Violent Crackdown on Protests Against Tax Reform... 24 Dead

23 Citizens and 1 Police Officer Dead
Citizens Angered by VAT Expansion and Tax Reform Plan
Government Announces Withdrawal of Reform Plan but Protests Continue
Citizens "We Are Angry About the Wealth Gap Issue"

Police suppressing protests in Bogota, Colombia on the 5th (local time)
[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] In Colombia, South America, as protests against the government's tax reform continued unabated, the government resorted to a harsh crackdown. This led to a bloody conflict resulting in 24 deaths, including citizens and police officers.

Major foreign media reported on the 5th (local time) that protests took place nationwide, including in the capital Bogot?, and the government suppressed them with force, resulting in the deaths of 23 citizens participating in the protests and one police officer.

Russia's Sputnik News reported that at least 31 people died and 87 went missing due to the protests. It also reported that the number of injured reached 1,220.

The police clashed violently with citizens, firing tear gas and flashbang grenades at the protesters. The human rights organization Amnesty International claimed that the police fired rifles and semi-automatic machine guns at the protesters.

The New York Times (NYT) reported that a teenager was shot dead after kicking a police officer during the crackdown.

Despite heavy rain in Bogot? that night, tens of thousands of citizens remained on the streets protesting. The protesters even breached barricades and attacked the congressional assembly building.

Maria Jose Lopez, a student participating in the protests, said, "I came here because our country is sick," and criticized, "The government does not listen to the voices of the citizens and only sends troops."

Some ruling party lawmakers demanded President Iv?n Duque declare martial law.

President Ivan Duque of Colombia
[Photo by Reuters Yonhap News]

Since the 28th of last month, large-scale protests against the government's tax reform bill have continued for a week. The reform included lowering the income tax collection threshold and expanding the scope of value-added tax, increasing the tax burden. Although the government announced on the 2nd that it would withdraw the tax reform bill, the protests did not stop.

Citizens explained that the cause of the protests goes beyond the government's tax reform bill and stems from anger over the wealth gap in Colombian society. One citizen told the NYT, "It's not just about the tax reform bill," adding, "Our young people are exhausted by corruption, inequality, and poverty."

As the protests continue day after day, support for conservative-leaning President Duque is also declining. Conservative parties have ruled Colombia for decades, but ahead of next year's presidential election, left-leaning former Bogot? Mayor Gustavo Petro is leading in opinion polls.

On the 5th (local time), protests by citizens opposing the government's tax reform plan are taking place in Medell?n, Colombia. [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

The NYT explained, "Other South American countries are also facing 'highly combustible' situations mixed with harsh COVID-19 crises, increasing poverty, and sharp government budget cuts, similar to Colombia," and added, "Experts view the explosion of frustration among Colombians in these protests as a precursor to unrest these countries may experience."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.