What is the importance of the protests in Colombia?

In recent days, many protest marches have shaken Colombia, the main reason for this mobilization
was to avoid the tax reform proposed by the government of Ivan Duque, however, this is not the
only reason, other reasons were also triggered such as: health reform, education, rights that are
being violated by excessive police abuse, the number of dozens of missing and dead people, and
finally social discontent for the Colombian government.

The national strike is not an individualistic protest, the citizenry demands that the economic and
social crisis generated by the pandemic be respected, highlighting the terrible handling that the
government has given it, the tax reform has been stronger than the fear of contagion of the virus ,
which causes a lot of indignation in Colombia, what the government seeks is to tighten even more
the sectors most affected by this situation, this is not the correct way because these expenses can
be taken from other financial sectors but the government only wants to take it from the poorest
population

This is not the only complain from the citizenry, they also want to collect taxes even for dying,
taxes on public services, on the basic family basket and also the internet, this tool that has been
very helpful for many Colombians in these difficult times for working or studying but one of main
reasons why people lost their patience was the intervention of the finance minister talking about
the price of 12 eggs for 1,800 pesos.

A health reform is also being processed, which is just as critical as the tax reform, and which is
considered a frontal threat against the right to health of Colombians. We believe that these
measures are alarming. For that reason it is that the population, teenagers, students, are still on
the street, it is outrageous, because beyond the tax reform there are other quite valid reasons to
march. It is a reform that does not solve the central problem of direct financing of health; it does
not ensure the provision of health as an important right.

Many of the people who are in these protests are young people, or students, many of them also
join for the lack of opportunities they have, and it is because the government does not want to
educate people because “education is the more powerful weapon that can be used to change the
world”, and it is not only about students, it is also about educators, those who guide to a better
future and who with their teaching and experience show the real world that they must face..

But , there is also another situation and it is the pension reform, they are a generation of
uncertainty about when and how are going to be the conditions in which they are going to retire ,
they also think of young people, this is a form of support for the students and the new generations
who want a different country and live more in peace and have a good future and in addition to
everything they support and highly value the critical sense and demand a more civic education for
the new generations.

Finally, it is important to mention the violation of excessive police abuse, taking into account the
number of people who are dead, missing, injured, and also very important to pronounce the raped
women and it is true what the people say “they are closing our eyes because they already know
that we opened them”, the citizens are demonstrating peacefully, it is the public force that is
abusing the people. Cali is one of the cities that has been the most resistant but also the most
affected and violated, where police violence and blockades are so extreme, this reality must be
shown by the citizens and of course not by our media because they are not showing the reality
that is lived in the streets.

To conclude, people must take the streets because in this way they can be heard, in a long term, it
is a problem that affects most of the people, people must have empathy for those who do not
have the same opportunities. With these protest is clearer that “the united people will never be
defeated" is a reality, the union is strength, the hope of a people that works to build a tomorrow
should not be lost, because this situation can be changed and so it will be. For a better future for
the new generations, for education, peace and opportunities, because the people are superior to
their leaders, WE ARE ALL COLOMBIA.