Since April 28th thousands of Colombians keep protesting against the neoliberal agenda of Iván Duque that affects millions of citizens. | Photo: EFE

Bogota, May 26 (RHC)-- Thousands of Colombians are mobilizing this Wednesday in the main cities of the country in response to the call of the National Strike Committee to push for negotiations with the government.

The president of the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores, Francisco Maltés Tello, called to strengthen mobilizations this Wednesday and again on Friday when a month of protests against the Government of Iván Duque will be completed.

As part of the protest actions, the union leader urged people to carry out cultural events and other peaceful initiatives in the context of the strike.

Despite having reached a pre-agreement with the Government to advance in negotiations, the National Strike Committee accused President Iván Duque of delaying the dialogue to find answers to the popular demands made by the majority of citizens.

The government commission postponed for Thursday the signing of an agreement, said Fabio Arias, a prosecutor of the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores which is part of the Committee.  "The government of Iván Duque does not want to attend the negotiations that could give a solution to the strike," denounced Arias through his Twitter account.

Since April 28, thousands of Colombians have been protesting against Iván Duque's neoliberal agenda which affects millions of citizens.

Although the Government announced the withdrawal of the tax reform thanks to popular pressure, social protests continue against Iván Duque's policies with a growing list of demands.

In this context, the police forces and the Mobile Anti-Riot Squadron (ESMAD) and the army began a strong repression with a balance of more than two thousand cases of violence against demonstrators, including more than 40 deaths.

In view of this scenario of violence by the public forces, the Congress made two motions of censure against the Minister of Defense, Diego Molano, whom they hold responsible for the repression against the demonstrators.

Human rights and non-governmental organizations such as Temblores ONG report at least 50 deaths in the protests, hundreds of wounded and missing people; in addition to 37 demonstrators with eye injuries, among other abuses, at the hands of the public forces.