18 May 2021
A report by the Center for a Secure Free Society (SFS), a national security think tank, revealed evidence Tuesday of extensive foreign influence in the ongoing leftist riots in Colombia, including the spread of misinformation by Asian social media accounts and infiltration by Venezuela’s socialist regime.
Colombia is nearing a month of violent riots nationwide, initially in response to a proposed progressive tax reform by President Iván Duque. Duque’s plan, which would have punished the middle and lowers classes amid an economic tailspin exacerbated by the Chinese coronavirus pandemic, inspired outrage from both the left and his own right-wing party, the Democratic Center. Duque announced he would no longer support the proposal four days into a leftist “national strike” against it, but his move did nothing to halt the violence.
Leftist Riots Rekindle Gun Rights Debate in Colombia
17 May 2021
Conservative lawmakers in Colombia have found renewed interest in a proposal to significantly expand gun rights for civilians in light of a left-wing terrorism campaign entering its third week, the nation’s
El Tiempo reported on Sunday.
Left-wing mobs allegedly composed of union leaders, indigenous activists, “students,” and other social groups launched a “national strike” in late April, at the time declared against a radical tax increase proposed by self-proclaimed conservative President Iván Duque. While Duque, facing stern criticism over the proposal from conservatives as well as Marxists, announced less than a week after debuting his plan that he would no longer pursue it, the “national strike” remains in vigor. Its most prominent action consists of road blockades into major citizens that have left residents with severe shortages of basic food and fuel goods. In addition to the illegal blockades
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Colombia: State terror won’t stop the struggle
By Martha Grevatt posted on May 11, 2021
Since April 28, workers in Colombia have been waging a general strike. The strike was provoked by the third of three recent tax “reforms” imposed by the right-wing government of President Iván Duque. The new taxes squeeze workers at both ends, by raising taxes on personal income and charging sales taxes on basic food items.
First day of Colombian general strike, Bogotá, April 28
This creates tremendous hardship for Colombian workers, whose average monthly pay is equal to around $310 well below the worldwide average and less than typical monthly rent for a three-room apartment in the capital of Bogotá. (quora.com) While workers will see their taxes go up by as much as 500%, Duque has cut taxes for transnational corporations and plans to spend billions of workers’ tax money on new jet fighters.