In Solidarity with Colombian People in Struggle

Internationalist Joint Statement

Today, the world looks at Colombia, its streets and roads being the stage where people have shown dignified rage in a powerful cry which cannot go unnoticed. Social protests happening uninterruptedly since April 28 are the response to the exacerbation of poverty and the precariousness of life, immediate consequences of neoliberalism. Amid a sanitary, economic, and social crisis, the latter has manifested itself in 1.7 million Colombian families feeding themselves only two meals a day or less, a 14.2% unemployment rate, and nearly half of the population (42.2%) living in poverty.

People from different regions around the world currently experience similar situations. In Latin America, for instance, by the end of last year, the overall poverty rate was about 33.75%, the unemployment rate about 10.7%, and 78 million people were living in extreme poverty (8 million more than in 2020). The governments in office have responded to this social crisis by implementing policies of structural adjustment, which in this case has meant the increase and diversification of taxation for the working class as austerity measures. In Colombia, the far-right government of Iván Duque attempted the above through its third attempt at tax reform in his term of office. Those who pay for the crisis are not its producers, but the exploited and impoverished.

In this context, thousands of people in Colombia have protested, especially the working-class youth. In the streets, roads, and working-class districts people resist and struggle building barricades, banging pots and pans, and assemblies. This fight for justice is part of a novel wave of protests and revolts which have taken place in Latin America since 2019; momentary unrests which have reactivated grassroots organization.

On its part, the Colombian State has responded, as do all States when their interests are at risk, with brutal violence and repression. The numbers are frightening and speak for themselves. Up until May 8, 47 people were murdered (39 as a result of police violence), 451 were injured (32 eye injuries and firearm injuries), 12 people were victims of gender-based violence and sexual abuse, 548 people went missing, and 963 were detained.

Regarding brutal repression perpetrated by the government lead by Iván Duque against those who struggle and resist in Colombia, we call for solidarity, for people to keep protesting throughout the territory, and to denounce, by all means possible, what today grieves Colombian people. Internationalist solidarity is the safeguard of the struggles we forge, and, therefore, we support the demands of the protests in Colombia (Paro Nacional): End state violence, withdraw the health reform now, and provide a universal basic income!

International solidarity with people’s struggle!
Viva el Paro Nacional!
In the face of State repression, working-class self-defense, and unity!

► Signatories:>

★ Federación Anarquista Uruguaya – FAU (Uruguay)

★ Federación Anarquista de Rosario – FAR (Argentina)

★ Organización Anarquista de Tucumán – OAT (Argentina)

★ Embat - Organització Llibertària de Catalunya (Catalonia)

★ Devrimci Anarşist Federasyon – DAF (Turkey)

★ Αναρχική Ομοσπονδία - Anarchist Federation (Greece)

★ Organización Anarquista de Córdoba – OAC (Argentina)

★ Roja y Negra - Organización Política Anarquista (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

★ Federación Anarquista Santiago - FAS (Chile)

★ Aotearoa Workers Solidarity Movement - AWSM (Aotearoa / New-Zealand)

★ Coordenação Anarquista Brasileira - CAB (Brazil)

★ Zabalaza Anarchist Communist Front - ZACF (South Africa)

★ Alternativa Libertaria – AL/fdca (Italia)

★ Grupo Libertario Vía Libre (Colombia)

★ Workers Solidarity Movement - WSM (Ireland)

★ Melbourne Anarchist Communist Group - MACG (Australia)

★ Organisation Socialiste Libertaire – OSL (Switzerland)

★ Union Communiste Libertaire (France & Belgium)