Agricultural Unemployment in Colombia persists despite partial agreements

Agricultural strike persists in Colombia

Most roads blocked by peasant demonstrations in Colombia were reopened gradually during the weekend, but confirmed yesterday that truckers will remain paralyzed in demand for fuel price reduction, which this month ended in $ 4.6 per gasoline gallon.

Around 40 000 and 50 000 truckers began a strike two weeks ago, activities that coincided with mass protests of peasants demanding economic aid to the rural sector.

The president of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, achieved partial agreements with peasant sector, but still remains in negotiations, also with small miners and indigenous communities. However, the departments of Caqueta, Huila and Putumayo (south) followed up yesterday with roadblocks while keeping their capitals without supplies.

Last weekend some roads that connect Colombia with Ecuador opened for a few hours. This allowed the entry of food, but the roads were again blocked by protesters.