Agricultural Unemployment strike in Colombia begins to decline

Agricultural strike in Colombia

With the militarization of Bogota, the definition of partial agreements between the government and protesters, and the lifting of roadblocks, the halting of the rural sector and tensions in some cities began to decline in Colombia, after two weeks of tense and violent actions that  produced several deaths, dozens of injured and hundreds of people arrested.

The president of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, ordered yesterday to militarize Bogota, after a day of riots that left two people dead and millions in economic losses, resorting to a measure which has not been used in over a decade.

The riots left 129 civilians and 89 policemen injured. Other 66 people were arrested across the country, officials said. The cities began to experience food shortages and the rising of prices.

Farmer’s leaders urged to lift roadblocks after achieving partial agreements with the government, announcing this through an statement read to the press, but it did not specify what arrangements were made and proposed to resume the negotiating table today, but warned that they will continue with the strike.