General Strikes and Massive Protests Roil Colombia

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Beginning on November 21, 2019, Colombia was shaken by a series of strikes, protests, and clashes between demonstrators and police, following similar protest movements in Ecuador, Chile, and Bolivia in the last few months. As in those cases, the Colombian episode generated attention throughout Latin America. The first general strike, known as “21N,” was initially called by labor unions in protest of what has since become known as President Iván Duque’s “Great Package” or “Paquetazo” of pending labor and pension reforms. Many protesters also demanded that Duque end his government’s resistance to the implementation of the 2016 peace deal with the FARC. The situation dramatically escalated after riot police killed a peacefully protesting high school student. Interpretations were offered and parallels were drawn.

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