Posted
10th June 2001
Colombian Road To Democracy
About 300,000 teachers and 125,000 public health workers have
been on strike or participating in work slowdowns since last
month to protest the measure, being enacted as part of deficit-cutting
agreed to in return for loans from the IMF. Gloria Ramirez,
the president of the Colombian Federation of Teachers, said
the protests were not only against the controversial budget
cuts but the entire ''neoliberal model'' she said was being
imposed on the country from abroad. Tens of thousands of teachers,
state workers, and students have protested budget reforms mandated
in agreements between Colombia and the International Monetary
Fund. Marches in the capital and most major cities Thursday
were largely peaceful. However, hooded youths bashed in windows
at some businesses in Bogota and police and demonstrators were
injured when riot police cleared a blocked highway in the northeastern
city of Bucaramanga. The demonstrators oppose a law moving through
Colombia's congress that would control the growth of federal
outlays to states and municipalities.
The
law appears near final passage, after which it must be signed
by President Andres Pastrana. About 300,000 teachers and 125,000
public health workers have been on strike or participating in
work slowdowns since last month to protest the measure, being
enacted as part of deficit-cutting agreed to in return for loans
from the IMF. The government has tried to provide assurances
that the reforms will only cut government waste, without affecting
jobs or services. It projects government savings of $4 billion
over the next seven years. On Thursday, police stationed riot
units and armored vehicles with water cannons around the capital,
and dispatched helicopters over the city to deter violence.
Bogota banned liquor sales indefinitely and the carrying of
weapons until Monday. Highways were blocked in at least three
states, including Norte de Santander, Cauca and Valle. Gloria
Ramirez, the president of the Colombian Federation of Teachers,
said the protests were not only against the controversial budget
cuts but the entire ''neoliberal model'' she said was being
imposed on the country from abroad.
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