Following the proposal of a tax reform from Colombia’s president Ivan Duque, protests were held throughout the country to call out the continuing injustices faced by the Colombian working classes. The protests, similar to those in 2019, were fuelled by economic discontent, a widening disparity between the classes, and political unease. It seems that, despite years of gang violence caused by drug traffickers and guerrilla groups, it is the escalating public discontent that has become a major cause of concern for Colombia.
Since their initial opposition to the tax reform on 28 April 2021, the protests have morphed into demands to address broader issues that plague the country. The manifestations have, once again, shone a spotlight on issues of violence and poverty, highlighting the increasing discontent felt by large percentages of the population and what this means for the region's second-most populous democracy. Colombia is currently suffering a major economic crisis after the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) dropped by 6.8% in the past year. Increasing unemployment and the effects of the current global pandemic have put an additional strain on a country whose economic disparity was palpable.
In a bid to generate more money for social support, Duque’s government proposed a tax reform that would have seen a tax hike for citizens with an income of 2.6m pesos or more (the equivalent of £493)—a suggestion that was heavily criticised by trade unions as well as the emerging “middle classes” who feared they would be plunged into poverty.
Despite curtailing the initial plans, the Colombian government insisted that the recent economic downturn, coupled with increased borrowing because of the Coronavirus pandemic, meant the tax reform is “necessary” to ensure the country’s financial stability.
As always, however, questions have been raised as to why the poorer classes are being hardest hit by the reforms, which would put more distance between the country’s poorest and richest classes. The independent think tank International Crisis Group said that Colombian protests have highlighted “an enormous gap between the political establishment and the street,” confirming that there is an underlying issue between the people and the state that is continuously overlooked by the government.
COLOMBIAN INSTABILITY: REGIONAL INSTABILITY
As the second most populous democracy in the region, Colombia plays a vital role in balancing the region’s political spectrum by maintaining stable governance and international relations in a continent that has been dominated by dictatorships, military regimes, and autocracies.
The result of this political alignment has greatly benefited Colombia. Being a good ally of the US as well as of multiple European countries gives Colombia not only an economic but also a diplomatic advantage over its regional neighbours. As a result of this, Colombia has been a strategic actor in uniting Latin American countries, particularly through international alliances such as the Pacific Alliance, a more liberal and market-orientated alternative to previous arrangements like Brazil’s Mercosur or Unión de Naciones Suramericanas (UNASUR).
Of course, it is also a key partner in the US’s war on drugs, which allows America to preserve a pro-US government in the region. This US-Colombian coalition on drug trafficking has largely enabled the United States to maintain its cold-war relations with Colombia, allowing it to assert governance through military tactics and international intervention in the interests of national security. Colombia is also a key player in helping the Americans restore democracy and economic prosperity in Venezuela. The country has been instrumental in coordinating regional support for interim president Juan Guaidó as well as condemning Maduro’s regime. A threat to a democratic government in Colombia, therefore, is a threat to US control in the region and jeopardises regional relations not only between the US and Colombia, but also between the United States and other Latin American powers like Brazil and Venezuela.
HUMAN RIGHTS AND INEQUALITY
The recent protests, however, have raised concerns about the legality of Colombia’s actions towards the protests. Multiple human rights groups, as well as the European Union, have spoken out against the Colombian government citing concerns over police brutality and human rights violations during the government’s efforts to quell the protests.
Many reports state that demonstrations in the cities of Cali and Bogota, which began as peaceful marches, were initially met with a heavy police presence. As well as using tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds, the police were reported to have “opened fire” on protesters, allegedly killing and injuring several people in the process. The government has also faced criticism over the use of unconventional tactics to deter protesters, like nighttime attacks and cutting power lines, whilst blocking social media has also been used to cover up police actions. A total of 42 deaths have occurred since the start of the protests, Colombia’s human rights ombudsman has confirmed.
The United Nations Human Rights office has expressed particular concern over the violence, condemning the excessive use of police force and denouncing police brutality, particularly in the capital of Cali, where protests were most violent. Other human rights activists, such as Colombian NGO Temblores, have also criticised the government, stating a failure to protect the lives of protestors. In addition to the death toll, Temblores has raised the alarm to accusations of sexual violence and disappearances following on from the protests, recording a total of: 1,708 cases of police brutality, 222 victims of physical violence by law enforcement, 831 arbitrary arrests, 110 incidents involving a firearm, and 10 victims of sexual violence.
A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY
All this points to a very undemocratic approach to dealing with civil discontent and threatens the country’s credibility in the region. For a country that has made such advancements in peace talks with national guerrilla groups ELN and FARC, not to mention its pivotal role in combatting violence between drug traffickers, it seems strange that it would choose to use such violent methods to deter civilian protests. The government defended its security forces, stating concerns for public welfare and damage to public property. It also argued that supporters of ELN, FARC, and narco-traffickers were involved in the protests as a means of causing trouble.
However, whilst the Colombian police force is well-accustomed to waging war on guerrilla and drug trafficking groups, it must not overplay its influence in public protests as justification for using such brute levels of force on protestors exercising their democratic right.
When the government’s actions are questioned by human rights groups, then Colombia’s long-standing presence as a stable, democratic country is discredited. The protests have drawn international attention to issues deep-rooted in Colombian society such as poverty, national health, and state violence, thus putting the country in a position of intense scrutiny.
Yet, Colombia’s turmoil reflects a wider crisis that is plaguing the Latin American region. The current health crisis has put additional pressure on many South American countries as low vaccination rates and a surge in COVID variants have prolonged the pandemic and forced governments to maintain high levels of public spending. With worsening national debt, high unemployment rates, and an international health crisis, the situation in Colombia emphasises how hard the pandemic has hit the region and raises concerns for its ability to manage the situation.
Holly has a Master’s Degree in International Relations from Liverpool Hope University. She has a specific interest in gender equality and wrote her dissertation on role of the female peace movement in modern society as well as recently completing a course in Feminism and Social Justice at UCSC. Having worked for three years as a multilingual foreign news editor, she is pursuing a career in international relations and communication.