Large protests in Colombia in support of President Petro’s labour reforms | Conflict News

The protests come because the nation reels from bombing assaults within the southwest and tried assassination of a senator.

Protests have been held in Colombia as supporters of left-wing President Gustavo Petro specific their assist for his proposed labour reform, with the nation rattled by an eruption of violence within the final week amid fears of a return to darker days of assassinations and bombings.

Massive numbers of individuals took to the streets of the capital, Bogota, and different cities throughout the nation on Wednesday to specific continued assist for a referendum on the reform proposed by the president, even because the Senate debates an alternate invoice.

The protests come as Colombia continues to be reeling from bombing assaults within the southwest of the nation that left seven useless and an tried assassination on conservative opposition senator, and presidential hopeful, Miguel Uribe Turbay at a marketing campaign rally in Bogota.

Within the metropolis of Cali, Colombia’s third largest and the centre of Tuesday’s bombing attacks, “there have been calls to droop these rallies” as a result of current bout of violence within the nation, mentioned Al Jazeera’s Alessandro Rampietti, reporting from Bogota.

“Nevertheless, folks determined to return out within the streets once more in assist of the federal government, rejecting the violence of the previous days,” mentioned Rampietti.

Petro was in Cali on Wednesday morning to steer a safety assembly with native authorities and the army following Tuesday’s assaults. The president additionally mentioned they might be investigating potential connections between the bombing assaults and the try on Uribe’s life.

The 15-year-old boy, who police consider was a “sicario” or hitman working for cash, is accused of making an attempt to assassinate Uribe and was additionally charged with carrying a firearm. He was formally charged on Tuesday and pleaded not responsible, the prosecutor’s workplace mentioned on Wednesday.

The hospital treating the senator mentioned Wednesday that “after 4 days, they’re lastly seeing some neurological enchancment, that he’s now extra secure however stays in crucial situation,” mentioned Rampietti. “This has been probably the most optimistic report that we’ve seen since he’s been brought to the hospital.”

President Petro has expressed gratitude about Uribe’s bettering situation, Rampietti added.

The bombing assault was doubtless attributable to an armed group that splintered from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels, in keeping with the military and police.

Petro additionally participated within the rallies in Cali, the place he’s anticipated to signal a presidential decree ordering the referendum vote.

Within the meantime, the nation’s Senate was debating a special textual content of the labour reform that Petro has criticised and labour unions say doesn’t sufficiently advance staff’ rights.

Following the assault on Uribe, the Senate initially determined to droop this week’s periods in his honour. Nevertheless, it reversed that call 24 hours later.

The Senate is “making an attempt to convey it [the labour reform] to a vote” by Thursday, Rampietti added.