Declaration of support for the rebellion of the Colombian people promoted by the Liberation Party of Argentina and already signed by 46 progressive organisations from 26 different countries in Latin America, North America, Asia and Europe.
The undersigned political parties and organisations express their full support for the popular rebellion in Colombia, initiated in November 2019 and resumed on April 28, against the same oligarchic and pro-imperialist government of Iván Duque.
In the fifteen days that have elapsed since this higher stage of the Colombian resistance, an even greater reserve of militancy, heroism and conscience has been in evidence than before. That is why it has not proved possible to liquidate it notwithstanding high levels of repression by the National Police, the Mobile Anti-Riot Squad (ESMAD) and the army under General Eduardo Zapateiro.
The amount of patriotic blood shed as a result of this repression ordered by President Duque has been enormous. According to Colombian Human Rights organisations, as of May 12, there were 47 dead protesters, 548 missing, 1,023 detained and 1,040 injured. That is why the popular and leftist forces of the world have organised demonstrations, events and many solidarity activities in many countries.
The spark that ignited the popular uprising was opposition to the “Tax Reform” proposed by Duque and his Minister of Finance, Alberto Carrasquilla, which sought to levy new taxes on products, services and income. They claimed this was necessary to enable the Treasury to secure higher revenues, but their proposals were the same as those seen in previous tax reforms allowing the big capitalists, the mining and oil companies, and the bankers, to pay less.
The social rage aroused ran wide and deep, with the result that although the president withdrew his project on May 2, strikes and demonstrations involving a wide range of the social and political spectrum continued to take place: union and social organisations came together in the National Unemployment Committee, alongside a large number of workers, students, peasants, native peoples, intellectuals, traders, transport workers, small and medium entrepreneurs, etc.
President Duque is facing the worst situation in his presidency, thoroughly isolated and with an approval rating down to only 33 percent, so there is even a possibility that he will be forced to resign in the face of these struggles, without having to wait for the May 2022 elections.
The struggle has continued after the withdrawal of the confiscatory Bill, now raising demands – that Bill 010 on the health service be withdrawn and that it not be privatised; that there be vaccines for everyone; that ESMAD be dissolved; and that there be democratic guarantees for those who engage in civil protests, among many others.
We express here our warm feelings towards the Colombian people, and our special respect for, and appreciation of, the mass of young people who are in the front line of street fighting, as well as our solidarity salute to the militant social and political organisations which have committed themselves to the rebellion rather than to negotating with Duque in the hope of obtaining some parliamentary or electoral advantage.
Just as we condemn the Duque’s current wave of repression, we also repudiate that which he has been conducting against social leaders and demobilised former guerrillas, in total breach of the terms of the 2016 Peace Accords signed with the FARC-EP, which he never wanted to sign with the ELN.
It is fully proven that Duque’s presidency answers exclusively to large capitalists and multinationals, in addition to drug traffickers, as did his mentor Alvaro Uribe. He is a faithful servant of Yankee imperialism and its Southern Command with its military bases targeting the legitimate government of Venezuela. And furthermore, as has been clearly demonstrated since April 28, his hands are stained with blood, he criminalises protest which he represses through the police, the paramilitary groups and the military.
The OAS under Mr. Almagro and High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet, who are so active against the government of Venezuela and were so against Evo Morales in Bolivia in their time, today remain aloof as regards the drama in Colombia.
The parties and political organisations that are signatories to this Declaration belong to various movements in solidarity with the Colombian rebellion in their own various countries. And with this joint declaration we reiterate our commitment to bring to the fore our campaigns in its support of that noble cause with regular pronouncements, events and festivals.
IF DUQUE FALLS, COLOMBIA WINS AND EVERYONE WINS
DOWN WITH THE MINOR PARTNER OF YANQUI IMPERIALISM IN LATIN AMERICA
SOLIDARITY WITH THOSE WHO FIGHT IN COLOMBIA. THEY ARE NOT VANDALS OR TERRORISTS, THEY ARE FIGHTERS AGAINST STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT, NEOLIBERALISM, FASCISM, CORRUPTION AND DRUG TRAFFICKING.
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