Colombia: General strike continues in Buenaventura May 22 /update 2

Event

A general strike and daily protests in Colombia's main Pacific coastal city Buenaventura, to denounce state neglect and corruption, has now entered its second week as of Monday, May 22. A nightly curfew from 18:00 and 06:00 (local time) remains in place as of Monday, following major social unrest which led to looting and material damage on Friday, May 19. The ongoing Paro Civico ("Civic Strike") movement intensified over the weekend. On Sunday, May 21, at least 10,000 people took to the streets of Buenaventura to voice their grievances. Protesters made clear that the strike will continue in the coming days and that they expect the formation of a high level commission to establish negotiation channels with the government. Clashes with security forces and other violence (vandalism, etc.) cannot be ruled out.

Protests have occurred elsewhere in the country in support of the strike in Buenaventura. The city of Cali saw demonstrations by civil society organizations on Saturday, May 20, demanding better access to drinking water, decent public hospitals, and better public services, as well as denouncing corruption and racism. Many of the people involved in the protest movement, whether in Buenaventura, Chocó, or Cali, are Afro-Colombians, whose living conditions are generally lower than the national average. At least 80 percent of Buenaventura residents are Afro-Colombian.

Context

Protesters are demanding that the national government declare a state of social emergency in the area and deliver improved social services. The city's ports, as well as commercial, banking, and tourist sectors, are at a standstill. Local authorities indicate that some 55,000 million pesos have been lost as a result of the protest movement. Export-based economic sectors are also particularly affected. The import of food and other staple goods has been allowed to continue using minimum services.

Buenaventura suffers from poor socioeconomic conditions and social services, compounded by a lack of decent health care and education, inequality, and poverty. Additionally, crime rates are relatively high due to the presence of gangs involved in drug trafficking. Almost half the city has no access to drinking water, while 62 percent of its residents are jobless. Infant mortality and malnutrition are particularly high. Corruption is endemic and considered exceptionally high for even Colombian standards (the city's three past mayors are in prison for embezzling public funds and the current mayor is under investigation).

Advice

Individuals present in Buenaventura are advised to avoid all demonstrations, to monitor developments to the situation, and to consider postponing nonessential travel to the city.