Colombia: Teachers to hold strike and protests in Santander and Bogota April 18-19

Event

Teachers affiliated with the Union of Santander Educators (Sindicato de Educadores de Santander, SES) will hold a strike and protest across Santander Department April 18-19, with another planned protest in Bogota April 19.

Striking teachers will gather at 09:00 April 18 at San Pio Park in the Cabecera del Llano neighborhood of Bucaramanga and march along Calle 36 to the office of the governor of Santander. Other smaller protests will also occur in towns across Santander Department April 18.

Striking SES members in Bucaramanga plan to gather outside the Fiduprevisora building on Carrera 28, April 19. Protesters will march to the Superintendency of Health building on Carrera 29 before finishing their march at the Green Gold building on Avenida La Rosita. Simultaneously, striking SES members will travel to Bogota and stage a protest from 09:00 in front of the Ministry of Education building in the capital.

The strike and demonstration are likely to cause localized transport and business disruptions, and police will likely deploy to protest locations. Though the demonstrations are likely to be peaceful, clashes cannot be ruled out, especially if police attempt to forcibly disperse protesters.

Advice

Avoid all demonstrations as a precaution. If violence occurs, immediately leave the area and seek shelter in a non-governmental building. Allow for additional transport time in Santander Department and near the Ministry of Education building in Bogota. Heed the instructions of security personnel.