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Talks Between Colombia Strike Committee, Government End Without Advances

Reuters

   BOGOTA - Talks between the Colombian government and the unions and
   student organizations that are planning major protests this week ended
   without advances on Tuesday, as the country prepares for its third
   national strike since late November.

   Hundreds of thousands of Colombians have participated in protests
   against President Ivan Duque's social and economic policies since Nov.
   21, imperiling the government's tax reform proposal and leading Duque
   to announce a "great national dialogue."

   Five people have died in connection with the demonstrations, including
   a young man killed by homemade explosives on Monday in the city of
   Medellin during a protest at a public university.

   On Monday, the government asked the unions and student groups that make
   up the National Strike Committee to call off the Wednesday protest and
   agreed to a parallel dialogue with them.

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