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A12 WORLD NEWS
Friday 22 November 2019
Colombia protesters hope to channel wave of discontent

By CHRISTINE ARMARIO And Duque himself drew
CÉSAR GARCÍA criticism after holding up
Associated Press photos at the U.N. Gen-
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) eral Assembly that he said
— Colombians angry with were proof that the socialist
conservative President Iván government in neighboring
Duque hoped to channel Venezuela harbors leftist
Latin America's wave of dis- Colombian rebels – only to
content as they took to the find out later that at least
streets Thursday with a long one of the images was tak-
list of grievances, from per- en in Colombia.
sistent economic inequality Colombia's economy has
to violence against social been growing at a faster
activists. rate this year, but the na-
Thousands of students, tion still has one of the high-
teachers and labor union est levels of inequality in
organizers gathered for South America. Nearly 11%
what could be one of the of Colombians are out of
nation's biggest demon- work – a figure that jumps
strations in recent years, to 17.5% for young adults.
testing an unpopular gov- On Thursday, many of Bo-
ernment as unrest grips the In this Nov. 7, 2019 file photo, Colombia's President Ivan Duque waves to police cadets, gota's perpetually con-
region. accompanied by his interim Defense Minister and Armed Forces Commander Gen. Luis Fernando gested streets were empty
Analysts were skeptical, Navarro, left, during a graduation ceremony for the cadets in Bogota, Colombia. as protesters gathered
however, that the event Associated Press and began marching.
would generate any pro- accused of entering the garden of roses," he said in remain largely unsolved. Some carried signs paint-
longed unrest like that seen country to instigate unrest. a radio interview. "I'm talk- The Duque administration ing Duque as a pig. Others
recently in Bolivia, Chile "They are preparing as if ing about a country that is has made a small dent in danced in bright colored
and Ecuador, noting a lack for a war," said Ariel Ávi- recovering, an economy reducing coca crops, but skirts and straw hats, giving
of unifying factors in a di- la, deputy director of the that is improving and is to- fields of the plant used to the protest the feeling of a
vided country that is one of Peace and Reconciliation day one of the best in Latin make cocaine still cover festive parade.
the region's stronger eco- Foundation. "But it's very America." wide swaths of the country. "We are standing up to pro-
nomic performers. vague what they've shared Still, many Colombians say Meanwhile, Duque's gov- test and tell all humanity
"We're not in a pre-insurrec- about any potential distur- they have plenty of reasons ernment has faced a series that we need to demand
tional climate," said Yann bances." to be angry. of embarrassing setbacks. change," said Aida Prado,
Basset, a professor at Bogo- Duque, who has a lacklus- Despite the previous ad- Defense Minister Guillermo 26, an actress waving a
ta's Rosario University. "I'm ter 26% percent approv- ministration's 2016 peace Botero resigned in early white flag.
not sure there's a general al rating, has gone on a accord with leftist rebels, November following rev- Comments from Cabinet
rejection of the political charm offensive seeking to much of Colombia is still en- elations that at least eight ministers on potential finan-
system." connect with citizens and gulfed in violence as illegal minors had been killed in cial reforms have raised
The Duque government is counter erroneous claims armed groups compete a bombing that targeted concerns among union
nevertheless on edge, de- on social media that he for territory where the state a small band of dissidents. members about pension
ploying 170,000 officers to has proposed to raise the has yet to establish a pres- Duque's key ally, former and work rule overhauls –
enforce security while clos- retirement age and reduce ence. Dozens of indigenous President Álvaro Uribe, is though Duque's administra-
ing border crossings and wages for young workers. and social leaders have under investigation for al- tion insists such proposals
deporting 24 Venezuelans "I'm not here to talk about a been killed in crimes that leged witness tampering. do not exist.q

Cuba accuses US diplomat of supporting illegal actions

By MICHAEL WEISSENSTEIN President Barack Obama's ma, the Communist Party's
Associated Press normalization of relations official newspaper, said
HAVANA (AP) — Cuba on with the island. It has been Ferrer was detained Oct.
Wednesday accused the operating with a skeleton 1 with three other people
top U.S. diplomat in the staff since the withdrawal on suspicion of kidnapping
country of working closely of most personnel in 2017 and assaulting another
with José Daniel Ferrer, the due to concerns about man.
detained head of one of mysterious health symp- It alleged that, since the
the country's largest oppo- toms whose cause has still detention, the United
sition groups. not been publicly deter- States has used the case
The accusations against mined. Ferrer was detained in a campaign to discredit
charge d'affaires Mara In this March 22, 2016 file photo, Jose Daniel Ferrer, from left, last month on charges that Cuba. "The United States
Tekach were a break from Juana Mora Cedeno, and Antonio Rodiles, listen during their remained unclear until this Embassy in Cuba has been
Cuba's normal language meeting with President Barack Obama at the U.S. Embassy, in week. The U.S., opposition the fundamental vehicle
on U.S. relations, which had Havana, Cuba. groups and human rights for attending to, orienting
remained measured de- Associated Press organizations demanded and financing the con-
spite an escalating Trump to foment division among performance of the Cuban his release. duct of José Daniel Ferrer,
administration campaign Cubans, "identifying areas government and Cuban Ferrer's supporters said that in a clear demonstration
to cut off revenue and oil of the economy where revolution," a Cuban gov- he had been charged with of interference in Cuba's
to Cuba. they can direct coercive ernment statement said. assault and called the case internal affairs and open
Tekach and the U.S. Em- measures, and trying to The U.S. Embassy in Cuba a fabrication. The state- instigation of violence," the
bassy in Cuba have tried slander and discredit the reopened in 2015 during ment Wednesday in Gran- Cuban statement said. q