The organisers of strikes against Colombian President Ivan Duque's policies have demanded new conditions for dialogue with the government, including the possibility of restarting peace talks with leftist rebels.

Over the last eight days, demonstrators have rallied against economic plans - such as a rise in the pension age and a cut to the minimum wage for young people - that Duque denies supporting. They are also angry over what they say is a lack of government action to stop corruption and the murder of hundreds of human rights activists.

The number of protesters has fallen from a 250,000-person march last week but opposition parties in congress are already leveraging the protests to pressure the embattled Duque over his tax reform proposal.

Duque has opened a "great national dialogue" in response to the demonstrations, meeting with business leaders, student groups and briefly, unions.

But the National Strike Committee, comprised of major unions and students organisations, said in a letter to Duque on Thursday his dialogue "does no comply with these minimum requirements and so does no permit advances".

"We propose...the formation of a pluralistic and diverse National Dialogue," the letter said, demanding the government implement previous deals made with indigenous groups and students.

The letter also asked for "complete implementation of the final peace accord and the exploration of the possibility of restarting dialogue with the ELN," referring to a 2016 peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels and scuppered talks with the still-active National Liberation Army (ELN).

It also demanded the government take action to stop the murders of activists and former FARC fighters, combat corruption and protect the environment.

The protests have expanded in recent days to include alleged police violence, after an 18-year-old demonstrator was killed by a projectile fired by riot police. The letter asked for an end to "all violent action against peaceful marches."

Duque suspended talks with the ELN, considered a terrorist organisation by the United States and the European Union, after he took office.

Hopes for a restart to negotiations were extinguished when the group claimed responsibility for a January bombing at Bogota's police academy that killed 22 people.

The government did not respond to requests for comment on the letter.

Three other people have been killed in connection with the protests and vandalism, especially of public transit stations, will cost millions to repair.

The organisers of strikes against Colombian President Ivan Duque's policies have demanded new conditions for dialogue with the government, including the possibility of restarting peace talks with leftist rebels.

The organisers of strikes against Colombian President Ivan Duque's policies have demanded new conditions for dialogue with the government, including the possibility of restarting peace talks with leftist rebels. Over the last eight days, demonstrators have rallied against economic plans - such as a rise in the pension age and a cut to the minimum wage for young people - that Duque denies supporting. They are also angry over what they say is a lack of government action to stop corruption and the murder of hundreds of human rights activists. The number of protesters has fallen from a 250,000-person march last week but opposition parties in congress are already leveraging the protests to pressure the embattled Duque over his tax reform proposal. Duque has opened a "great national dialogue" in response to the demonstrations, meeting with business leaders, student groups and briefly, unions. But the National Strike Committee, comprised of major unions and students organisations, said in a letter to Duque on Thursday his dialogue "does no comply with these minimum requirements and so does no permit advances". "We propose...the formation of a pluralistic and diverse National Dialogue," the letter said, demanding the government implement previous deals made with indigenous groups and students. The letter also asked for "complete implementation of the final peace accord and the exploration of the possibility of restarting dialogue with the ELN," referring to a 2016 peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels and scuppered talks with the still-active National Liberation Army (ELN). It also demanded the government take action to stop the murders of activists and former FARC fighters, combat corruption and protect the environment. The protests have expanded in recent days to include alleged police violence, after an 18-year-old demonstrator was killed by a projectile fired by riot police. The letter asked for an end to "all violent action against peaceful marches." Duque suspended talks with the ELN, considered a terrorist organisation by the United States and the European Union, after he took office. Hopes for a restart to negotiations were extinguished when the group claimed responsibility for a January bombing at Bogota's police academy that killed 22 people. The government did not respond to requests for comment on the letter. Three other people have been killed in connection with the protests and vandalism, especially of public transit stations, will cost millions to repair.

Colombia strikers expand demands, include possible talks with rebels

Ex-FARC leaders calls for Colombia rebels to take up arms. Watch video to know more.

Ex-FARC leaders calls for Colombia rebels to take up arms

Two years after the signing of the peace accord in Colombia, the reinsertion into society of former FARC guerrillas is difficult and complicated, though the female former rebels are organizing to forge ahead with what they call gendered projects.

Such is the case of Yorladys Jimenez and Elsy Palacios, who belonged to the FARC when it was an insurgency and are now members of the political party that succeeded it, which likewise goes by the acronym FARC.

Both live in Quibdo, capital of the western province of Choco, one of the regions hardest hit by poverty and the more than five decades of armed conflict that formally ended Nov. 24, 2016.

Since then, Choco has become one of the provinces that the Spain-based Catholic charity Manos Unidas has prioritized for developing projects focused on aiding Afro-Colombians, indigenous people and small farmers.

Many of the former combatants seek their reintegration in rural communities - the one where Yorladys and Elsy live is La Troje, which was founded more than 400 years ago and is one of the oldest in Choco.

Elsy, now 24, doesn't recall if she was "14, 15, or 16" when she fell in with the FARC.

Her role, she said, "wasn't active," but rather she lent a hand "when they needed help in meetings and things like that."

She now works with another 34 women on programs that they themselves have taken on because, she said, "the conflict has begun again" and women "are being subjugated by men."

But "the reinsertion has been a little complicated because a lot of things were promised in the peace process that haven't been done yet," Elsy says.

Yorladys, 31, wanted to "follow the path" of an older sister who joined the guerrillas and who, unlike her sibling, did not operate "in the ranks" of the FARC, but was always involved "on the political side."

Despite the peace accord, FARC veterans find it "very hard" to win acceptance from their compatriots, she said.

Early this year, when Yorladys was pregnant, a group of armed men assaulted the local FARC party headquarters, but "thank God no one was hurt, they just made off with some of our belongings."

Now Yorladys is dedicated to "organizing women to work on projects," the most immediate being a refrigerated room to keep fish and meat "for the poorest neighborhoods in the northern region."

Her husband, Antonio Angulo, belonged to the FARC's 34th front. Two years after the signing of the peace accord, he celebrates "having initiated negotiations with the Colombian government, because prolonging the war would have meant many more deaths."

Two years after the signing of the peace accord in Colombia, the reinsertion into society of former FARC guerrillas is difficult and complicated, though the female former rebels are organizing to forge ahead with what they call gendered projects.

Two years after the signing of the peace accord in Colombia, the reinsertion into society of former FARC guerrillas is difficult and complicated, though the female former rebels are organizing to forge ahead with what they call gendered projects. Such is the case of Yorladys Jimenez and Elsy Palacios, who belonged to the FARC when it was an insurgency and are now members of the political party that succeeded it, which likewise goes by the acronym FARC. Both live in Quibdo, capital of the western province of Choco, one of the regions hardest hit by poverty and the more than five decades of armed conflict that formally ended Nov. 24, 2016. Since then, Choco has become one of the provinces that the Spain-based Catholic charity Manos Unidas has prioritized for developing projects focused on aiding Afro-Colombians, indigenous people and small farmers. Many of the former combatants seek their reintegration in rural communities - the one where Yorladys and Elsy live is La Troje, which was founded more than 400 years ago and is one of the oldest in Choco. Elsy, now 24, doesn't recall if she was "14, 15, or 16" when she fell in with the FARC. Her role, she said, "wasn't active," but rather she lent a hand "when they needed help in meetings and things like that." She now works with another 34 women on programs that they themselves have taken on because, she said, "the conflict has begun again" and women "are being subjugated by men." But "the reinsertion has been a little complicated because a lot of things were promised in the peace process that haven't been done yet," Elsy says. Yorladys, 31, wanted to "follow the path" of an older sister who joined the guerrillas and who, unlike her sibling, did not operate "in the ranks" of the FARC, but was always involved "on the political side." Despite the peace accord, FARC veterans find it "very hard" to win acceptance from their compatriots, she said. Early this year, when Yorladys was pregnant, a group of armed men assaulted the local FARC party headquarters, but "thank God no one was hurt, they just made off with some of our belongings." Now Yorladys is dedicated to "organizing women to work on projects," the most immediate being a refrigerated room to keep fish and meat "for the poorest neighborhoods in the northern region." Her husband, Antonio Angulo, belonged to the FARC's 34th front. Two years after the signing of the peace accord, he celebrates "having initiated negotiations with the Colombian government, because prolonging the war would have meant many more deaths."

Colombia's women ex-rebels struggle to find place in society

colombia-rebels

Colombia Rebels, News on Colombia Rebels, stories on Colombia Rebels, articles on Colombia Rebels, Colombia Rebels stories at Wion, Colombia Rebels news, Colombia Rebels latest news

colombia rebels

Colombia strikers expand demands, include possible talks with rebels

Ex-FARC leaders calls for Colombia rebels to take up arms

Colombia's women ex-rebels struggle to find place in society