Colombian Truckers On
Nationwide Protest
Colombian truckers will
hold a nationwide strike
Thursday to protest
against unfulfilled
demands regarding the
payment of promised
border freight charges.
The executive director
of the Colombian
Association of Truck
Drivers (ACC), Jorge
Garcia, said that
150,000 of the 190,000
truckers in Colombia
will block roads with
their trucks to prevent
the transport of goods
and passengers into or
out of Colombia.
"We had the will to
negotiate with the trade
unions because that was
the compromise of the
transport minister, we
expected to discuss with
them, but when all the
parties didn't attend
the meeting we decided
to go on strike," said
Garcia, referring to the
meetings with government
officers and companies.
The truckers urged the
Transport Ministry to
endorse the payment of
the fee that Colombian
President Alvaro Uribe
ordered, which is fee
that must be made by
those who contract their
trucks to transport
products inside the
country.
"We don't understand why
the businessmen and the
economic groups do not
follow the presidential
order," Garcia said.
The Colombian government
said it respects
citizens' right to
protest but will not
tolerate the blocking of
roads. Despite "the
intimidations," the
ports are functioning
normally, it added.
Truckers had announced a
similar strike in June
to protest fuel price
hikes, but withdrew it
following a meeting with
President Uribe who
negotiated some measures
that placated the guild.
However, neither
managers nor the
ministry has yet
complied with those
agreements. |
