Colombia protesters decry govt virus response

Protesters filled a historic square in Colombia's capital Wednesday to demonstrate against the government's handling of a wide range of issues including the economic fallout of the pandemic and implementation of the peace accord.

Indigenous leaders, students and union members gathered at the Plaza Bolivar waving flags and banners decrying the government nearly one year after massive protests rocked the country only to fizzle with little to show by way of reform.

The COVID-19 pandemic had largely put a halt to demonstrations this year, but organizers were hoping to renew momentum after the government lifted six months of strict quarantine measures aimed at containing the virus.

Colombia is on track to reach 1 million virus cases this week and is one of the hardest-hit nations in Latin America.

Millions of jobs have been lost, and unemployment reached nearly 17% in August. Though President Iván Duque's approval rating has improved during the pandemic, the country remains divided on a host of issues.

The protest Wednesday follows a protest earlier in the week by thousands of Indigenous demonstrators who journeyed to the capital in brightly coloured buses and pickup trucks demanding to meet with Duque on issues like mining concessions and escalating violence amid setbacks in the implementation of the 2016 peace accord.

The agreement with the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia to end Latin America's longest-running conflict remains a source of contention in the nation.

Duque and his allies are critical of the agreement, which they contend offers too many concessions to ex-guerrillas, who are largely able to avoid any jail time.

Critics contend his government has stymied the deal's progress, resulting in a renewal of violence in areas still ripe with drug trafficking.

Those Indigenous protesters were on hand Wednesday, joining a chorus of complaints and request that Duque set up a negotiating table. Thus far, he has refused to meet, angering organizers, though he has sent intermediaries.

Protesters want better solutions for those who have lost jobs and discuss proposals like a universal basic income to help the vulnerable.

Though thousands of people had gathered at the Plaza Bolivar by early afternoon, the protests did not appear to be as large as last year, when massive numbers filled city blocks.