This archive report was first published on 3 December 2019.
Protests in Colombia have been ongoing for 12 days, with demonstrators calling for policy changes from President Ivan Duque.
On December 3, 2019, Diego Molano, a senior official in Duque's government, offered to meet with protest leaders to discuss their grievances.
However, protest organizers have yet to respond to the offer, which came with a request to cancel a planned December 4 demonstration to minimize disruptions to pre-Christmas commercial activity.
The National Strike Committee, which represents unions, students, university lecturers, and indigenous groups, has called for an 'inclusive, democratic, and effective dialogue' with the government.
Protest leaders have presented President Duque with a list of 13 demands, including the withdrawal of proposed tax reforms and full compliance with the 2016 peace deal with FARC guerrillas.
One of the most contentious demands is the dismantling of the feared ESMAD riot police, following the death of 18-year-old Dilan Cruz, who was hit by a tear gas canister.
