US issues security warning over Colombia truckers strike

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Colombia Reports

US issues security warning over Colombia truckers strike

written by Jamie Shenk July 18, 2016

The United States issued a security warning for Colombia where an ongoing truckers strike has raised tensions across the South American country. The alert urged US citizens on Friday to avoid areas where demonstrations are taking place.

“Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence,” the State Department message warned.

. . . .

The US State Department’s warning supplements its general travel warning for Colombia. While the warning admits that the security situation in Colombia has improved significantly in recent years, it specifically warns US citizens to be careful when traveling by road.

The US government has strict guidelines for how its officials are allowed to travel. They are normally not allowed to travel by road outside of major cities. In its travel warning, the State Department urges Americans traveling to or living in Colombia follow similar guidelines.



Read more: http://colombiareports.com/us-sissues-travel-warning-colombia-truckers-strike/

[Judi Lynn]

1. Why Colombia’s truckers are angry

Why Colombia’s truckers are angry

written by Adriaan Alsema July 17, 2016

For the 13th time in 15 years, Colombia’s truckers went on strike. This time, things have gone violent. Here’s why.
The truckers are primarily angrily because, according to the protesters, the government has allowed multinational transport companies to flood the country with trucks.

The abundance of foreign trucks has virtually eliminated tens of thousands of local truckers’ ability to make a living they way they were able to before.

Large transport companies would be able to cover losses for an extended period of time, but individual truckers can not and they are afraid they are purposely being run out of business by the multinationals.

The truckers fear that the government policy is similar to those in cities where small bus companies have been pushed out of business by public-private mass transit corporations, often in hands of foreign corporations or local elites.

More:
http://colombiareports.com/why-colombia-truckers-strike/