After the security council, Juan Fernando Cristo, Minister of the Interior, asked the transporters to allow a humanitarian corridor to guarantee the supply of food, medicine and fuel. “Take a good look at the proposal made by the Government,” said Cristo.
After two days of failed negotiations, on Thursday afternoon, President Gustavo Petro, together with the Attorney General's Office, the Ombudsman's Office and several ministries, held a security council on the four-day strike by transporters in the country.
Following the meeting, Juan Fernando Cristo, Minister of the Interior, reported that the Government reviewed the situation of the blockades: “We are still concerned about the supply of fuel, medicines, food and we are reviewing how we can move forward in guaranteeing humanitarian corridors.
Cristo said that the Government does not understand the “inflexible and intransigent attitude” of the transporters who are holding talks with the Government.
On Wednesday it became clear that there will be no more increases in diesel until an agreement can be reached, but the discussion stalled because there is no agreement on how to adjust the increase of $1,904 (US$ 0.45, approximately) that was made last week. The Government proposed eliminating it and making an adjustment of $200 (US$ 0.04) per month until adding up to $800 (US$ 0.19) in December. This proposal included coordinating new meetings with union leaders to resolve other issues that were on the table, but the unions rejected that option and warned that they will only accept an increase of $400 (US$ 0.09).
Negotiations between the government and transporters did not continue on Thursday because there are no new proposals on the table. “We call on truck drivers across the country to take a good look at the government’s proposal so that they understand that it is a proposal that is useful, especially for the rank and file of Colombian truck drivers. We understand that the increase in diesel prices has hit them hard, it is a painful measure, but absolutely necessary, that is why the government has given in these days, to seek an agreement, but it seems that some radical sectors, which we believe are a minority, are not at all interested in it,” said the Minister of the Interior.
