Riots in Colombian Cities 2013

Protestors in Bogotá, August 29, 2013

"Gente pobre con uniformes, golpeando gente con hambre, para el bienestar personal de gente rica sin uniformes y sin hambre"  (translation:  "Poor people in uniform, beating hungry people for the well-being of rich people neither in uniform nor hungry")

We all thought the Free Trade Agreement (Tratado de Libre Comercio) would bring a benefit to Colombia by trading with the giant US economy.  Turns out they can't compete with cheap potatoes, milk and onions being imported from the US.  (there's an irony for you--the potato originated in the Andes).

When farmers began blocking roads and protesting, many Colombians supported them including university students who actively engaged with police.

Farmers say they cannot make a living with such competition and against high tariffs, among other grievances.

President Santos suggested that the protesters include leftist extremists who just want to further their interests and destabilize the government.