- Title: COLOMBIA: Clashes as transport strike brings chaos
- Date: 3rd March 2010
- Summary: MAN AND CHILD ON BIKE
- Embargoed: 18th March 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Colombia
- Country: Colombia
- Topics: Domestic Politics,Transport
- Reuters ID: LVA9VZOGYSIBEQSDJI5VORH8Z8S2
- Story Text: Bus and taxi services in the Colombian capital city of Bogota halted on Tuesday (March 2) on the second day of a strike over a new transportation plan bringing the city to a near standstill.
Local media reported some 16,000 bus drivers and 21,000 taxi drivers have gone on strike.
Hundreds of protesters set fire to tires on the street and threw rocks at police officers.
Transit workers reject the government's Integrated Public Transport System plan, or SITP, which aims to revamp the chaotic transport system in the capital.
The local government hopes to build commuter trains and a future metro.
Protesters said the plan includes vehicle fleet reduction and cancellation of routes which they reject and demand that their rights are taken into account.
Taxi drivers also demand the government uphold a promise to reduce traffic fines.
"Mayor, dialogue is the solution, we should be taken into account, not only the rich but the poor. Are 25 percent of us not Colombian? Are we not human? Don't our children eat? Don't our wives have needs? No, we have to fight for these reasons and we have the right to work, to dignity, to be respected. We don't have to kneel down just because we're poor, we don't have to," said protester Ricardo Garcia.
The strike broke out on Monday (March 1) and thousands of commuters had to find other ways to get to work on Tuesday morning.
"I haven't been able to get to work since yesterday, I completely stuck. I'm trying to get a lift, do whatever I can to get there. I don't want to miss work because I work with children," said a resident affected by the protests, Luz Mabel Gomez.
Others managed to get around on bikes and private vehicles.
Bogota Mayor, Samuel Moreno, threatened to cancel public transportation licenses to companies who fail to provide the service.
"Companies that fail to provide the service (bus service) as we announced this morning will be investigated. They will be suspended for failing to provide transportation service in the city and for abandoning their route," he said.
Police officers guarded the only public transport system available in the city, the rapid bus transit system TransMilenio, which was flooded by hundreds of commuters, causing parts of the system to collapse due to the crowds. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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