A series of protests by banana workers has left one dead and several injured in Antioquia, local media reported Wednesday. Violent confrontations between banana workers and authorities left a 40 year old man dead, 14 people injured, and 20 farmers detained by police in the rural northwest of the state, El Espectador reported.
Workers were protesting against months of payments owed to them by the government, lack of electricity on their land, and well as the pricing and marketing of bananas.
The most violent confrontations between the workers and authorities took place in the village of Curralao, where gunshots killed one person and injured 14, Caracol Radio reported. Curralao inhabitants are making a call for help, as there are no ambulances to transfer the injured to nearby hospitals.
The Police Chief of Uraba, Raul Antonio Riano, stated that authorities will investigate the circumstances of the death. Riano also stated that there are at least 20 people currently detained for blocking roads, using explosive devices, and assaults on authorities, El Colombiano reported.
Protesters also threw stones and tried to set fire to the Mayor’s house in the municipality of Mutata, Blu Radio reported. According to Mayor Jaime Lopez, protesters were angry over city hall’s decision to lend the army a backhoe to remove a tree blocking the roads, Blu Radio reported.
Sources
- Un muerto y decenas de heridos deja protesta de plataneros en el Urabá (El Espectador)
- Un muerto y catorce heridos en protestas plataneras en Currulao (El Colombiano)
- Un muerto y 14 heridos por enfrentamientos en Currulao-Turbo (Radio Caracol)
- Manifestantes plataneros intentaron quemar casa del alcalde de Mutatá, Antioquia (Blu Radio)