A Colombian senator called on citizens to avoid buying gasoline for one day in protest of ‘unfair’ prices, reported local media Monday.
Colombian Senator Alexandra Moreno Piaquive marked March 12 as “Anti Pump Day,” and called on Colombians to refrain from purchasing gasoline for the day.
Piaquive said gas prices in Colombia are tied to international prices which are fair for the rest of the world but too high for a petroleum producing nation like Colombia. He also said government taxes on fuel are too high.
Speaking with Portoflio the senator said, “we want to lower fuel taxes by 2,000 peso [$1.13] on a national level. We also want a debate of how fuel is priced.”
In response Alvaro Younes, president of gasoline distribution organization Fedispetrol, said the boycott worsens the situation for Colombian fuel distributors. Younes claimed 70% of Colombia’s gasoline distributors are on the verge of bankruptcy.