Four arrested and two vehicles immobilized in protest by taxi drivers

After several hours of the strike by the taxi drivers’ union in Valledupar, disturbances were generated in the roundabout of the Transport Terminal, on the way to the municipality of La Paz, to where the ‘yellow spot’ had mobilized to continue its actions.

A group of motorcycle taxi drivers arrived at the scene, who took advantage of the moment to make their list of requests, including asking for the legalization of their service.

The situation was calm and without blockades, public order was disturbed, which required the action of the National Police, through Esmad, whose personnel had to be activated to prevent the collapse of the city.

The results were four taxi drivers captured and two vehicles immobilized for blocking the way, according to Colonel Luis León, commander of the Police in Cesar.

“There was no compliance with police orders and they acted in accordance with the law for citizen coexistence, we cannot allow the collapse of the city due to a protest,” said the colonel.

These people would be presented before the Prosecutor’s Office, to respond individually, for behavior contrary to criminal law.

At midday, normality returned to the city and the flow of vehicles was normal. The protest had been agreed upon without blockades, and unfortunately they tried to prevent passage through the Transportation Terminal; upon ordering the road to be cleared, disturbances were generated that left the balance described, the colonel explained.

TAXI DRIVERS TALK

Julio Cesar Domínguez, leader of the taxi drivers union in the city, stated that after reaching agreements with the local authorities on the protest and not blocking roads, yesterday the union began the demonstration peacefully in the main accesses to the city, However, the presence of the police and Esmad was exaggerated and in some cases there were threats of immobilizing the vehicles for being obstructing the passage.

He recalled that the request is the implementation of the taximeter, agreement with Ditra, greater security and review of rates. “The idea was not to generate chaos, we fulfilled our right to protest to demand specific issues in favor of the union.”

“After two hours of peaceful protest, the yellow spot began the turtle plan in the vicinity of the Transportation Terminal, everything was going well until the uniformed officers arbitrarily began to disperse the protest by immobilizing vehicles, launching tear gas and capturing some of the protesters. drivers. It was not what was agreed upon, but again the authorities acted arbitrarily,” said Alber García, taxi driver.

For his part, Wilson Valencia, also a member of the taxi drivers union, said that at the dialogue table last Tuesday, some agreements were reached, but unfortunately “they deceived us again, they told us that the police would accompany us and they arrived en masse. and tax by clearing the roads and mistreating taxi drivers. In the city there is no force to combat insecurity, but this time there are uniformed men in numbers attacking us.”

The protest in Valledupar was felt mainly in Puente Hurtado-Pilonera Mayor, Obelisco and entrance to Bosconia, entrances to La Paz and Transport Terminal, Glorieta María Mulata, Glorieta Hernando De Santana and the Glorieta Mí Pedazo de Acordeón.

NORMALITY IN SCHOOLS

Given the uncertainty that reigned in the municipality due to the national strike of taxi drivers, some official and unofficial institutions decided to suspend the academic day for yesterday, however, a normality of 80% was recorded in the educational institutions and an attendance of 70% of students, according to Iván Bolaños, Secretary of Municipal Education.

He explained that there were only teacher absences in the northern district of Valledupar, due to some blockages on the road to La Mesa and Puente Hurtado. Other damages occurred at schools in La Mina and La Vega.

TRADE WITH NORMALITY

As far as the commercial area of ​​the city is concerned, the day unfolded with absolute normality. “Trade does not stop, we continue billing, while other unions lend themselves to this type of actions that harm an entire group,” said Octavio Pico Malaver, executive director of Fenalco-Cesar.

He stressed that currently the union must understand that paralyzing a city does not make progress, good results are achieved with work and concerted dialogue with the authorities, and that is what taxi drivers must fight for. “Merchants and businessmen do not go on strike, we invoice. In Valledupar there was normality during the protest and that is important in these difficult times that the country is experiencing.”

THE USERS

During the protest, some users supported the measure, while others rejected it due to the effects on mobility in the city.

Aida Flores, a resident of the San Martín neighborhood, stated that although she understands the problems that the taxi drivers union is going through, it is not justified to paralyze the city. “Those of us who work and take our children to study had great inconveniences, it is not the best way to make your requests to the Government, you must think about the citizens.”

Another user, who even came to support the taxi drivers in the protest, said that a strike is the best way to get what we are looking for. “In my opinion they should have maintained the strike for longer, they had to make themselves felt and fight until they achieved their goal,” said Luis Eduardo Acosta, a resident of Valledupar.

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