2024-08-29 19:39:37
This Friday, August 30, the country will be crossed by an extensive network of “peaceful caravans”, organized by the Colombian Association of Truck Drivers (ACC), in response to the recent announcement by the government about the imminent increase in the price of ACPM (diesel).
The immediate cause of this mobilization is the announcement made by the Minister of Finance, Ricardo Bonilla, who confirmed that the price of diesel will increase by $6,000 before the end of 2024, divided into three half-yearly increases of $2,000 each. This measure will be adopted unilaterally, given that negotiations with the transport unions did not reach a successful conclusion.
According to ACC leaders, this increase could have significant consequences for the transportation industry.raising freight prices by between 21% and 30%, a blow that many transporters simply will not be able to bear. “We are talking about the survival of thousands of families who depend on this activity,” said an ACC spokesman.
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The caravans will begin to roll between 6:00 and 9:00 in the morning at various points in the countryfrom major cities to more remote regions. Organizers have stressed that the protest will be peaceful, but with the necessary firmness to make their voices heard. The caravans will travel along the main national roads, inevitably generating an impact on traffic and daily logistics.
As the country awaits the start of these caravans, the question remains whether this movement will make the government reconsider its position, or whether, on the contrary, it will mark the beginning of an escalation of tensions that could lead to a larger crisis.
“We are facing a gap of $6,000 in the price of diesel. Despite attempts to negotiate with the transport unions, we have not reached a consensus. This adjustment is necessary to begin to close the deficit of ACPM in the Fuel Price Stabilization Fund (FEPC),” said Minister Bonilla a few days ago.
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