More than 30 killed within week of Colombian protests against tax reform

Over 30 people have been killed in a week in Colombia during the protests that began over a proposal to raise taxes on poorer people and cut some exemptions.

Bogota: At least 31 people have died, 1,220 more have been injured and 87 have gone missing within a week of protests in Colombia, the Institute for Development and Peace Studies said.

"31 people have been killed between April 28 and May 4, more than three cases are to be confirmed," the institute said on late Wednesday (May 5).

According to the institute, the protests left 1,220 protesters injured, with 18 of them having sustained eye traumas. In nine cases, police officers resorted to sexual harassment toward women.

The largest number of fatalities - 24 ones - has been registered in the western city of Cali.

The rallies in Colombia against an increase in gas prices and utility bills as part of state-proposed tax reform have been underway since last week.

Even though President Ivan Duque called the reform off on Sunday (May 2), protesters have continued to protest, calling for a nationwide strike on May 5.

In addition to the cancellation of the tax reform, labor and student organizations, are now demanding a review of the sanitary emergency and health care reform, the dissolution of the Esmad riot police, demilitarization of cities and punishing those responsible for killing protesters.