The president led an event known as the Great Rally for Peace and Democracy, in which he defended the social goals his government is still fighting for and explained why he signed the decree on the aforementioned participatory exercise today. “It is not true that the referendum and social justice in Colombia are enemies of peace and friends of violence and murderers. Those who propagated that message, as political leaders, are mistaken and are setting the country on fire, generating violence,” he explained.

Petro asserted that his initiative addresses the same demands that have been sought in the rest of the world. “I’m proposing an eight-hour workday. I’m proposing that the day ends when the sun sets. I’m proposing that there be no discrimination between working youth and the rest of the population. How is it that in Colombia there is no pension for farmers?” he demanded.

The president considered that he has done nothing more than fulfill what was presented as a program: reform the pension system to make it universal, the healthcare system so that public funds are not stolen, the labor system so that people have a better life, build social justice, dedicate public funds to education, and try to prevent Colombians from killing each other.

The president emphasized that the referendum elections would take place on August 7th. He also required a minute of silence as a vote in favor of the speedy recovery of Senator and presidential candidate for the Democratic Center Party, Miguel Uribe, who was the victim of an attack last Saturday and remains in critical condition.

Petro announced that he has requested the United States Embassy to have all of its intelligence agencies help investigate who attempted to assassinate the congressman.

The president rejected the idea that the crime was being used by certain sectors as a banner for electoral purposes and announced that he will ask the Attorney General to create an independent United Nations Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the attack, as well as the murders of other political and social leaders throughout the country’s history.

Petro also condemned the wave of attacks that shook the southwest of the country yesterday, which to date has left seven dead and dozens injured. “They wanted to silence Cali, and western Colombia, with terror, with fear. They injured dozens of residents; and citizens of Cali and members of the security forces died,” he denounced.

jrr/llp/jha/ifs