Coffee farmers strike across Colombia

Feb 27

Web Only

Coffee farmers strike across Colombia

Solidarity online with coffee workers demanding government support against falling prices.

Hundreds of farmers and indigenous people participate in a demonstration in Bolombolo town, Antioquia department, Colombia, 25 February 2013. EPA/LUIS EDUARDO NORIEGA

An estimated 30,000 coffee growers are on strike in Colombia to demand increased government support for the struggling crop. There have been reports of clashes with police and use of tear gas to subdue the protesters.

The government announced Wednesday that it will negotiate with farmers only if they first stop blocking roads in protest. President Juan Manuel Santos initially called the strike "inconvenient, unnecessary [and] unfair" in a televised speech defending government support for the coffee industry. But farmers say the government's subsidies are not enough to compensate for falling prices and this year's poor harvest.

Last year saw the lowest coffee crop in decades. The country has grown to rely on foreign imports to meet demand at home.

Netizens tweeted photos and videos of the protests across the country:

View the story "Coffee farmers strike across Colombia" on StorifyCoffee farmers strike across ColombiaSolidarity online with coffee workers demanding government support against falling prices.Storified by The Stream· Wed, Feb 27 2013 11:23:48Oporapa Digital. Paro cafetero. 25 de Febrero 2013. Parte IOPORAPADIGITALHermosa foto d campesinos e indígenas unidos, cruzando el puente sobre el Cauca en justo e histórico #ParoCafetero http://pic.twitter.com/Iyz4cDbkIVJorge SalgadoAllegations of police violence against the protesters led to criticism online. Ernesto tweets, "It's a lack of respect that this government will respond to the protests of farmers with force". Es una falta de respeto que este gobierno le responda a las peticiones de los campesinos con garrote #ColombiaDiceCafeterosTienenRazónErnesto JaramilloOthers were more creative with their criticism. This image reads, "Mr. President, your coffee is served"."@RomanAlqamari: #ColombiaDiceCafeterosTienenRazón señor presidente, ya está servido su café! http://pic.twitter.com/HZ9ztkN0eq"Manuela Arbelaez Juan jokes, "Coffee, with the scent of tear gas and the taste of repression!"Café, con Aroma a Lacrimógenos y sabor a represion! #ParoCafeteroJuan Ja. ValderramaOthers had doubts about the protesters' tactics, particularly blocking roads in protest. Byron Garcia tweeted, "By blocking the roads in Cauca for the sake of the coffee strike, a pregnant woman was unable to reach the hospital. Unfortunately, she died." Por bloqueo de vías en el Cauca debido al #ParoCafetero, una mujer embarazada no alcanzó a llegar a un hospital. Lamentablemente murió. Byron García"I support the coffee workers in the coffee strike, but it's important to be peaceful. No to the road blocks".Apoyo a los cafilcultores con #ParoCafetero pero es importante que sea pacífico y sin vias de hecho. No al bloqueos de las vias.Indignados Colombia"I support the coffee strike to some extent, but I do not support vandalism and the attack on drivers caught in the strike".Yo apoyo el #paroCafetero hasta cierto punto, pero no apoyo el vandalismo y el ataque hacia los conductores atrapados en medio del paro.Luis CalderónOne netizen addressed growing concern in his city about shortages. Juan Carlos tweeted, "Big lines in coffee shops in Popayan City by threat of a shortage of coffee and cafe con leche". Grandes colas en cafeterías de @popayancity por amenaza de escasez de tinto y cafe con leche. #parocafeteroJuan Carlos GranadaCoffee farmers say that production costs now outweigh their profits. Sergio Fernandez tweets in support, "Producing a load of coffee costs 650,000 and is selling for 500,000 pesos. Our coffee growers are broken. Long live the strike".Producir una carga de café cuesta 650.000 y se está vendiendo a 500.000 pesos. Nuestros cafeteros están quebrados. Viva el #ParoCafeteroSergio FernandezNicholas also tweets in defence of the strike, saying: "They are coffee workers, not beggars. Don't even think about stopping the strike because when they do, the government will stop caring about them. Let's all support the coffee strike".Son cafeteros no limosneros ni se les ocurra acabar el paro cuando lo hagan el Gbno dejara de ponerles cuidado apoyemos todos #parocafetero.Nicholas FrasserSupporters of the farmers are also using the hashtag #ColombiaDiceCafeterosTienenRazon, 'Colombia says coffee farmers are right', to discuss the strike. imagen para transmitir mensaje a cafeteros. Y al pais #ColombiaDiceCafeterosTienenRazón #ParoCafetero http://pic.twitter.com/HA8qverbcvK&C. SAMY ヅ#ColombiaSaysCoffeeFarmersAreRight because the crisis is deep and the government has not supported them as they should. That is what forced the strike. #ColombiaDiceCafeterosTienenRazón porque la crisis es muy profunda y el gobierno no los respalda como es debido.Lo que los obligó al paroJorge RobledoA major point of contention is Colombia's importation of coffee beans in a country that was once the world's largest producer of the crop. Sergio tweets, "Of every three cups of coffee that we drink, two are imported. The coffee workers' strike is as just as it is necessary, long live the strike!" De cada tres tazas de café que nos tomamos, dos son importadas. Es tan justo como necesario el #ParoCafetero ¡VIVA EL PARO CAFETERO!Sergio FernandezMany netizens commented on the discrepancy between the Colombian government's negotiations with Marxist rebel group FARC and the president's initial dismissal of the strike. "The government won't engage in dialogue with the coffee farmers while they are on strike. And they hold dialogue with terrorists despite their criminal acts."#ParoCafetero Gobierno no dialoga con caficultores mientras estén en Paro. Y dialoga con terroristas a pesar de sus actos criminales.Ernesto Macías TovarErika Salamanca writes, "Mr. President, the coffee farmers respectfully asked me to deliver this message": The sign reads, "I am a coffee grower, not a cocaine grower. We plant coffee, not land mines. We create jobs, we don't kill them. We pay taxes, we don't avoid them. I'm a countryman, not a delinquent. And Mr. President, with whom are you holding dialogue?". Sr Presidente @JuanManSantos, los campesinos cafeteros respetuosamente me piden hacerle llegar este mensaje ---->RT http://pic.twitter.com/stgjxdCRJvErika Salamanca