Around 300 merchants and transporters from Ipiales took the routes of entry to that city. About 500 meters from the Rumichaca international bridge and on the avenue that goes to Pasto, from 04:00 this Monday, December 14, 2020.
The protesters demand the immediate opening of the binational viaduct (Rumichaca) for free movement and Ecuadorian buyers enter the neighboring country.
The Ipiales Chamber of Commerce points out that the largest niche clients of the more than 8,000 businesses in the border town come from several Ecuadorian cities and use various services.
Iván Duque, president of Colombia, ordered the closure of land and sea borders with neighboring countries in the presence of COVID – 19, whose measure economically affects the border’s commerce and public transport sector. The border closure has been in force for 172 days.
According to Omar Benavides, leader of the small merchants, sales decreased by 80%, confirming their dependence on consumers in Ecuador, who in December were between 10 and 12 thousand daily, where they take advantage of the difference in currencies.
In addition, the manager said that they require soft loans for this sector and warned that without the presence of President Duque or a representative with decision-making power, they will not abandon the measure in fact.
International freight transport has stopped operating because they could not enter the warehouses and warehouses of the Colombian city from Ecuador.
For the leader of the Carchi Heavy Transport Association, Patricio Rodríguez, the concern is because the crew and owners of the trucks will have to wait until the measure is lifted, which represents more costs.
Now the transportation service to the interior of Colombia has been suspended due to the blockade. Benavides confirmed that more motorists and business owners will join in the afternoon and evening of this Monday.
A formal act that was announced by the armies of Ecuador and Colombia in Rumichaca, where the new commanders of the 23rd Brigade and Cabal Group, in Nariño (Colombia), would present themselves, was canceled on Monday afternoon. An official statement confirmed that the military delegations from Pasto were unable to reach the border due to the demonstrations in neighboring Colombia.
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