issued by the Ministry of National Education**

Colombia is facing an unprecedented crisis of civic coexistence, where social protests and road blockades have ceased to be exceptions and have become a daily routine. During 2025, the Ombudsman’s Office registered 4,039 conflict events across the national territory, equivalent to an alarming average of 11 incidents per day. This escalation of social violence is not coincidental; it responds to a phenomenon that finds an echo and, at times, encouragement in the discourse and attitude of the current government, transforming dissent into a permanent pressure tool that blurs the boundaries of legality.

The magnitude of these events puts institutional stability and the free movement of Colombians at stake. Guaranteeing the right to protest is a fundamental pillar of democracy, but this right cannot be interpreted as a license for abuse or as a mechanism to paralyze the country’s economic and social life. When authority becomes a spectator or, worse, an accomplice to blockades, a dangerous message of impunity is sent that incites the replication of these violent actions in other regions.

The analysis of recent precedents suggests that the perception that the executive branch validates these tactics has eroded respect for public order. Turning protest into the norm rather than the exception weakens the foundations of representative democracy, as political and social differences must be resolved in the institutions designed for them, not in the streets through force. Legality must prevail over coercion, and the State has an inescapable duty to protect its citizens from coercion and chaos.

It is imperative for the government to send a clear message of respect for the rule of law and authority. The country needs less «induced streamlining» of conflicts and more institutional firmness where differences are handled through legitimate channels. Without a decisive response that balances freedom of expression with the protection of public order, the risk of social disintegration will continue to grow, leaving communities vulnerable and institutions in a state of critical helplessness.