The farmers suspend the tractor protest and observe several minutes of silence

Although hundreds of them were already gathered in Madrid’s Plaza de Colón, the agrarian organizations calling for the October 28 Demonstration have decided to suspend their protests out of respect for those affected by the railway accident that occurred this very morning. 

"ASAJA, COAG and Unión de Uniones, out of respect and solidarity with the victims of the very serious train accident that occurred today, call off the tractor protest planned for today and postpone their demands actions for later. We express our sincerest condolences to the families of the deceased people and wish the injured a speedy recovery", they said in a brief statement.

The protesters, who since the news broke, were informed by the farmers and ranchers traveling from Andalusia to Madrid, have decided to hold five minutes of silence in Plaza de Colón for the victims of the unfortunate train crash. Hundreds of farmers and ranchers from various parts of Spain had gone there. 

"Today is a terrible day", said the general secretary of COAG, Andrés Góngora, "it is a heartbreaking day. We all have the misfortune in our heads. Spain is in mourning and we farmers are Spain. In a moment of mourning, what remains is to stand in solidarity with all the affected people and demand that these misfortunes cannot happen. But the problems continue and so does the unity of action. The mobilizations are postponed, not called off", he stated. For his part, the president of ASAJA, Pedro Barato, asked for the cooperation of the protesters to keep order in Madrid today and promised to "keep working for the countryside".

The five demands claimed by farmers and ranchers are concentrated in the following demands:

• A shock plan against production costs, with a professional agricultural diesel fuel now. 
• A strong CAP that protects the income of farmers and ranchers. 
• Fair prices and an Enforcement of the Chain Law that is complied with. 
• No to unfair competition from the trade agreements with Mercosur and Morocco.
• Less paperwork and fewer rules, so they can dedicate themselves to work.