The Ecuadorian government declared a state of emergency on Friday (17) to control demonstrations in the country, but despite this the country’s largest indigenous organization closed roads in three Andean provinces on Saturday.
On Friday, President Guillermo Lasso declared states of emergency for 30 days in Pichincha, Cotopaxi and Imbabura, where protests are taking place indefinitely.
2 out of 3 indigenous protesters set up roadblocks in Quito — Photo: Veronica Lombeida/AFP
Indigenous protesters set up roadblocks in Quito Photo: Veronica Lombeida/AFP
Announcing the measure, Lasso said he was committed to defending the capital and the country. The news was spread by radio and television.
This measure suspends civil assembly rights.
The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities (Conaie), the main organization behind the demonstrations, did not end the demonstrations. The president of Conaie, Leonidas Iza, responded to the presidential decree in the early hours of Saturday: “We ratify the struggle at the national level in an indefinite way”.
The demonstrations in the country lasted six days.
Lockdowns were in place in 14 of the country’s 24 provinces as of Saturday morning, according to state security system ECU911.
3 of 3 caravan arrives for demonstrations in Quito on June 15, 2022 — Photo: Veronica Lombeida/ AFP
Caravan arrives for demonstrations in Quito on June 15, 2022 — Photo: Veronica Lombeida/ AFP
According to authorities and indigenous organizations, at least 83 people have been injured and 40 arrested since the protests began.
Conaie reported Saturday that Iza was traveling in a vehicle that was shot.
Conaie was involved in social uprisings that ousted three heads of state between 1997 and 2005 and 2019 last year the organization led antigovernment riots in Quito that lasted more than a week and left 11 dead and more than a thousand injured. .
There have been attempts to broker a dialogue between the protesters and the government, but so far this has not happened.
Church, UNO and universities offered to mediate in the talks.
Gasoline price protests
The protests were triggered by the rise in petrol prices. Prices have been frozen until October 2021. Since then, diesel is up 90% and petrol is up 46%.
Since last year, the company has suggested lowering prices to $1.50 and $2.10, respectively.
Another state of emergency has been in force since April 30 in the coastal provinces of Esmeraldas, Manabí and Guayas due to the increase in drug trafficking and violence. There were protests in Guayas this Saturday.
Lasso has been in power for a year.
On Friday, he announced a series of government measures, such as a $5 increase in the bonus for those living in poverty (they now get $55), a subsidy of up to 50% on the price of urea for small and mediumsized farmers and the Up to $3,000 in delinquency forgiveness granted by the State Bank for Productive Development.
Conaie replied that the main issues were not resolved. However, he said, “We welcome the points where there is progress. Although they are tenuous, they will help in some” sectors most in need.
The protesters are proposing a tenpoint reduction and are demanding that this list be met before sitting down for dialogue with the government.
As of last December, poverty in Ecuador reached 27.7% of the population and extreme poverty 10.5%. Rural areas are most vulnerable.