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Protests against the government of Guillermo Lasso, from Ecuador, complete 11 days

National protests against the government of Guillermo Lasso, president of Ecuador, complete 11 days. They are led by the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities (Conaie). Among the requirements are the reduction of fuel prices, a solution to the problem of unemployment, regulation of prices of agricultural products, the fight against crime, among other demands.

On June 18, Lasso declared a state of exception in three provinces of the Andean country, in an attempt to calm the protesters. The decree includes the mobilization of various institutions, the implementation of coordinated operations between the Police and the Armed Forces, limitation of crowds, a curfew that restricts freedom of movement from 10 pm to 5 am (local time) in the Metropolitan District of Quito. .

The president’s announcement was accompanied by a list of decisions on economic issues in order to alleviate what he called “the plight of many families.” These include increasing the human development bonus from $50 to $55; declare the public health system in an emergency situation; double the budget for intercultural education and subsidize up to 50% of the price of urea fertilizer for small and medium producers.

Other measures include credit forgiveness, not raising the price of diesel, gasoline and extra gasoline and not promoting the privatization of public services and strategic sectors.

According to estimates by representatives of the productive sectors, losses from the first eight days of the demonstration already reach US$ 110 million, including export operations and jobs affected. The flow of products within the country, such as food, for example, was also impacted.

At least four deaths have been recorded so far, and police have been captured during the strike.

The General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (OAS) ordered the government to promote dialogue to address the demands of the indigenous community, with an immediate response. However, the OAS also expressed concern about the coup discourses that are taking place in some parts of the country.

Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso posted a message to Ecuadorians on his social media saying that “17 million Ecuadorians want peace” and that “some violent people want to hijack democracy”.

“I appreciate the support of all those who seek the common good and peace. Those days were decisive for the country. Seeing Ecuadorians stand up for democracy, their jobs and their families shows us that #EcuadorWantPeace,” she wrote.

What is Conaie?

Founded in 1986, Conaie is an indigenous organization formed by “the nationalities, peoples, communities, nuclei and indigenous associations of Ecuador” and is “the result of a continuous struggle”, according to its website.

In total, 53 organizations, 18 peoples and 15 indigenous nationalities of Ecuador are part of Conaie, which is divided into three regional units: the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of the Ecuadorian Amazon (Confeniae), the Confederation of the Peoples of the Kichwa Nationality of Ecuador (Ecuarunari ) and the Confederation of Nationalities and Indigenous Peoples of the Ecuadorian Coast (Conaice).

The organization was created at a congress of the National Council for the Coordination of Indigenous Nationalities (Conacnie), in 1980, and among its main objectives are: to consolidate the indigenous peoples and nationalities of the country; fight for the defense of lands, indigenous territories and natural resources; strengthening intercultural bilingual education; fight against colonialism and neocolonialism; and achieve equality and justice for indigenous peoples and nationalities.

Source: CNN Brasil

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