Protests in Ecuador: Hundreds of indigenous people arrived in the capital

Continuing to defy the state of emergency declared by Conservative President Guillermo Lasso, hundreds of indigenous people entered Quito, the capital of Ecuador, on Sunday, almost a week after mass protests against economic and political government began.

The natives entered the city by truck, car, or on foot, despite the state of emergency declared by the head of state in three provinces, including the one where the capital is located.

Mr. Lasso decided to impose the measure in his – so far unsuccessful – attempt to end the demonstrations, which have been marked by violent incidents, roadblocks, police arrests and serious problems for the oil industry and for the producers of flowers, a major export. product of Ecuador.

Other protesters are moving towards the city, a Reuters news agency reporter said.

The Confederation of Indigenous Peoples of Ecuador (CONAIE) is leading the mobilization that began last Monday with ten demands, in particular to reduce fuel prices, to restructure loans taken by farmers and to curb the expansion of industries, of mines in the country.

Mr Lasso, while rejecting the request to reduce diesel and petrol prices, said he wanted dialogue and announced some measures to help the most vulnerable social groups, in particular the fertilizer subsidy, an increase in the health budget and Indigenous community education and arrangements for red loans of up to $ 3,000.

The protest movement, while acknowledging that the measures announced by the president will offer some relief, argues that they do not solve the huge economic problems of a large part of the population.

“We have come to resist the neoliberal policy that is affecting the poor more and more,” said CONAIE President Leonidas Isa on social media.

Ecuador is plagued by inflation, unemployment and poverty, problems that have been exacerbated since it was hit by the new coronavirus pandemic. In December, poverty affected 27.7% of the population, extreme poverty 10.5%. Rural areas in the provinces are the most vulnerable.

The Ministry of Production estimated that the protests had caused $ 50 million in damage to the private sector by Friday, while the public oil company Petroecuador said it had a large lost revenue, as it was hindering the production of 27,700 barrels of crude per day.

The government deployed hundreds of security forces in Quito to demonstrate its strength.

Police have announced yesterday that they have assigned the House of Culture, the indigenous center in the capital, which would be transformed into a basis for business control to deal with demonstrations.

He asserted that his confession had been obtained through torture and that his confession had been obtained through torture.

On Friday night, President Lasso said he was “committed” to “defending the capital and the country.” 08:00 on Saturday, Greek time), he said during his extraordinary televised sermon.

The measure allows the head of state to develop the armed forces to enforce order, to suspend the constitutional rights of citizens, to impose a curfew.

Dozens of people have been injured in the protests and dozens have also been arrested.

The House of Culture has theaters, cinemas, a museum and a library. He had welcomed thousands of natives in 2019, to the demonstrations with a request and then to reduce fuel prices, but which were marred by violent incidents with 11 dead and more than 1,000 injured.

“The police and the military have entered the building, which is under siege,” said Fernando Seron, the organisation’s president. dictatorship”.

CONAIE, which starred in the 2019 protests and also took part in popular uprisings that toppled three presidents from 1997 to 2005, has made it clear that it intends to continue mobilizing until its demands are met.

The protest movement, in which students and workers have joined, has blocked Quito’s two main markets and highways across the country.

SOURCE: AMPE