Despite the Ecuadorian government, the country’s largest indigenous organization closed this Saturday (18) highways in the three provinces where President Guillermo Lasso imposed a curfew to control sixday demonstrations against his management and the fuel price.
Despite the emergency decree, protests continue in Pichincha, where the country’s capital Quito is located, and in neighboring Imbabura and Cotopaxi, as well as 11 other provinces in the country. According to the government, 14 of Ecuador’s 24 states had roadblocks as of Saturday morning.
The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities (Conaie) is leading the protests to cut fuel prices after the value of a gallon of diesel plummeted 90% to US$1.90 (R$9.79) and 46% regular petrol (now at 2. US$55 or R$13.14) between May 2020 and October 2021. Since last year, the company has proposed lowering prices to US$1.50 and US$2.10, respectively.
According to authorities and indigenous organizations, at least 83 people have been injured and 40 arrested during the demonstrations, which also included student marches in Quito. In addition to fuel prices, demonstrators are protesting the renegotiation of farm workers’ debts with the banks, unemployment and the granting of mining licenses on indigenous land.
The state of emergency imposed in the hardesthit provinces of Pichincha, Cotopaxi and Imbabura is in effect for 30 days. The measure authorizes conservative President Gullermo Lasso to mobilize the armed forces to maintain internal order, suspend civil rights and impose a curfew.
Out there
“I promise to defend our capital and the country,” the president said in a statement broadcast by radio and television on Friday night (17). The curfew is in effect from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. local time. The civil right of assembly was also suspended.
Conaie President Leonidas Iza responded in the early hours of Saturday: “We vaguely confirm the fight at the national level,” he said. Conaie participated in social uprisings that deposed three heads of state between 1997 and 2005. In October 2019, the entity led violent antigovernment riots in Quito that lasted more than a week and left 11 dead and more than a thousand injured.
The protests have also impacted flower exports, a key economic activity in the country. “To date, 75% of flower growers across Ecuador have been unable to deliver their shipments. The roads are still blocked despite the state of emergency that some members want to lift,” the exporters union said on Twitter.
Under the pressure, Lasso, who has been in power for a year, also announced an increase in economic aid to lowincome families from US$50 (BRL257) to US$55 (BRL283). In addition, the executive branch ordered forgiveness of up to US$3,000 (R$15,500) in overdue loans granted by the state bank for productive development, and must be paid up to 50% of the price of agricultural urea, an on fertilizer used in the field. to small and mediumsized producers.
Speaking on social media, Iza said the company “celebrates the points where there is progress. Although they are insignificant, they will help something,” he said. According to Conaie, the entity leader’s car was shot at on Saturday. “He [Iza] it is good. We are warning of the state of emergency and the government’s bellicose stance,” the group said on Twitter. Authorities declined to comment.
In 2021, poverty in Ecuador reached 27.7% of the population and extreme poverty reached 10.5%. Rural areas are most vulnerable.