Ecuador military calls Indigenous protests a 'grave threat'

Ecuador military calls Indigenous protests a 'grave threat'

The powerful Indigenous grouping Conaie has called nationwide protests as Ecuadorans increasingly struggle to make ends meet
The powerful Indigenous grouping Conaie has called nationwide protests as Ecuadorans increasingly struggle to make ends meet. Photo: Veronica LOMBEIDA / AFP
Source: AFP

PAY ATTENTION: Follow Briefly News on Twitter and never miss the hottest topics! Find us at @brieflyza!

Thousands of Ecuadorans took to the streets Tuesday for a ninth day of Indigenous-led fuel price protests, as the military vowed to defend the country's democracy against what it called a "grave threat."

Called by the powerful Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (Conaie), the demonstrations have seen roads barricaded countrywide, cost the economy tens of millions of dollars and left dozens injured.

"Ecuador's democracy faces a grave threat from the concerted actions of... people who are preventing the free movement of the majority of Ecuadorans," Defense Minister Luis Lara told a press conference, flanked by the heads of the army, navy and air force.

Indigenous people comprise more than a million of Ecuador's 17.7 million inhabitants
Indigenous people comprise more than a million of Ecuador's 17.7 million inhabitants. Photo: Veronica LOMBEIDA / AFP
Source: AFP

The armed forces, he warned, "will not allow attempts to break the constitutional order or any action against democracy and the laws of the republic."

Read also

Malians march for state protection after massacre

PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see Briefly News on your News Feed!

Conaie -- credited with helping topple three presidents between 1997 and 2005 -- called the demonstrations as Ecuadorans increasingly struggle to make ends meet.

Indigenous people comprise more than a million of Ecuador's 17.7 million inhabitants and wield much political clout, but are disproportionately affected by rising inflation, unemployment and poverty exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.

10 Demands

Thousands of protesters entered Quito from the south and north on Monday, on foot and on the backs of trucks, to reinforce protesters in the capital, where they burnt tires and tree branches in the streets -- and were back out in the streets on Tuesday morning.

At least some in the crowd, many wielding sticks and others draped in the Ecuadoran flag, or carrying children in their arms, said the president's ouster was precisely what they sought.

Read also

Rwanda to host Commonwealth talks after migrants, rights row

"We are the people and we will stay here until the end," Victor Taday, a 50-year-old Indigenous resident of Quito originally from Chimborazo province, told AFP Monday night -- as similar marches took place in other parts of the country.

It was time for Lasso to "go away," he said.

Fuel prices have risen sharply since 2020, almost doubling for diesel from $1 to $1.90 per gallon and rising from $1.75 to $2.55 for gasoline.

The Ecuadoran Indigenous group Conaie is demanding a price cut to $1.50 a gallon for diesel and $2.10 for gasoline
The Ecuadoran Indigenous group Conaie is demanding a price cut to $1.50 a gallon for diesel and $2.10 for gasoline. Photo: Veronica LOMBEIDA / AFP
Source: AFP

Conaie is demanding a price cut to $1.50 a gallon for diesel and $2.10 for gasoline.

It also wants jobs, food price controls and a commitment to renegotiating the personal bank loans of about four million families.

The movement has since been joined by students, workers and other Ecuadorans also feeling the economic pinch.

Police said Monday 63 armed forces personnel have been wounded in clashes and 21 others briefly held hostage since the protests began, while human rights observers reported 79 arrests and 55 civilians wounded.

Read also

Francia Marquez, first Black Colombian elected vice president

President Guillermo Lasso extended a state of emergency to cover six of the country's 24 provinces, with a night-time curfew in the capital Quito, as he sought to curtail the countrywide show of anger.

The state of emergency empowers Lasso to mobilize the armed forces to maintain order, suspend civil rights and declare curfews.

Conaie has vowed to maintain its blockade until the government meets 10 demands.

'They seek chaos'

Demonstrations have seen roads barricaded across Ecuador, cost the economy tens of millions of dollars and left dozens injured
Demonstrations have seen roads barricaded across Ecuador, cost the economy tens of millions of dollars and left dozens injured. Photo: Cristina Vega RHOR / AFP
Source: AFP

The president, a former banker in power since May 2021, said in a video on Twitter Monday that the protesters "do not want peace" and have rejected government calls for dialogue.

"They seek chaos. They want to eject the president," he charged.

Ecuador's parliament Monday evening voted 81 to 56 in favor of a resolution demanding the government conduct a "serious, clear and honest" dialogue with the protesters.

It proposed the convening of a "round table" of talks including the UN, Red Cross, universities and the powerful Catholic Church to find a solution to the stalemate.

PAY ATTENTION: check out news exactly for YOU ➡️ find "Recommended for you" block and enjoy!

Source: AFP

Authors:
AFP avatar

AFP AFP text, photo, graphic, audio or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP news material may not be stored in whole or in part in a computer or otherwise except for personal and non-commercial use. AFP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP news material or in transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages whatsoever. As a newswire service, AFP does not obtain releases from subjects, individuals, groups or entities contained in its photographs, videos, graphics or quoted in its texts. Further, no clearance is obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP material. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP material.