Quito, Jun 20, 2022 (AFP) – Ecuador’s conservative president, Guillermo Lasso, said this Monday (20) that the indigenous movement, which has been holding up anti-government protests for a week, wants to oust him from power.
“We reach out, we call for dialogue, but they don’t want peace, they’re looking for chaos, they want to overthrow the president,” Lasso said in a video posted on his Twitter account.
The opposition Confederation of Indigenous Peoples (Conaie), which participated in protests that led to the removal of three presidents between 1997 and 2005, has been promoting marches in various cities for a week and blocking roads to demand the Executive cut its price. fuels.
“I’m here, I’m not going to run away, but I’m here to protect each of your families, especially the poorest,” Lasso added.
A presidential source told AFP that Lasso, a former right-wing banker who came to power last year, is staying at the executive headquarters, Carondelet Palace, where he lives.
In October 2019, Conaie also spearheaded anti-government protests that lasted almost two weeks and left 11 dead and more than 1,000 injured.
In this event, the Parliament building in the capital was occupied, the Office of the Court of Accounts was set on fire, and public and private property was damaged. The president of the time, Lenín Moreno, condemned the coup attempt.
“Democracy or chaos, this is the great war, the war for democracy,” Lasso said in the video showing the riots incited by the protesters.
In the same tweet, the head of state wrote that “I will not let chaos reign” during the demonstrations, where 63 security guards were injured and 21 were detained, according to police.
The Alliance of Human Rights Organizations also reported that 79 detainees and 55 civilians were injured.
In Ecuador, in almost a year, the price of a gallon of diesel rose 90% (to $1.90) and the price of regular gasoline increased 46% (to $2.55). Since last October, prices have froze due to social pressure.
Conaie wants prices to be lowered to $1.50 and $2.10, respectively.
To agree to the conversation, locals ask Lasso to adhere to a 10-point list that includes banning mining concessions in their area.
According to AFP, Aboriginal groups are concentrated at the south entrance of the capital to start a march through the city.
Lasso said he met the demands – he ordered compensation for the poor and farmers – but denounced the protesters’ reaction as “more violence, new threats to attack Quito”.
source: Noticias
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