Quito, Jun 27, 2022 (AFP) – Indigenous leaders and the Ecuadorian government met this Monday (27) to discuss the end of massive protests against high living costs that have completed two weeks.
At a second meeting, members of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities (Conaie) and Minister of Government Francisco Jiménez spoke at the National Vote Basilica in Quito.
Leonidas Iza, president of Conaie, said at the beginning of the meeting, which was posted on social networks, that the idea was that “somehow we can have a policy that can benefit the poor more”.
Around 30 representatives from various organizations, including the Church and the Office of the Ombudsman, surround the dialogue table.
“We indigenous peoples are really humiliated,” said Iza, the leader of the protests.
In Ecuador, about 14,000 people are protesting with a range of demands, chiefly the lowering of fuel prices in agricultural areas, which makes freight more expensive and hurts producers.
The indigenous movement and the government held the first behind-the-scenes dialogue on Saturday, with no details released. Conservative President Guillermo Lasso did not participate in either case.
Meanwhile, Parliament has been discussing since Saturday the possibility of impeaching the president, who some are thought to be responsible for the “serious political crisis and internal unrest” the country is experiencing.
Cornered by the demonstrations and Congress, Lasso partially bowed to some of the points raised by the locals.
The blockage of roads and the seizure of more than 1,100 wells puts the country’s main export, oil, at risk. According to the government, Ecuador could halt production within 24 hours if the protests continue.
source: Noticias
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