Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso declared a state of emergency in four of the country’s 24 provinces this Wednesday, with “most acts of violence intensifying” during the 17-day domestic protests, according to the government.
The measure does not include Pichincha, whose capital is Quito and where most of the roughly 14,000 protesters gather. According to the decree issued by the Presidential Communications Secretariat, the measure taken due to “serious internal turmoil” covers Andean Azuay and Imbabura, and Amazon Sucumbíos and Orellana.
The document points out that in these jurisdictions, the safety of citizens as well as the supply of food, medicine, oxygen and fuel for hospital use are threatened. Lasso has established a “safety zone” for oil exploration sites in the Amazon within the framework of the 30-day state of exception.
State-owned Petroecuador today activated a “force majeure” mechanism for some of its crude oil buyers to avoid penalties for non-compliance with shipments. Authorities warned of the risk of stopping all production.
The decree allows the mobilization of soldiers in the streets and suspends the right to free association. It also includes an eight-hour nighttime curfew for Andean states and a 10-hour nighttime curfew for Amazon.
Last Saturday, Lasso lifted the state of emergency in effect in the provinces of Chimborazo, Tungurahua, Cotopaxi, Pichincha, Pastaza and Imbabura amid violent demonstrations.
source: Noticias
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