The release was confirmed by Conaie herself through Twitter: “Leónidas Iza Salazar free! After 24 hours of illegal detention and due to social pressure Within the framework of the #NationalParo, the judge orders his immediate release. The mobilization continues with the 10 issues raised, thanks to all the signs of solidarity. Long live the social struggle”.
The indigenous leader had been arrested in the province of Cotopaxi, accused in flagrante delicto of having promoted disorders that caused damage and difficulties to the population.
After a long day of agitation, in which Iza was transferred from Cotopaxi to Quito, and then to Latacunga, Judge Paola Bedon established that there had been a crime and the prosecution requested alternative measures to preventive detention, for which he was released.
In a message to his followers, Iza declared that for him he did not commit any crime, but that it was an ambush. “We have not defied the law, we have not carried out sabotage or terrorist actions, as we have been accused“.
“We took to the streets to protest against the hunger suffered by the people. If the government doesn’t want there to be protests, then let it solve the problems of Ecuadorians. Let’s stay united, the fight continues,” said the indigenous leader.
Last October, President Guillermo Lasso – a former right-wing banker who has been in power for a year – raised the price of fuel in Ecuador before freezing it. The measure fueled the discontent of the native peoples, who make up at least one million of the 17.7 million Ecuadorians.
Conaie, which has held several unsuccessful dialogues with the government, demands that prices be reduced to 1.50 dollars for a gallon of 3.78 liters of diesel and 2.10 for 85-octane gasoline.
Between May 2020 and October 2021, fuel prices were reviewed monthly, so diesel almost doubled (from 1 to 1.90 dollars) and common gasoline rose 46% (from 1.75 to 2 .55).
Source: Ambito
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