To the south, where small groups of protesters are concentrated, trunks and smoking tires, as well as rocks, impeded the passage of vehicles.
The indefinite protests, which began on Monday, were called by the powerful and opposition Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities (Conaie), which asks the conservative leader Guillermo Lasso to reduce prices of gas $1.50 for a 3.78-liter diesel gallon and $2.10 for 85-octane gasoline.
Between May 2020 and October 2021, diesel almost doubled its value in Ecuadorgoing from 1 to 1.90 dollars, and extra gasoline rose 46%, climbing from 1.75 to 2.55.
After three days of demonstrations, which have been joined by students and carriers, there is still no light at the end of the tunnel despite the fact that Lasso assured on Wednesday that “we have the doors open to dialogue, but we will not give in to violent groups that seek to impose her rules”.
The leader of the protests and of the Conaie, Leonidas Iza, expressed in turn that the government does not offer guarantees to talk.
In 15 of the 24 provinces of Ecuador there were roadblocks, according to the Integrated Security Service ECU911.
The Conaie participated in revolts that overthrew three presidents between 1997 and 2005. It also carried out strong anti-government protests in 2019 and 2021.
“It’s really in your hands to resolve these points so that you can give the people peace of mind,” Iza declared as she addressed the Lasso.
Since taking office in May 2021, Conaie has held several “unsuccessful” rounds of negotiations with the Executive.
The president is scheduled to meet this Thursday with carriers, who on Wednesday also blocked the southern access to Quito demanding an increase in the cost of freight.
The Conaie presented on Monday before the presidency a statement with ten demands, which include the regulation of the price of agricultural products and the renegotiation of debts that farmers have with banks.
Iza, who was released on Wednesday after 24 hours of arrest, pointed out that the resolution of the aboriginal organizations is to mobilize at the national level and way indefinitewhich is affecting the productive sector and even oil with the stoppage of wells in the Amazon jungle.
The Minister of Production, Julio Prado, indicated that the losses due to the protests amount to 20 million dollars, compared to the 800 million left by the demonstrations for more than a week in 2019.
Source: Ambito
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