“What Mr. Leonidas Iza is looking for is to overthrow the government, what Mr. Iza wants is to overthrow democracy“, expressed the president in an interview transmitted by social networks.
Iza, president of the powerful Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (Conaie), led protests in October against rising fuel prices, which left 37 arrested and eight police officers injured.
The indigenous movement asks to lower the price of the American gallon (3.78 liters) of diesel to 1.50 dollars and of common gasoline to 2.10 dollars, something that Lasso has already said he will not do.
The conservative ruler last year decreed increases of up to 12%, taking diesel from 1.69 to 1.90 dollars and gasoline from 2.50 to 2.55 dollars. Since 2020 the value of fuels in Ecuador has progressively increased by 90%.
“We have to be clear that there is an enemy of Ecuadorian democracy who is Leonidas Iza, he is a violent man,” said Lasso, who on other occasions has called the leader of Ecuador’s main indigenous organization an “anarchist.”
Iza, for his part, has described the ruler who assumed power on May 24, 2021 as a “fascist”.
Conaie participated in riots that overthrew three presidents between 1997 and 2005. It was also at the forefront of the violent demonstrations in 2019 that left eleven dead and forced the government of the then president, Lenin Moreno (2017-2021), to reverse their decision to eliminate millionaire fuel subsidies, which was tied to commitments with the IMF.
Social organizations and indigenous sectors have announced protests in mid-January to demand the reduction of fuels.
When asked if he will continue talking with Conaie, Lasso -who took office in May- questioned: “What good is the dialogue? We have already had two meetings here, in Carondelet (headquarters of the national government), we have talked, we have reached agreements and when (Iza) comes down (to give statements to the press) he says there are no agreements. “
The indigenous also demand the cessation of the exploitation of natural resources in the areas where they live.
Source From: Ambito
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