Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso said on Monday that the indigenous movement, which has been leading anti-government protests for a week, wants the “ hunt of power and decided to extend the state of emergency to three new provinces.
“ We reached out, we called for dialogue, but they don’t want peace, they seek chaos, they want the president kicked out “said Guillermo Lasso in a video posted on his Twitter account. The video released by the Ecuadorian president shows images of protesters engaging in street violence. “ Democracy or chaos, that’s the big battle added the conservative president.
¡El Ecuador elige la democracia, nunca el caos!
Como Presidente busco siempre el diálogo, pero no voy a permitir que afecte a quienes desean trabajar. Estoy aquí para cumplir con los compromisos que tengo con el país y defender la capital. pic.twitter.com/dMHa1od8zx
— Guillermo Lasso (@LassoGuillermo) June 20, 2022
Later in the day, the former banker elected a year ago decided to extend emergency state from three to six provinces, out of the 24 in the country, due to violence with the police. The measure taken on Saturday for the provinces of Pichincha (whose capital is Quito), Cotopaxi and Imbabura, has been extended to those of Chimborazo, Tungurahua and Pastaza, the government said through its communications secretariat. “ This decision preserves the well-being of citizens in the face of violence. At the same time, the rights of those who demonstrate peacefully are protected “, is it added.
The state of emergency allows the president to mobilize the armed forces to maintain order, to suspend the rights of citizens or to institute curfews. Sixty-three police officers have been injured since the start of the protests, according to an official report, while a local human rights organization reported 79 arrests for 55 injured civilians.
Soaring gasoline prices
The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities (Conaie), which participated in the revolts that overthrew three presidents between 1997 and 2005, has been organizing marches and barricades for a week in several cities of the country and around the capital Quito, to demand a drop in prices. fuel. The price of a gallon of diesel has increased by 90% (to $1.90) and that of gasoline by 46% (to $2.55) in almost a year. Prices have been frozen since last October, but Conaie is asking for a drop to $1.50 and $2.10 respectively.
Hundreds of natives are concentrated around one of the two entrances south of the capital, in the locality of Cutuglagua, in view of a march towards the city center. Trucks block the road there, as well as barricades of tires, where the crowd chants slogans such as ” Out Lasso, out ! “.
Before any negotiation, the natives demand that Mr. Lasso respond to a dozen demands, including the prohibition of mining concessions on their territories.
►Also read: Ecuador: “We will remain mobilized for as long as it takes”
(With AFP)