Ecuador: President declares state of emergency, protest continues
A protester tries to fend off a tear gas canister during clashes with riot police during a protest against President Guillermo Lasso's economic and environmental policies, in Quito, Ecuador June 16, 2022. REUTERS - JOHANNA ALARCON
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (Conaie), the country's largest organization of indigenous peoples, has said the movement will continue until its demands are heard.
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After demonstrations enamelled with violence
, the Ecuadorian president,
Guillermo Lasso
, declared a state of emergency on Friday evening in three provinces, including that of the capital.
“
I am committed to defending our capital and defending the country.
This forces me to declare a state of emergency in Pichincha, Imbabura and Cotopaxi
,” he said in a televised address.
Thus, the president has the power to mobilize the army to ensure the maintenance of order, to restrict the rights of citizens or to set up a curfew.
For nearly a week now, people across the country have been mobilizing against the Conservative government's economic policy.
Since Monday,
many roads have been blocked
in more than half of the country and clashes with security forces have left at least 43 injured.
37 people were arrested.
“
We ratify the fight at the national level, indefinitely
”
The establishment of the state of emergency did not, however, dampen the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador.
She still demands, in particular, a drop in the price of fuels or the control of food prices.
“
We ratify the fight at the national level, indefinitely
”, launched Leonidas Iza, the head of this organization.
And to add while calling for an end to violence and vandalism: “
From now on, we are preparing the mobilization
” of the natives in Quito to maintain the protests.
For his part, the Head of State deplored the lack of discussions.
“
I called for dialogue and the response was more violence.
There is no intention to look for solutions
,” he said.
In this country, hit hard by inflation, unemployment and poverty, the price of fuel has exploded in recent months, thus crystallizing the anger of the population.
Since 2020, the liter of diesel has gone from 1 to 1.90 dollars and gasoline from 1.75 to 2.55 dollars.
(With AFP)
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Ecuador
Guillermo Lasso