Ecuador: dialogue continues between protesters and government
Representatives of the Ecuadorian government and the Amerindian organization Conaie met in Quito on June 27, 2022. © AP/Dolores Ochoa
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After two weeks of demonstrations against the high cost of living, the representatives of the indigenous demonstrators held a first direct dialogue with the government on Monday, June 27, without any tangible result so far.
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Leaders of the powerful Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities (Conaie), spearheading the protests, including its leader Leonidas Iza, met for nearly five hours with an official delegation led by Minister of Government Affairs Francisco Jimenez.
The meeting, which should resume this Tuesday at 9 a.m. (2 p.m. UT), is taking place in an annex of the Catholic basilica in the historic center of the capital, in the presence of representatives of the Church and of the Congress.
At his opening, Leonidas Iza called on the government to carry out "
a policy that can benefit the poor more
".
"
We have no problem spending as many days as we want, with our comrades, marching peacefully in the city of Quito and surely in the other cities of Ecuador
", warned once again the head of Conaie during the debates.
concessions from the government
As a sign of willingness to dialogue, the government reduced the price of gasoline and diesel
by 10 cents
on Sunday , but the Amerindians consider this first reduction “
insufficient
” and are asking for a reduction of 40 cents.
With this latest drop, the subsidies reach 13.2% of the general state budget revenue for nearly 3.4 billion dollars, the equivalent of the education or health budget, underlined Mr. Jimenez, calling for the "
search for consensus, [...] without condemning the State to inefficiency or bankruptcy
".
The price of fuel is the main demand of the demonstrators, with a one-year moratorium on the payment of bank debts of peasants.
In a sign of openness, Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso on Saturday ended the state of emergency declared a week earlier in six of the country's 24 provinces most affected by the demonstrations, a condition for protesters to start talks. .
He renewed his call for "
dialogue
" on Sunday evening, warning however "
those who seek chaos, violence and terrorism (that they) will find the full force of the law
".
On Sunday, a peaceful demonstration took place in the historic center of the city of Quito.
Women in the lead, several thousand natives, some carrying spears and shields, marched near the presidency, heavily protected by the police.
Native American protesters near the Basilica of the National Vow in Quito, June 27, 2022. © Dolores Ochoa/AP
Guillermo Lasso under threat of impeachment
Under pressure from protesters on one side, President Lasso, in power since May 2021, is also
threatened with dismissal
by Parliament.
The majority but divided parliamentary opposition blames him for the “
serious political crisis
” that is shaking the country.
Late Sunday evening, the parliamentarians again suspended, after seven hours of discussions by teleconference, their debate opened on Saturday on a possible dismissal.
They must continue this Tuesday from 11 a.m. (4 p.m. UT).
After the debates, the deputies will have 72 hours to vote.
A majority of 92 votes out of 137 is required for the impeachment procedure to pass.
►Also listen: Journal of Haiti and the Americas - Ecuador: "
The departure of Lasso would not represent any solution
"
(With AFP)
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