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A nearly three-week strike by angry farmers and bus drivers blocking roads in response to the government raising diesel fuel prices has thrust Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa into one of the most tense moments of his presidency.
With no sign of negotiations after 18 days, one protester was killed, several protesters and officers were injured, and more than 100 people were arrested.
Even though Ecuador’s largest demonstrations have been called for indigenous The organization is believed to be nationwide, with the most intense impact being in the northern part of the country, particularly in Imbabura province, where Noboa won the April election with 52% of the vote.
On one side there is “a president who believes he has all the power after winning the election, who has authoritarian tendencies and no disposition for negotiation,” and on the other side “there is an indigenous region that has shown itself to be uncompromising and is seeking to co-govern through force,” said Farith Simon, a law professor at Universidad San Francisco. Quito,
the protesters On Tuesday, Noboa’s convoy was attacked with stones, further escalating tensions as authorities termed it an attempt to murder.
The indigenous organization rejected that claim and insisted that its protests were peaceful and that it was the government that was responding with force.
What was the reason for the demonstrations?
The organizer of the protests, the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador, mobilized its people on September 12 after Noboa ordered an end to diesel subsidies. diesel Important for the agriculture, fishing and transportation sectors where many indigenous people work. The move increased the price of a gallon of diesel from $1.80 to $2.80, which he says hit the poor the hardest.
The government tried to quell the protests by making some concessions and the unions did not join the demonstration. The confederation rejected the government’s “gifts” and called for a general strike.
How is the protest?
The Indigenous Confederation is a structured movement that played a central role in the violent uprisings in 2019 and 2022 that nearly ousted then-presidents Lenin Moreno and Guillermo Lasso.
Its methods are not always seen as productive, especially when protests turn violent.
Daniel Crespo, an international relations professor at the Universidad de los Hemisferios in Quito, said the confederation’s demands to return fuel subsidies, cut taxes and halt mining are “imposing its political agenda.”
The confederation says it is trying to fight for a “decent life” for all Ecuadorians and against Noboa’s economic and social policies.
What are Noboa’s policies?
Noboa is a 37-year-old, politically conservative millionaire who is heir to a banana fortune. He began his second term in May amid high levels of violence. This has shaped his discourse to focus on doing things that previous administrations avoided because the political costs were too high.
One of those steps is to increase the value-added tax rate from 12% to 15%, arguing that the additional money is needed to fight crime. He has also fired thousands of government employees and reorganized the executive branch.
The President has taken a hardline approach to making these changes and has rejected calls for negotiations. He says, “Those who choose violence, the law awaits them. Those who behave like criminals will be treated like criminals.”
What was the result?
Last week a protester died and soldiers were caught on video attacking a man who tried to help him. The images, along with the generally aggressive actions of security forces confronting protesters, have fueled anger and criticism of the excessive use of force by organizations within Ecuador and abroad. The Attorney General’s Office said it is investigating the protester’s death.
Experts have warned that the situation could become more violent if the protests, which have largely been taking place in rural areas, reach cities, especially the capital, where frustrated citizens could take to the streets to confront protesters.
Someone needs to intervene and lead the parties to dialogue, perhaps the Catholic Church or a civil society organization, Crespo and Simon agreed.