In a new escalation of tension around protests against the rise in fuel prices that have been going on for ten days in Ecuador, the country’s authorities said this Wednesday (22) that 18 police officers were missing since an attack allegedly carried out by indigenous people against military installations in Puyo, 260 km from Quito.
In addition to raising awareness of the disappearances, Interior Minister Patricio Carrillo said that the episode of violence left six police officers injured by “bullets and with serious trauma”. According to the government, the protesters had set fire to patrol vehicles with police still inside, vandalized police facilities in the city center and set fire to bank units.
The accusations came a day after emphatic statements by the country’s Armed Forces, which has a history of overthrowing presidents after indigenous mobilizations. On Tuesday (21), Defense Minister Luis Lara said the acts put Ecuador’s democracy at “serious risk”.
The leader of the largest indigenous organization in Ecuador, Leônidas Iza, in turn, had conditioned the end of the state of exception that governs six provinces in the country as a condition for dialogues to take place between protesters and representatives of the Executive.
Faced with the accusations that came to light this Wednesday, the Ecuadorian government refused, once again, to revoke the state of exception. The measure empowers the president to mobilize the Armed Forces to maintain internal order, suspend citizens’ rights and decree a curfew.
The Alliance of Human Rights Organizations says two people have died amid the crackdown since the protests began. It also claims that at least 90 civilians were injured and 55 were taken away by the police as of Tuesday. The government said at least 63 protesters were injured and 21 were detained as of Sunday (19).
The mobilizations are largely led by the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities (Conaie), which also participated in the waves of protests that led to the fall of three presidents between 1997 and 2005. capital Quito.
In addition to gasoline prices, protesters protest against the renegotiation of rural workers’ debts with banks and against unemployment and the granting of mining licenses on indigenous lands.
The price of a gallon of diesel in the country rose 90%, reaching US$ 1.90 (R$ 9.75), and that of gasoline, 46%, reaching US$ 2.55 (R$ 13) in one year. . Since last October, the values ​​have been frozen after popular pressure, but Conaie claims they reach US$ 1.50 and US$ 2.10, respectively.​
Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso accused the indigenous movement of wanting the end of his government, which began in May last year. “We have been asking for dialogue, but they seek chaos, they want to remove the president,” said the president.
