Protests Cripple Ecuador

Since Monday, June 13, the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities CONAIE has called various productive sectors for an indefinite national strike against the Government's policies. The indigenous movement demands a reduction in fuel prices, attention to the problem of unemployment, regulation of the prices of farm products and a tougher law enforcement against crime and national insecurity, among other points of concern.

On June 15, the Principal Leader of CONAIE, Leonidas Iza, was arrested and charged with the crime of paralyzing public services.  Although he was released a few hours later, this action by the Government has generated greater impetus for the closure of highways in the province of Cotopaxi, Pichincha and Imbabura and rebuked the demonstrators to radicalize the protests.

After 8 days of national strike, the violence generated by the progressive use of force by the national police has left high numbers of injured and hundreds of acts of human rights violations throughout the country as well as arrests and injured people along with the destruction of public property.

The Government has ordered that the security forces detain the demonstrators using progressive force, and declared the provinces of Pichincha, Imbabura and Cotopaxi in a state of exception which restricts free transit and allows the authorities to implement the use "progressive force" to "neutralize violent actions.”

As evidenced, the paralysis will take much longer than expected until the Government meets the demands of CONAIE.  This is a delicate moment for the country, since actions were expected to stabilize the economy after the economic and social crisis of the pandemic, but rather economic policies were applied that affected the economic situation of Ecuadorians much more, being the most affected minority groups.

Here is an article on the crisis: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/ecuador-protest-capital-guillermo-lasso-b2106558.html

Due to the current social crisis, the Project in Cayambe and its beneficiaries have been directly affected since supplies and food have been scarce since the free movement and distribution of basic food are not possible.  Many of our beneficiary families of our programs are also standing in the midst of this social struggle, which triggers other factors such as the abandonment of livestock, losing income from the sale of their livestock or agricultural products, and putting the safety of their families at risk, but it is important to understand that their slogan is "these are sacrifices in the fight for our rights."

At present we have not been able to carry out the technical visits normally due to the lack of mobilization and the fact that the people of the communities with which we work are active participants in the mobilizations.  As a Ministry we feel identified, we support and stand in solidarity with the indigenous people in their struggles, which is also our struggle in favor of the most vulnerable. For this reason, we are working to assist them with humanitarian aid with professionals to carry out psychological accompaniment and support for women, children and adolescents; medical assistance, first aid, provision with essential food kits, biosafety kits, among others.

We ask for your prayers for our country so that a sincere dialogue can take place and so that the rights of the most vulnerable are guaranteed, so that there is peace and a good agreement between the government and the indigenous leaders, and for the militants whose purpose is that there is social justice for their family and the nation become a truth.