Quito ( Associated Press) – Ecuador on Wednesday released indigenous leader Leonidas Iza, the hero of a national strike against President Guillermo Lasso’s government, in exchange for alternative measures, and in July prosecuted him for an alleged offense of paralyzing public service Will go other charge..
Iza, the top leader of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities, was arrested on Tuesday morning after police said they had held her on charges of vandalism caused by the excesses and aggression of protesters. Subsequently, prosecutors reported that it was prosecuting them for obstructing public service, among other charges. A large part of Ecuador’s north-central is blocked by protests called by Iza indefinitely, demanding a reduction in fuel prices and a fixation of the prices of agricultural products.
Iza told the press on the same Wednesday that “we uphold our right to protest and we ask our grassroots organizations to refrain from any violence, any confrontation, this march is for our rights.” , this resistance is demanding the rights which are enshrined in the Constitution, rights have been violated.” He assured that he had been kidnapped, not detained, and violence perpetrated by the authorities by the government of President Guillermo Lasso.
On his Twitter account, the president confirmed that “we have doors open for dialogue, but we will not allow violent groups that want to enforce their rules” and then pointed out that the protest agendas of various social groups are “legitimate”. , but they cannot be based on deception and seek violence. Now we need to work together for Ecuador.”
At night, the government’s minister, Francisco Jiménez, told the media that the government reiterated its openness to dialogue and that some institutions, which it did not wish to be identified, have offered to mediate in the crisis, awaiting an invitation from the government. Still working. To sit down for an open dialogue.
At the end of the afternoon, some 250 people protested peacefully towards the historic center of the capital, before which the police remained on alert.
A few hours ago, the Interior Minister, Patricio Carrillo, highlighted in a press conference that 63 incidents of road blockades and demonstrations have been recorded across the country. Similarly, seven police officers are kidnapped by indigenous people, 20 detainees are being tried and at least 15 police vehicles are destroyed and a large number of private vehicles are damaged.
Shortly after his release, Iza told his supporters that “no one has come forward to defy the law. We have gone only because hunger and injustice have occupied our homes, while my, you.” Poor people like our families, peoples and nationalities, popular regions have been barred from rising cost of living; they say we are sabotaging and perpetrating terrorism.
Dozens of trucks accompanied by hundreds of demonstrators are entering the south of the capital, the start of two weeks of violence in October 2019 that came close to the overthrow of then-president Lenin Moreno (2017-2021), which he sought to eliminate. was needed. Increase in the price of gasoline. At the time, the state allocated some $3,000 million to keep fuel prices low, which were under pressure from an international rise in oil prices.
During Guillermo Lasso’s government, gasoline prices rose from $1.4 per gallon to $2.55. Indigenous people ask that this drop to two dollars per gallon.
During Wednesday morning, student processions were recorded in Quito, whose roads are almost closed.
Since the beginning of the week, indigenous peoples and farmers have violently broken into agricultural farms in the country’s Andean center to force their workers to join a strike, while they block several stretches of the Pan-American Highway. and other days at least a dozen provinces.
The UN office in Ecuador called for peace, seeking ways to de-escalate and negotiate, while in a statement called on officials to respect the right to social protest and due process. He also urged the protesters to exercise this right peacefully.
