QUITO, Oct 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Indigenous leaders and Ecuador’s president began face-to-face talks after nearly two weeks of violent street
protests over austerity measures instituted to obtain a multi-billion-dollar
loan from the IMF.
As the talks got underway, Jaime Vargas, the head of the indigenous
umbrella grouping CONAIE, called on President Lenin Moreno to dismiss the interior and defense ministers for “excessive violence” during the protests.
The president did not immediately respond to that request, but said he was
willing to review his decision to cut fuel subsidies as part of a deal to
obtain a $4.2 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund — the move that sparked the crisis.
The Sunday talks in the capital Quito — broadcast live on state television — came after 12 days of rolling demonstrations that left six people dead and nearly 2,100 wounded or detained, according to authorities.
Protesters on Saturday targeted a television station and a newspaper, and
set fire to the comptroller general’s office.
Moreno declared a curfew and placed the city under military control to
quell the unrest. On Sunday, police dispersed protesters who tried to erect a
barricade of debris from Saturday’s violence.
An indigenous leader said Sunday that protesters who have converged on
Quito will remain until an agreement is reached on painful reforms such as a doubling of some fuel prices.
“Not just the leaders but the rank and file — and we will stay until there
is a solution,” said Salvador Quishpe of CONAIE.
CONAIE had previously rejected an offer of dialogue but reversed course
Saturday and said the talks would focus on ending the fuel hike.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres “welcomes the announcement of the start of a dialogue process,” spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a
statement.
Guterres called on all groups “to commit to inclusive and meaningful talks,
and to work in good faith towards a peaceful solution,” the statement added.
Ecuador’s indigenous groups make up a quarter of the country’s 17.3 million people. Thousands from disadvantaged communities from across the Amazon and the Andes have traveled to Quito where they are spearheading demands that the subsidies continue. — NNN-AGENCIES
