Ecuador: indigenous people consider “insufficient” reduction in fuel prices and do not lift the national strike

The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (Conaie)considered this Monday “insufficient” the drop of ten cents in the price of fuels that are already frozen, announced on Sunday by the head of state, William Lasso.

In a message to the nation, lasso He explained that the price of Extra and Eco País gasoline, with 85 octane, will drop from 2.55 to 2.45 dollars per gallon (3.7 liters), while diesel will be reduced from 1.90 to 1.80 dollars. per gallon

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The lowering of the cost was one of the main demands of the Conaiewhich on June 13 began a mobilization that has been characterized by roadblocks, blockades of roads, which has caused supply problems in certain sectors, and in which violent acts have been recorded, such as the burning of police units and damage to law enforcement vehicles, among others.

The official did not mention the price of Super 92-octane gasoline, the only one that has a liberalized price and that currently costs around 4.50 dollars per gallon.

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Conaie considers that Lasso’s announcement is “insufficient, without guarantee and that it does not sympathize with the situation of poverty faced by millions of families.”

“This decision is not enough, it is insensitive”reiterated in a statement in which he noted that, however, The announcement shows that “the struggle” of the indigenous movement and other social sectors “is bearing fruit.”

The indigenous movement demands compliance with a list of ten demands, including to reduce and freeze fuel prices, that the prices of basic necessities are controlled, that state companies are not privatized and that oil and mining activities in the Amazon are not expanded.

In its statement, the Conaie indicated that there is “an achievement in five” points of its list of demands, and pointed out that They will analyze the basis of “the effective way to participate in technical and efficient spaces for dialogue” for unresolved issues.

“Our fight does not stop and neither does the right to resistance and the protest is still valid,” said Conaie recalling that five people have died in the framework of the demonstrations, whose death “will not go unpunished.”

For this reason, he advanced that they will promote “all instances at the national and international level to achieve justice and comprehensive reparation in their favor.”

CATERING

Conaie called on its bases to guarantee the access and circulation of medical supplies and basic necessities, Well, it has been denounced that due to roadblocks there are supply problems and, specifically, in the south of the country they reported problems for the passage of vehicles with oxygen for health homes.

Lasso denounced on Sunday the attack with explosives on a humanitarian convoy in the south of the country.

“You cannot play with the lives of Ecuadorians. The lack of oxygen for hospitals in Cuenca is critical”, he said in relation to the city located in the southern Andes of the country.

He noted that “in Molleturo, the humanitarian convoy that was going to Cuenca was attacked with explosives. Vandals!! they cannot put the lives of citizens at risk. I call for peace,” she exclaimed.

The Ministry of Health indicated in a statement that the closure of access roads to the Andean city of Cuenca, especially in the Molleturo area, “is directly affecting the supply of oxygen to hospitals and health centers.”

This Monday began the third week of protests with the closure of some roads and the blocking of roadsas in the entrance to the north of the Ecuadorian capital.

Source: Elcomercio

Ronald Payne

I, Ronald Payne, am a journalist and author who dedicated his life to telling the stories that need to be said. I have over 7 years of experience as a reporter and editor, covering everything from politics to business to crime.