Agreement Between Government and Indigenous Peoples Soothes Ecuadorians

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The population of Ecuador woke up relieved yesterday, October 14th, after 12 days of violent demonstrations caused seven deaths, 1,340 injured and 1,152 arrested, according to the Ecuadorian Public Defender’s Office.

On Sunday night, October 13th, after four hours of talks, President Lenin Moreno and representatives of the indigenous people reached an agreement: Decree 883, which withdrew the fuel subsidy, is revoked and a new decree, jointly agreed with the indigenous peoples, will be drafted in the coming days. The United Nations and the Ecuadorian Episcopal Conference will mediate.

On Twitter, Lenín Moreno said the agreement is “a solution for peace and for the country: the government will replace Decree 883 with a new one that contains measures to focus the resources on those who need them most. Peace is re-established and the coup and impunity are stopped”.

Lenín Moreno ascribed the violence of the acts to sectors linked to former President Rafael Correa, who currently lives in Belgium and is being investigated for alleged campaign financing by the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht, in addition to other crimes. Sectors linked to Venezuelan leader Maduro are also accused of financing the violent protests, with incidents of vandalism that resulted in a fire at the headquarters of the Comptroller General’s Office.

Last week, tens of thousands of indigenous people marched to Quito to protest peacefully. They stayed away from the violent protests, choosing different routes for their marches.

Even after reaching a consensual agreement, the indigenous people insisted that María Paula Romo, government minister, and Oswaldo Jarrín, defense minister, must resign. The president said that all demands will be heard and taken into account.

Celebration on the streets

Following the announcement of the agreement, hundreds of indigenous people celebrated outside the Casa de la Cultura, where they have been housed in recent days, and in the Parque del Arbolito, in a central area of the Ecuadorian capital.

They also held a minute’s silence for those killed in the conflicts and called for a clean-up effort throughout the country. The negotiation was broadcast on television and social media.

The Ministry of Education issued a statement in which it announced that classes will remain suspended throughout Ecuador in the coming days. Lessons were interrupted last Tuesday after the protests intensified.

Source: Agência Brasil