Dialogue begins in Ecuador between the Government and the indigenous people amid claims

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The dialogue between the Government of Ecuador and the indigenous people to address the unsatisfied demands that led to 18 days of protests last June began this Wednesday with the claim for the recent statements by the president, Guillermo Lasso, on the financing of the demonstrations.

Several ministers and indigenous representatives began the dialogue by dealing with issues related to the targeting of fuel subsidies and the moratorium on debts, contemplated in the framework of the “Peace Agreement”, which put an end to the June protests.

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In welcoming the meeting, the Government Minister, Francisco Jiménez, highlighted the Government’s desire for dialogue and search for solutions, having arranged for the presence of ministers at the different thematic tables that, in total, will revolve around ten axes.

FINANCING OF PROTESTS

The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities (Conaie), the main convener of the protests, has called Lasso’s accusations “absurd” in the sense that the recent protest against the cost of living allegedly had financing from drug trafficking.

At the opening of the meeting this Wednesday, Leonidas Iza, president of Conaie, said that “the disqualifications of the President of the Republic” put the path that has been started at risk.

“We cannot accept that we continue to be accused of paying US$8 to each demonstrator, and in this case resources from drug trafficking,” Iza claimed, while Eustaquio Tuala, another of the indigenous leaders, also called for respect and dialogue “with truth, transparency and decision”.

Iza ratified that they arrive with the decision “to be able to move forward at the dialogue table, but if they continue to insist on disqualifications, on trying to impose a truth on what does not exist, we will be forced, in this case also, to take a position,” he warned.

In his intervention, the president of the Conaie considered it “important” that the Government invite the special rapporteur of the Permanent Forum of Indigenous Peoples to the dialogue process, since the UN has indicated that they require an official request.

JUDICIAL PROCESSES

“We come here with humility, but we cannot be humiliated, we do say that with absolute respect,” Iza commented, recalling that on June 30, when the “Peace Agreement” was signed, there was “a process of criminalizing 156 companions.”

“At this moment we have 416 criminalized brothers throughout the country,” he said, presuming that the processes have begun “surely incited by the National Government’s role.”

On July 6, the Prosecutor’s Office indicated that until then it had opened 369 preliminary investigations and 34 fiscal instructions in the context of the mobilizations.

Among the cases investigated are the paralysis of a public service, damage to another’s property, robbery, attack or resistance, kidnapping, terrorism, injuries, intimidation, rebellion, sabotage, extortion, crimes against water, subversive groups, reception, violation of private property, among others.

In the demonstrations, which were characterized by roadblocks, there were also violent acts such as the attack on two Army convoys, in one of which a soldier was killed, as well as damage to public and private property.

In total, six people died and half a thousand were injured in the protests, including protesters and members of the security forces.

TEN THEMATIC TABLES

They arrive at the dialogue tables with initial advances after the Government agreed to reduce the cost of subsidized fuels since July 1 and repeal the decree that promoted oil activity.

With this, the frozen price of 85-octane gasoline and diesel was reduced by 15 cents, so that now they cost US$2.40 and US$1.75, respectively, per gallon (3.78 liters).

In addition to the tables for targeting fuels, and public and private banking, those for Productive Development, Employment and Labor Rights, Energy and Natural Resources, Collective Rights and Higher Education will later be formed.

Likewise, those of Price Control, Access to Health, and Security, Justice and Rights.