Spanish
Guayaquil, Ecuador.- The president of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (Conaie), Marlon Vargas, warned President Daniel Noboa that the protests called after the elimination of the diesel subsidy could radicalize to the point of taking Quito, the capital, if "he does not heed" their demands.
"If the Government doesn't listen, we are going to be convinced to take Quito, comrades. We can't take it anymore. We can't keep enduring this," said the leader of the largest social organization in the country during a meeting with communities held late Friday night in the Andean province of Chimborazo.
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Vargas said that the Government has to remember what happened in 2019 and 2022, when the massive demonstrations led by Conaie reached Quito, which led presidents Lenín Moreno (2017-2021) and Guillermo Lasso (2021-2023) to back down when they also wanted to eliminate state subsidies on fuels to meet the fiscal adjustment goals of the credit programs signed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
"We firmly continue and condemn the arrogant attitude of Daniel Noboa's Government. Enough is enough! Because our patience is running out, Mr. President. Be careful (...) The Conaie and its structures are capable of making decisions. If we have to radicalize, we will radicalize the national strike. And if we have to take over the city of Quito, we will take it and say: 'Quito, light of America'," he added.
After Conaie announced the start of the mobilizations, Noboa decided to temporarily move the headquarters of the Presidency from Quito to the city of Latacunga, in the province of Cotopaxi.
The indigenous movement of that province called for the "takeover of Latacunga", but the Government prevented it by militarizing the city, so the protests have concentrated in Imbabura, in the north of the country, where the president moved the Vice Presidency headquarters.
While the elimination of the diesel subsidy triggered the indigenous protests, Conaie also demands that the value added tax (VAT) be lowered from 15% to 12%, that investment be made in health and education, and that twelve community members detained and prosecuted for terrorism at the beginning of the protests be released.
In addition, it calls for an "absolute reparation" for the family members of the community member Efraín Fuerez, who died last Saturday in the demonstrations in Imbabura, a death that Conaie has classified as "a crime of the State", by pointing out that he was murdered by shots from the military.
"If we don't stand up in the country, who is going to defend us and fight for us? Only the people save the people," Vargas questioned.
The Noboa government has said that, unlike past governments, this time the measure will not be negotiated, as it considers that the diesel subsidy has not benefited the poorest but rather smugglers and illegal mining.
After thirteen days, the demonstrations have left around eighty injured and more than a hundred detainees. Human rights organizations have also denounced 196 rights violations within the framework of the protests.
This Saturday, seven roads in four of the twenty-four provinces that Ecuador has were still closed due to the strike.
