The president of Ecuador has declared a state of emergency in three provinces due to demonstrations organized by indigenous groups to demand lower fuel prices. President Guillermo Lasso said the capital, Quito, was under a state of emergency.
The president announced on television that a state of emergency would be declared in the states of Pichincha (Quito metropolitan region), Embapura and Cotopaxi.
The anti-government demonstrations since they began last Monday have turned into violent clashes between activists and riot police on several occasions. At least 43 people were injured and 36 people were arrested.
Ecuador is facing rising inflation, unemployment and poverty, which have increased during the coronavirus pandemic. Since 2020, fuel prices have risen sharply, almost doubling in the case of diesel.
Since the indigenous Ecuadoreans began the proceedings, students, workers, and others have joined in. Protesters blocked major highways in the South American country, including roads in and around Quito. The activists said they will continue until their demands are met.
Kony, an influential coalition of indigenous groups that has called for protest, is demanding, among other things, that the government lower fuel prices. President Lasso should also step in to keep the cost of food down. Talks about this with the government have so far not resulted in any breakthrough.
By declaring a state of emergency, the lasso gains more powers, for example, summoning the army and imposing a curfew. On Friday, he announced, among other things, that monthly benefits for the poorest people in Ecuador would be slightly increased to smooth things over.
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