Protests turn violent as Ecuador recoils from austerity measures
ECUADOREAN protesters held a national strike and clashed with security forces yesterday after Lenín Moreno, the president, refused to step down or overturn austerity measures that triggered the worst unrest in a decade.
Roads were empty of traffic as businesses closed early in Quito, the capital, and other cities, in Latin America’s latest flare-up over unpopular reforms. Tear gas was used to break up a mob near the presidential palace in Quito.
Violent demonstrations erupted in the Andean nation of 17 million people a week ago, when Mr Moreno cut fuel subsidies as part of measures in line with a $4.2billion (£3.4billion) International Monetary Fund loan.
“What the government has done is reward the big banks, the capitalists, and punish poor Ecuadoreans,” said Mesías Tatamuez, the head of the Workers’ United Front umbrella union.
The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE), the main indigenous group, which has mobilised some 6,000 members to Quito from outlying areas, said Mr Moreno’s government was behaving like a “military dictatorship” by declaring a state of emergency and setting a curfew.
For days, protesters have been marching and barricading roads with burning tyres. Masked youths have hurled stones at security forces, who have responded with tear gas and water cannon.
“Our flag is red, like the blood of the working class!” chanted marchers in Quito, where anti-moreno and antiIMF graffiti-covered walls. “Moreno out!” and “Police murderers!” some shouted.
Authorities have arrested nearly 700 people in a week of unrest and dozens of police officers have been injured.
Mr Moreno has relocated his government to Guayaquil, where there has been less unrest than in Quito. He defied calls to quit, adding: “I don’t see why I should if I’m making the right decisions,” arguing that Ecuador’s large debt and fiscal deficit necessitated belt-tightening reforms.