Leaders hold first talks amid protests
QUITO - Ecuador’s government and indigenous leaders met on Saturday for the first formal talks since mass protests began two weeks ago, and President Guillermo Lasso eased security measures.
The demonstrations, which broke out on June 13 fuelled by indigenous calls for lower fuel and food prices, among other demands, have led to at least six civilian deaths and multiple attacks on security forces.
The protests have worsened Lasso’s adversarial relationship with the national assembly, where lawmakers have blocked his major economic proposals as he has struggled to contain rising violence he blames on drug gangs.
The assembly on Saturday evening was set to meet to debate Mr Lasso’s removal from office at the request of some opposition lawmakers, though the group does not appear to have the votes it would need to approve such a measure.
After the talks on Saturday, Mr Lasso ended a state of exception in six provinces, as requested by indigenous leaders.
“The government reiterated its willingness to guarantee the creation of spaces for peace,” Mr Lasso’s press office said in a statement.
The government’s legal representative Fabian Pozo told the National
Assembly the country was gradually returning to normal and the government had listened to the protesters legitimate demands.
This week the government also announced subsidised fertilisers, debt forgiveness and budget increases for health and education, but formal talks between the administration and protesters, led by indigenous group CONAIE, had been stalled for days even as confrontations at marches continued.
“We as the assembly have asked ... for tensions to be lowered, for fewer confrontations while a solution is found,” the legislature head Virgilio Saquicela told journalists.