Ecuador’s President Daniel Novoa is in one of the most tense periods of his presidency, with bus drivers’ strikes and angry farmers blocking roads for nearly three weeks.
The protests came after the government increased diesel fuel prices after subsidies were cut last month.
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After 18 days, with no sign of dialogue, one demonstrator has died, scores of protesters and authorities have been injured, and more than 100 people have been arrested.
The military announced a large-scale deployment to the capital on Thursday, saying it would prevent vandalism and destruction of property. As many as 5,000 troops were brought in after dozens of protesters marched in various parts of the city earlier in the day.
The demonstrations called by CONAIE, Ecuador’s largest indigenous organization, are expected to take place nationwide, but the worst impact has been felt in the country’s north, particularly in Imbabura province, where Noboa won an April election with 52% of the vote.
Faris Simon, a law professor at the University of San Francisco in Quito, said that on the one hand, there is “a president who believes that if he wins an election he will have all the power at his disposal, who has authoritarian tendencies and is not in the mood for dialogue.”
On the other side, he said, is an “indigenous sector that is uncompromising and seeking co-governance by force.”
Tensions escalated on Tuesday when demonstrators attacked Novoa’s convoy with rocks. The regime condemned this as an assassination attempt.
But indigenous group CONAIE rejected that claim. The government insists that the protests are peaceful and that it is responding with force.
What led to the demonstration?
The protest was organized by CONAIE (an acronym that stands for Confederation of Indigenous Peoples of Ecuador).
The group mobilized its supporters after Novoa announced on September 12 that diesel subsidies would be abolished.
Diesel is essential to Ecuador’s agriculture, fishing, and transportation sectors, where many indigenous people work. The measure raised the price of a gallon of diesel from $1.80 to $2.80, which CONAIE said hit the poor hardest.
The government tried to quell the backlash by offering some benefits, but unions did not participate in the demonstrations. The League rejected the government’s “gift” and called for a general strike.
What are the protests like?
The Federation of Indigenous Peoples is an organized movement that played a central role in the violent uprisings that nearly ousted then-Presidents Lenin Moreno and Guillermo Lasso in 2019 and 2022.
That approach is not always productive, especially when protests turn violent.
Daniel Crespo, a professor of international relations at Quito’s Los Hemisferios University, said the federation’s demands for a return to fuel subsidies, tax cuts and a moratorium on mining were an effort to “impose a political agenda.”
The federation claims it is only trying to give all Ecuadorians a “decent life,” even if that means opposing Noboa’s economic and social policies.
What is Novoa’s policy?
Novoa is a 37-year-old, politically conservative billionaire and heir to a banana fortune. He began his second term in May amid continued high levels of violence.
One of the measures he has taken is to increase the value-added tax rate from 12% to 15%, arguing that extra funds are needed to fight crime. He also fired thousands of government employees and reorganized the executive branch.
The president has chosen a coercive approach to effectuating these changes and has rejected calls for dialogue. “The law awaits those who choose violence. Those who behave like criminals will be treated as criminals,” he said.
What was the aftermath?
Last week, a protester was killed and soldiers were captured on video attacking a man who tried to help him.
These images, along with generally aggressive actions by security forces confronting demonstrators, have fueled anger from organizations in Ecuador and abroad, prompting criticism of the excessive use of force.
The attorney general’s office said it was investigating the protester’s death.
Experts have warned that if the protests, which have so far been mainly local, reach cities, especially the capital, the situation could become even more violent, with disgruntled civilians taking to the streets to confront demonstrators.
Mr. Crespo and Mr. Simon agreed that some political party, perhaps the Catholic Church or a civil society organization, needs to intervene and bring the various sides into dialogue.
