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Government, protesters no closer to 12th day of fuel price revolt

#Government #protesters #closer #12th #day #fuel #price #revolt

The Ecuadorian government and indigenous protesters accused each other of intransigence on Friday as thousands rallied on the 12th day of a fuel price riot that has killed six and injured dozens.

After the campaign’s most violent day yet – during which police fired tear gas to disperse thousands who stormed Congress – the government blamed protesters for avoiding a peaceful outcome.

“You have exposed yourself. You don’t want to negotiate. They don’t want an agreement… They don’t want peace. So far they have only shown that they want violence.” Government Minister Francisco Jimenez told FM Mundo.

An estimated 14,000 protesters are taking part in the mass demonstration of discontent across the country against mounting hardship in an economy hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.

Most of the anger is centered in the capital, Quito, which is home to about 10,000 people, mostly from other parts of the country.

Six of the country’s 24 provinces are under a state of emergency, and Quito is under a nighttime curfew.

The protesters are demanding cuts in already subsidized fuel prices, which have risen sharply in recent months, as well as jobs, food price controls and more public spending on health and education.

– The poorest “suffer most” –

But the action was costly, with losses of about $50 million a day to the economy and production of fuel – Ecuador’s top export – cut in half, according to the Energy Department.

On Thursday, the protesters received a limited concession from President Guillermo Lasso, who gave them access “for the sake of dialogue and peace” to a cultural center representing indigenous struggle that had been seized by police.

Hours later, however, a group of protesters made their way to Congress, where police fired tear gas in response to a barrage of rocks, fireworks and Molotov cocktails.

Three people died in clashes on Thursday, bringing the death toll to six since the movement began on June 13 at the initiative of Ecuador’s powerful Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities (Conaie).

Conaie leader Leonidas Iza told AFP the revolt will continue “until we have results.” We can no longer contain the anger of the people.”

People were desperate, Iza said.

“We expected the President to answer the central questions of the crisis, the poverty that our people are experiencing. The economic issue is one of desperation, which is why we are here,” he said.

“There is a lot of poverty, the rise in fuel prices has increased all prices and we, the poorest, are the ones who suffer the most.”

Conaie is credited with overthrowing three presidents between 1997 and 2005.

Its recent mobilization has brought Quito to a standstill, and many shopkeepers and workers in the capital don’t take a good look at what they see as an invasion — the raising of white anti-protest flags.

“The class struggle has deepened,” Iza replied.

No talks are planned between the government and Conaie.

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