Dozens of people have been injured in violent protests in Ecuador. Monday was the eighth consecutive day of demonstrations against high fuel prices in the capital Quito. President Guillermo Lasso extended the state of emergency from three to six provinces.
This allows the president to deploy the military and temporarily suspend certain civil rights. Lasso has imposed a curfew in Quito. The background to these measures is the protests against high fuel prices. On Monday, most of the protesters arrived on foot, on motorcycles and trucks from the southern Cutuglagua neighborhood of central Quito. About a hundred of them came from the north. The people carried Ecuadorian flags, poles and shields made of wood and metal.
roadblocks
In recent days, indigenous peoples, who make up more than a million of the population, have also protested with roadblocks. Violent clashes broke out in the suburbs, in which dozens of people were injured. The indigenous organization Conaie, which already led demonstrations in 2019, called for resistance. Eleven people died at that time. Meanwhile, students, workers and members of other groups particularly hard hit by the economic crisis have also joined the protest.
High inflation and unemployment
The oil-producing country suffers from high inflation, unemployment and poverty. The corona pandemic has further exacerbated the problems. For example, fuel prices have risen sharply since 2020, causing protests as early as 2021. Eleven people were killed and more than 1,000 injured. In total, the South American country has more than 17.7 million inhabitants.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
