The Confederation of Indigenous Nations of Ecuador, which took part in the overthrow of three presidents of the country between 1997 and 2005, has agreed to hold a first dialogue with the government of President Guillermo Lasso, told AFP on Friday (September 24). leader, Leonidas Iza.
“We have confirmed in writing that we will participate in the dialogue with the national government,” Leonidas Iza said.
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President Lasso summoned the representatives of Conaie for a first meeting on October 4, he said.
This will be the first political dialogue between indigenous representatives and the right-wing president, who took office last May for a four-year term.
Ecuador's largest indigenous organization will maintain its call for the repeal of the 2020 presidential decrees allowing monthly fuel price hikes.
"It is impossible for fuel prices to continue to rise,"
Leonidas Iza criticized in a public speech, saying "this
is the first issue to be discussed with the government"
.
Fuel prices up 40%
The price of a gallon (3.78 liters) of regular gasoline rose 40% in August to $ 2.28.
For his part, President Lasso has already warned that he did not intend to change his fuel price policy.
In 2019, the natives led protests against rising fuel prices, which killed 11.
They also display their hostility to mining, which has taken on an industrial dimension since 2019.
"They are already exploiting minerals, we want to strengthen the productive capacities of people who live in mining areas"
, commented Leonidas Iza in this regard. .
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The other subjects of negotiations with the government will be the revision of the prices of products from the peasantry, the credits of the financial system and the policies of labor flexibility.
Indigenous people represent 7.4% of Ecuador's population, according to the 2010 census, while anthropological studies indicate that 25% of the country's 17.5 million inhabitants are indigenous, according to the indigenous leader and former candidate for the presidency Yaku Pérez.
