Ecuador: Police Arrest Indigenous Group Leader Leonidas Iza for Protesting Over Fuel Prices

Police in Ecuador arrested Indigenous group leader Leonidas Iza after a day of protests calling for lower fuel prices.

BBC News reported that Iza had been detained near the capital, Quito. He is a member of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities Ecuador.

Police did not specify what charges Iza faces. Authorities added that the Indigenous group leader is awaiting a hearing.

The Indigenous group, CONAIE, confirmed Iza's arrest and condemned it as "arbitrary and illegal," and that it called for a "radicalization" of the demonstrations in response.

Highways across the country were blocked with piles of burning tires, trees, and mounds of earth to cut off access to Quito.

Protesters demand the reduction of the cost of fuel, as well as enforcing price caps on agricultural goods.

Ecuador is currently facing rising levels of inflation, unemployment, and poverty. The cost of diesel has almost doubled while the price of petrol has also increased sharply since 2020.

Indigenous Group Leader Arrested

France 24 News reported that Iza was arrested in Pastocalle, which has been a flash point of protests for CONAIE against rising fuel prices and living costs.

President Guillermo Lasso warned on Sunday that the government would not allow roads for Ecuador's oil installations to be taken over by protesters.

Lasso froze prices at the level last October after a round of protests that was led by CONAIE that saw dozens of arrests and several people injured in clashes, including the police.

CONAIE wants the fuel price lowered to $1.50 per gallon for diesel and $2.10 for gasoline.

The group is said to have been instrumental in the ousting of three other presidents between 1997 and 2005.

Lasso was under pressure for increasing the price of gas even before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has led to higher fuel prices worldwide.

Indigenous Group Protest

Iza called on the president during a protest to respond to the people on the most urgent, necessary, and painful issues. He also called on Lasso not to allow the International Monetary Fund to "impose" policy.

Indigenous leaders claimed that the government is not listening to their concerns and have therefore decided to restart demonstrations, according to an Aljazeera News report.

Another member of CONAIE, Manuel Cocha, said that the demonstrations would continue "until the government listens to us."

Cocha noted that the policies of Lasso's government are hitting the Indigenous group again by causing an increase in food costs in the last few months.

Ecuador's president said on social media that his administration will not allow the "interruption of roads and highways."

He added that with blockades in place, the country's effort for economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic will be affected.

Lasso tweeted on Monday morning that they will not allow the country to be paralyzed.

In response to the protests, interior minister Patricio Carrillo and Ecuadorian police said that they would maintain "public order."

Police commander Fausto Salinas noted that roads leading to the capital were currently blocked, urging protesters to lift the blockades.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Indigenous groups in Ecuador block roads to protest economic policies - from FRANCE 24 English