Ecuador Protests: Guillermo Lasso Lifts State of Emergency After Accusing Indigenous Leader Heading Nationwide Strike of Staging a Coup

Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso has lifted the state of emergency he imposed in six provinces amid the violent Indigenous-led protests in the country.

Lasso lifted the state of emergency on Saturday after lawmakers from the National Assembly heard an opposition petition to remove him from his post, Associated Press reported.

The lifting of the state of emergency was among the demands set by the Confederation of Indigenous nationalities of Ecuador leader Leonidas Iza that the country's government previously declined.

The decision to lift the state of emergency followed an initial meeting between government officials and Ecuador's largest Indigenous organization.

Saturday's meeting was held at the Basilica church in Quito. Iza and other social leaders, along with Ecuador's Minister Francisco Jimenez and Foreign Minister Juan Carlos Holguin, attended the meeting.

"The national government ratifies the willingness to guarantee the creation of spaces for peace, in which Ecuadorians can gradually resume their activities," National Assembly President Virgilio Saquicela said in a statement.

Squicela further noted that there had been no commitment made yet during the first meeting but underscored that the "government has made the corresponding opening."

Colombia Protests: Strike Will Not End Until Demands Are Met, Indigenous Leader Says

Although President Guillermo Lasso has already lifted the state of emergency, Indigenous leader Iza emphasized that the strike and protests would continue if the country's government did not meet the entirety of their demands.

"Instead of making us more afraid, they have raised our rebellion, dignity," Iza noted. However, the leader of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador said demonstrators would rest for the weekend.

He asked that entrances in interprovincial border areas be opened to allow food to pass through and supply Quito, which faces a shortage of farm products.

It can be recalled that Iza earlier demanded low gas prices and the abolishment of the military and police presence in places around Quito, the country's capital. Jimenez previously commented on the demands of Iza, saying it was not the time to voice out greater demands.

Ecuador's Indigenous Leader Is Trying to Stage a Coup, Guillermo Lasso Says

A day before the state of emergency among six provinces was abolished, President Guillermo Lasso said the indigenous leader heading the national strike in the country was trying to stage a coup.

"It is proven that the true intention of the violent (people) is to generate a coup and that is why we call on the international community to warn of this attempt to destabilize democracy in Ecuador," Lasso said in his televised remarks.

The president then noted that he would use "all legal tools" to contain the violence unleashed by the demonstrators.

The protests led by Iza's group started on June 14, demanding to cut gasoline prices, imposed price controls on agricultural products, and a larger budget for the education sector.

Protesters blocking roads in Ecuador's capital have brought the city to a near halt, and people are experiencing food and fuel shortages.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Joshua Summers

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