President Lenin Moreno gave up his decision to raise the price of gas that sparked popular anger.
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After twelve days of a mobilization that paralyzed the country and four hours of negotiations, the Ecuadorian Indians won Sunday night. President Lenin Moreno has indeed agreed to withdraw Decree 883, which, removing public subsidies to fuels, had caused a rise in the price of diesel at the pump more than 100% and popular anger. Quito immediately exploded with joy.
The head of state had proposed Friday "A direct dialogue" to try to put an end to the crisis. The leaders of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (Conaie) demanded on Saturday that the dialogue be "Public". Held under the aegis of the United Nations and the Episcopal Conference, it was broadcast on Sunday, live on television, and followed as a football match.
"The united people will never be defeated! "
The parties agreed to "To concoct a new decree canceling the 883", announced the UN official Arnaud Peral. The President of Conaie, Jaime Vargas, immediately ordered his comrades to raise roadblocks that blocked roads all over the country. Classes were to resume Monday, economic activity and oil production too.
At the announcement of the government concession, jubilation erupted around the House of Culture, in the center of Quito, where Indians from all over the country had set up their headquarters. The streets of the capital, deserted since the introduction, Saturday afternoon, of a general curfew, then resuscitated in a few moments. The sound of the fireworks fired in the cool night replaced that of the tear gas bombs which resonated a few hours earlier. Indians chanted the traditional Latin American slogan: "The united people will never be defeated! "
"Thank you our brothers"shouted the demonstrators who broke on foot, in cars, in trucks. All waved Ecuadorian flags. The horns sounded happily: " I am so happyexplained in her soft voice Maria, felt hat on her head. We have won and we can return home with dignity ". Between 7,000 and 10,000 Indians occupied the capital.
Unpublished acts of vandalism
"Reason and common sense have won and we are happy, welcomed in the city of Cuenca, the Indian leader Yaku Perez. But we are sad too because we do not forget our dead. " According to the Defensoria del Pueblo, the public body responsible for ensuring respect for human rights, seven people were killed and more than a thousand were wounded in clashes with police.
