On June 13, the indigenous movement began blocking highways and in the cities there were protest demonstrations, mainly led by teachers, students and residents of popular neighborhoods under the leadership of UNE [National Union of Educators] and the FRENTE [Popular Front]; little by little the intensity, breadth and combativeness of the struggle has been growing: there are provinces that are paralyzed, in several provincial capitals the demonstrators took over the Governorates, interprovincial transport is paralyzed in most of the country, agricultural entrepreneurs can not get products for export, the production of dozens of oil wells has stopped.
Quito, capital of the Republic, has become the epicenter of the struggle; around 15 thousand indigenous people from various provinces of the mountains and the Amazon have concentrated there, along with them, thousands more have joined the actions of struggle, characterized by their combativeness. Meanwhile, road blockades and city takeovers are continuing in other provinces.
The government's response has been brutal, it decreed a state of emergency in order for the military to participate in the repression together with the Police, which so far has claimed the lives of six popular fighters. The wounded exceed one hundred, as well as those arrested. A final announcement by President Lasso establishes the authorization for the repressive forces to use lethal weapons and he said that they will use all the resources that the law empowers to confront those he has described as "vandals and criminals." Everything indicates that a much more repressive wave is underway.
The indigenous and popular movement has presented a ten-point list, among which is contemplated the reduction of the price of fuels, forgiveness of debts that the peasants are unable to pay, declaration of emergency in the health system, budgets for education, among others, but for the government there are no reasons for protest.
These and other demands have been presented by different popular organizations in the country for months, but the government has not attended to them; that has provoked the protest. The struggling movement has expressed its willingness to dialogue, but the regime's response shows that it has no will to do so.
The International Conference of Marxist-Leninist Parties and Organizations, ICMLPO, expresses its solidarity with the struggle of the workers and peoples of Ecuador, with the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities and Organizations, CONAIE, UNE and other member organizations of the Popular Front; it condemns the violent repression unleashed against this just protest and holds President Guillermo Lasso responsible.
We call on workers around the world to express solidarity with the struggle of the peoples of Ecuador.
Coordinating
Committee, International Conference of Marxist-Leninist
Parties and Organizations ICMLPO
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