(MENAFN- Gulf Times)
Indigenous protesters demanding cheaper fuel in Ecuador defied a state of emergency yesterday, pressing on with road blockages now in their sixth day.
A day after President Guillermo Lasso announced the restrictive measures in a bid to end the sometimes violent demonstrations, police said Indigenous people kept up protests in most of the country's 24 provinces, including three where the president declared the state of emergency. One includes the capital, Quito.
Oil producer Ecuador has been hit by rising inflation, unemployment and poverty exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.
Fuel prices have risen sharply since 2020, almost doubling for diesel from $1 to $1.90 per gallon (3.8 litres) and rising from $1.75 to $2.55 for petrol.
Demonstrators from the country's Indigenous community — which makes up over a million of Ecuador's 17.7mn inhabitants — launched an open-ended anti-government protest this week that has since been joined by students, workers and others.
The demonstrations have blocked roads across the country, including highways leading into the capital Quito.
Talks with the president failed to end the demonstrations.
Clashes with security forces during the protests have left at least 83 people injured, and 40 have been arrested. In response, Lasso's decree empowers him to mobilise the armed forces to maintain order, suspend civil rights and declare curfews.
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