2019 Ecuadorian protests

The 2019 Ecuadorian protests are an ongoing series of protests and riots against the end of fuel subsidies and austerity measures by President of Ecuador Lenín Moreno and his administration.

2019 Ecuadorian protests
Part of the global anti-austerity movement
2019 Ecuadorian protests - 9 October clashes.jpg
Date3 October 2019 – 13 October 2019
Location
Caused byAusterity measures
Neoliberal economic policies
Goals
MethodsProtest marches, picketing, strikes, civil disobedience, riots
Resulted inAusterity measures reversed[1]
Parties to the civil conflict

Moreno opponents

Lead figures

Lenín Moreno Administration

Casualties
InjuriesTwo dozen police officers injured
Detained570 (Oct 8)

The protests began on 3 October 2019, as taxi, bus and truck drivers came out in protest against the planned fuel subsidy abolition. Indigenous peoples groups joined the protests shortly thereafter, along with university students and labour unions. The protesters declared their plan to hold an indefinite general strike, which would last until the government overturned its decision.[2]

President Moreno declared a state of emergency on October 4, 2019, amid nationwide protests against a hike in fuel prices. The protests had weakened the country's transport network with all major roads and bridges blocked in the capital Quito.[3]

Shortly thereafter, President Lenín Moreno refused to discuss a potential reversal of the fuel plans and called protesting crowds as "criminals".[4]

On 8 October 2019, President Moreno said his government had relocated to the coastal city of Guayaquil after anti-government protesters had overrun the capital Quito. On the same day, President Moreno accused his predecessor Rafael Correa of creating a coup against the government with the help of Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro, a charge which Correa denied.[5][6]

During the late-night hours of 13 October, the Ecuadorian government and CONAIE reached an agreement during a televised negotiation.[1][7] Both parties agreed to collaborate on new economic measures to combat overspending and debt. The austerity measures were reversed.

2019 Ecuadorian Protests Media

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Ecuador deal cancels austerity plan, ends indigenous protest. 14 October 2019. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/ecuador-indigenous-president-open-talks-over-protests/2019/10/13/f3c5b25c-ee17-11e9-bb7e-d2026ee0c199_story.html. Retrieved 14 October 2019. 
  2. "Ecuador declares state of emergency as fuel protests block roads". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2019-10-09.
  3. Ecuador protests: State of emergency declared as fuel subsidies end
  4. (in en-GB) Hundreds arrested as Ecuador protests turn violent. 2019-10-05. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-49942390. Retrieved 2019-10-09. 
  5. Ecuador moves government out of capital as violent protests rage
  6. Ex-Ecuador president Correa denies planning coup attempt from exile[dead link]
  7. Arnold, Chris (14 October 2019). "Ecuador Reaches Fuel Subsidy Deal To End Violent Protests". NPR.org. Retrieved 2019-10-14.