The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) called for unity, said that it did not participate in the dialogue table with the Government and clarified that the demands of the national strike are national in scope.

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In view of the events in Imbabura, where some indigenous leaders agreed to a dialogue with the government despite the rejection of the bases, the CONAIE emphasized that the national strike continues and ruled out negotiating with the Noboa executive: “We were not summoned to the dialogue table, and although we respect the decision of the province of Imbabura and its structures, we recall that the demands raised are of a national nature.”

In view of the events in Imbabura, where some indigenous leaders agreed to a dialogue with the government despite the rejection of the bases, the CONAIE emphasized that the national strike continues and ruled out negotiating with the Noboa executive: “We were not summoned to the dialogue table, and although we respect the decision of the province of Imbabura and its structures, we recall that the demands raised are of a national nature.”

In this sense, they reaffirmed the organic unity of the indigenous movement of Ecuador and called for calm from the political bases, calling on “communes, communities, peoples and nationalities to remain calm and act under the principles of unity, discipline and respect for our organizational structures.”

Meanwhile, they stated that “the strength of the indigenous movement has always been its organizational fabric, internal cohesion and collective leadership. In the most difficult moments, unity has been our greatest tool to resist and move forward as peoples and nationalities.”

By pointing out that it respects and supports legitimate territorial actions and decisions taken by local structures, always within the framework of our collective principles and mandates, the organization insists on strengthening communication between community governing councils, unions, associations, villages, federations and confederations.

On the other hand, they decided to reorganize the resistance throughout the country and assume as a common objective the campaign for the NO in the Popular Consultation and Referendum, reaffirming that all action must respond to unity in diversity and collective decision.

They argue that the decision was taken at the Expanded Council on October 14. “We reiterate that only with unity and the strength of the organizational fabric from the grassroots to the national structure and vice versa, will we be able to defend our rights and sustain the struggle for a just, plurinational and dignified country,” they said.

The CONAIE said that a FALSE image generated with artificial intelligence is circulating, while denouncing the malicious disinformation campaign that seeks to confuse the country and weaken the struggle of the indigenous movement.

In this sense, they ratified that the president of CONAIE, Marlon Vargas, has not met with the Government or with any official representative.

On the other hand, communicators and journalists warn of the danger of narrating what is happening because the repression is also affecting those who show what the Ecuadorian police are doing. In this sense, journalist Enrique Alcivar stated that the police assaulted him “while he was covering the march of the Social Organizations. Intentionally, he makes me drop my cell phone.”

25 days of national strike

The indigenous communities of Ecuador have been carrying out a national strike for 25 days, where, in addition to rejecting the neoliberal policies of Daniel Noboa, they demand the restitution of the diesel subsidy, quality and free public health, and the return of the value added tax (VAT) to 12 percent, after the president increased it last year to 15 percent.

Another of the premises is that the demonstrators reject the referendum called by the president for November 16 where a vote must be taken if they want to continue with the Constitution in force since the mandate of Rafael Correa (2007-2017) or open the process to draft a new Magna Carta.

To date, the government’s crackdown has left three people killed. In this context, the Alliance of Human Rights Organizations reports 172 people detained, 282 injured and 15 people temporarily disappeared. According to the NGO, as of October 15, 346 human rights violations have been reported

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