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Ecuador’s internal affairs minister, Jose Serrano, blamed certain protest leaders for violence that broke out early Wednesday between indigenous groups and police in Macas.
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1/2 la irresponsabilidad d los señores Chumpi, Franco Viteri, Jorge Herrera, nos obliga a tomar acciones en Macas pic.twitter.com/Ziddfyvg1r
— José Serrano Salgado (@ppsesa)
August 19, 2015
“The irresponsability of these men; Chumpi, Franco Viteri, Jorge Herrera, obliges us to take actions Macas”
2/2 responsabilizamos a estos dirigentes de todos los actos de violencia en Macas pic.twitter.com/5ofdV1aM8i
— José Serrano Salgado (@ppsesa)
August 19, 2015
“We blame these leaders for all the acts of violence in Macas”
On Thursday, Herrera, the president of the Conaie indigenous group, along with the governor of Zamora, Salvador Quishpe, were recorded charging at police lines with steel barricades.
RELATED: Gallery: Ecuador Opposition Resorts to Violence...Again
According to national public newspaper, El Telegrafo, state government workers in the Morona Santiago province were “besieged by protestors” armed with spears.
The indigenous groups are demanding the resignation of the state governor and the shelving of constitutional amendments currently under discussion, including one that would allow eliminate term limits on the Presidency.
Government supporters accuse Conaie of working with right-wing sectors of the opposition which are demanding that democratically elected, left-wing President Correa resign. The groups have marched and blocked key highways in recent days, in many instances using violence to attack police protecting plazas, key government buildings, and pro-Correa rallies.
