Violence in Ecuador as Humanitarian Convoy Attacked
A convoy carrying humanitarian aid led by President Daniel Novoa in Imbabura, Ecuador, was attacked by a violent mob on Sunday, as reported by the Ecuadorian government.
Last week, the country experienced a wave of violent protests, strikes, and lockdowns in various regions, driven by the Conaie coalition in response to President Novoa’s decision to eliminate diesel subsidies starting mid-September. The unrest has resulted in violent demonstrations, with reports indicating at least one protester has died and over a dozen military personnel injured.
On Sunday, President Novoa led the humanitarian convoy in Otavalo, a city grappling with ongoing strikes and protests. According to Carolina Jaramiro, the presidential spokesperson, approximately 350 individuals ambushed the convoy despite the presence of about 50 military personnel for protection. Jaramiro condemned the attack as a terrorist act, affirming that the military responded to it effectively.
Jaramiro added that accompanying the President were key government figures, including the Minister of Home Affairs and the Minister of Defense, along with international representatives like the Catholic Apostolic Nuncio and ambassadors from the European Union and Italy.
“The President aims to watch over and protect the lives of all Ecuadorians, though there are groups that seem to want conflict and don’t reflect the citizens’ wishes,” Jaramiro stated, emphasizing that these actions were not peaceful protests but rather “crimes committed by violent, infiltrated groups.”
“Ensuring the safety of Ecuadorians is paramount. We cannot tolerate violent attacks, the detention of civil servants, or the destruction of property. This has escalated beyond protest into criminal activity,” she noted.
President Novoa shared visuals of the attack on social media, expressing his frustration: “They chose violence against Ecuador’s progress. Yesterday, they ambushed another humanitarian convoy, which I personally led with UN and EU representatives, as well as the Italian ambassador.” He asserted, “Ecuador cannot take a step back.”
The Italian embassy condemned the attack on the President’s convoy, confirming that the ambassador was unharmed. Their statement reflected strong disapproval of political violence, reinforcing Italy’s support for peace, dialogue, and democracy.
President Novoa justified the removal of diesel subsidies as a necessary step for better resource allocation towards social programs while cutting down on illegal activities. He remains firm on not reinstating the subsidies.
In response, Marlon Vargas, leader of Conaie, stated that indigenous organizations would not “take a step back” and held the President accountable for potential chaos if the subsidies were not restored. He cautioned against a repeat of previous unrest seen in 2019 and 2022.
Reports from Ecuadorian outlets indicate that most major access roads in Imbabura are blocked due to ongoing protests against Novoa’s government.
On Monday, an announcement confirmed that four out of 17 military officials detained by protesters during Sunday’s unrest had been released in Imbabura. Alvaro Castillo, the mayor of Ibarra, stated that discussions between government and Indigenous representatives are underway, with hopes for meaningful agreements soon.
