Conaie strike activities could pick up this week

Although the national strike called by the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities (Conaie) is off to slow start, leaders say activities will pick up this week. The strike was called Thursday to protest the elimination of the diesel fuel subsidy, mining and oil drilling and high VAT rates, among other issues.

Members of the indigenous organizations met Sunday in Cuenca to plan protest activities.

Representatives from several Conaie member organizations met Sunday in Cuenca to plan protests including marches and other activities. In a statement, the group said that preserving the Quimsacocha páramo was a local priority.

“Following Tuesday’s mass protest, the government says it will not pursue the Loma Larga project, but they have refused to rescind the mining concession,” the statement said. “It is a trick to leave the decision for local authorities since all mining contracts are controlled by the central government. We demand a final decision about Loma Larga and guarantees that Quimsacocha will not be threated again.”

The organizations announced a “March for Heatlh, Education, Democracy and Nature” on Monday beginning at 4:30 p.m. at Parque San Blas.

In addition, local groups said they “stand with all Conaie members in maintaining an indefinite and progressive national strike against government positions. “Primary among our demands is that the increase in the price of diesel fuel be totally eliminated since we consider it an attack on the indigenous and poor population of Ecuador.”

Nationally, other Conaie members planned “marches and traffic disruptions” concentrated in Pichincha, Cotopaxi and Chimborazo Provinces. In anticipation of protests, public schools and universities in the three provinces have announced they will hold classes via the internet until further notice.