Pachakutic and Conaie angered by the ‘defection’ of its National Assembly members

The nonelected leadership of the indigenous Pachakutik movement reacted angrily Wednesday night after its members voted with the government party in the organizational session of the new National Assembly. Six Pachakutik members supported ADN candidates while three other members abstained on most votes.

Pachakutik Assemblywoman Carmen Tiupul, elected second vice-president of the Assembly, is one of the Pachakutik members denounced by party leadership.

The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities (Conaie), which sponsors Pachakutik, also denounced the votes, with Conaie President Leonidas Iza calling the votes “an act of treason.”

In a statement, Pachakutik directors acknowledged a “rupture in the program” and said discussions are planned with its Assembly members. “The Pachakutik movement faces a crisis in the National Assembly as its elected members have supported the government and against the principles they were elected to represent,” it said.

The statement continued: “Six of our Assembly members became ensnared in the cobwebs of the ruling party. They have voted together with ADN and because of the way things turned out, they have become part of the dark strategy.”

The statement also criticized the three Pachakutik members who abstained and did not support Citizens Revolution. “They also contributed to the deceit since they remained quiet.”

Party leadership claimed that elected Pachakutik Assembly members ignored the agreement with Citizens Revolution and the party’s official position to oppose the government agenda, especially in the case of mining and oil production. “(We are) in opposition to all forms of extractivism, both of metals and petroleum, as well as privatizations and public and private corruption,” party leaders said.