Protests increase but violence is limited: Marches in Cuenca, roadblocks in Imbabura, teargas in Quito

Although there were limited clashes with police in Otavalo, Latacunga and Quito Tuesday, most protests in the national strike were relatively peaceful, National Police report.

Several hundred protesters gathered Tuesday afternoon at the government building on Parque Calderon in Cuenca.

In Cuenca, there were morning and afternoon marches to the government offices on Parque Calderon. A crowd of several hundred gathered late Tuesday to hear speeches and chant slogans opposing mining in Quimsacocha, south of the city.
The government building was heavily guarded by police, but no confrontations were reported.

South of Cuenca, hundred strikers gathered Tuesday morning on the Pan American highway at the Tarqui turnoff but did not block the roadway.

A number of brief confrontations between police and protesters were reported on the Pan American highway between Quito and Otavalo as the highway was cleared of rocks and other debris in several locations. An unknown number of protesters were arrested for throwing rocks as officials opened the highway to traffic.

In Quito on Tuesday afternoon, police used teargas to disperse a crowd of about 500 in Santo Domingo Plaza. Protesters who attempted to remove barricades were forced back by a police cordon and a rainstorm sent many running for cover.

Police and soldiers face off with protesters Monday night on the Pan American highway south of Otavalo.

Other minor clashes were reported in Latacunga and throughout Cotopaxi and Chimborazo Provinces, but no injuries or arrests were reported.

The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities (Conaie) said strike activities will intensity through the week as local affiliate organizations meet to make plans. “This strike is being planned and executed by local organizations and operations are being discussed on a daily basis,” said Conaie President Jaime Vargas. “This is a strike by the people based on local concerns.”

He added that the central theme of all activities is the reinstatement of the diesel subsidy and popular control of extractive activities on indigenous lands and in agricultural areas.

Interior Minister John Reimberg said Tuesday he was “impressed” with the peacefulness in the first week of the strike. “Protesters have shown great restraint compared to the protests in 2019 and 2022 and the government has used a minimum of force to maintain order,” he said. “We continue to support the right to protests as long as it does not endanger public safety or disrupt daily activities.”