- Title: A man dies as protests in Ecuador rage, shopkeepers arrested
- Date: 7th October 2019
- Summary: LASSO, ECUADOR (OCTOBER 6, 2019) (REUTERS) GENERAL OF RESIDENTS ON BARRICADED ROAD VARIOUS OF ECUADOR TROOPS STANDING IN FORMATION IN FRONT OF DEMONSTRATORS TROOPS FIRING TEAR GAS CANISTERS AT PROTESTERS PROTESTERS THROWING BACK ROCKS AS THEY BURN TIRES IN MIDDLE OF ROAD LUIS ALAJO, INDIGENOUS GROUP LEADER, NEXT TO OTHER LEADERS TALKING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LUIS ALAJO, INDIGENOUS GROUP LEADER, SAYING: "Friends, due to this "animal" of a government, we are heading to the Unucan (headquarters of an indigenous group in Cotopaxi and then possibly on to Quito), right now! No more words, let's not say anything. The people are with us to drive the four parked vehicles. Good afternoon." MEMBERS OF INDIGENOUS GROUP BOARDING BUS TROOPS WALKING AWAY, LEAVING AREA, AS RESIDENTS LOOK ON
- Embargoed: 21st October 2019 02:48
- Keywords: Protests Ecuador raising food prices Moreno Lasso fuel subsidies
- Location: LASSO AND QUITO, ECUADOR
- City: LASSO AND QUITO, ECUADOR
- Country: Ecuador
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Civil Unrest
- Reuters ID: LVA001B03KTAF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Ecuadorian authorities began arresting shopkeepers for raising food prices as indigenous groups clashed with security forces on Sunday (October 6) in a fourth day of protests against President Lenin Moreno's austerity measures.
Witnesses said that in Lasso, south of the capital Quito, indigenous groups captured and took away several soldiers after violent confrontations.
One man died in central Azuay province when roadblocks blocked an ambulance from reaching him after he was hit by a car, authorities said. Local media identified him as a protester, but that could not be confirmed.
Ecuadorians complain consumer prices have risen sharply as a knock-on effect of Moreno's abolition of fuel subsidies, which has also triggered the nation's worst unrest in more than a decade.
After a two-day strike by transport unions, indigenous groups have taken the lead in demonstrations against Moreno's economic measures. They barricaded roads in various places again on Sunday with burning tires, branches and rocks.
Some protesters threw stones at security forces, who responded with tear gas.
The government said 20 people were detained over the weekend for over-charging for products including corn, onions, carrots and potatoes, which are all subject to price controls.
The 66-year-old Moreno won the 2017 election and has set the oil-producing nation on a centrist track after years of socialist rule under predecessor Rafael Correa.
Moreno has declared a two-month state of emergency.
Though he enjoys the support of businessmen and the military, Moreno's popularity has sunk to under 30% - compared with 70% after his election - and Ecuador has a volatile history.
Indigenous-led protests toppled three presidents in the decade before Correa took power in 2007.
(Production: Carlos Garcia Rawlins, Geraldine Downer, Cristina Munoz) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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