In a letter sent to the Executive Branch, the Ministries of Defense, Interior, and Government, as well as to the high command of the Armed Forces, the Police, and the Ombudsman’s Office, the communities accused the State of criminalizing the protest.

The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) demanded a transparent investigation into the death of Efrain Fuerez, a Kichwa community member killed in Cotacachi during a security force operation, an act they describe as a state crime.

The document also calls for the release of the detainees during the demonstrations, guarantees for the right to resist, and an immediate cessation of the use of lethal weapons in control operations.

The protests, which began on September 22 after the elimination of the diesel subsidy, have spread to several provinces with roadblocks, marches, and clashes with law enforcement.

The day before, CONAIE ratified the continuation of the national strike and reiterated its demands to Noboa government, including the repeal of Decree 126, which eliminated the diesel subsidy.

In addition to the fuel issue, they spoke out in favor of defending the land and its territories, rejecting extractivism, strengthening public health and education, and calling for a reduction in the Value Added Tax (VAT) from 15 percent to 12 percent.

Added to this is the demand for guarantees for the exercise of the right to resistance, and they affirmed the need to demand truth, justice, and reparations for the victims of repression, particularly for Fuerez’s family.

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