Ecuador: Government Recalls State of Emergency, Protests
Interior Minister Monica Palencia, Nov 2024 Photo: @EcenDirecto
November 21, 2024 Hour: 9:06 pm
The general commander of the National Police, Víctor Zárate, indicated that entry to this area of the capital is restricted and added that they will be able to ‘repel any aggression with the legitimate use of force’.
On Thursday, Ecuador’s interior minister, Monica Palencia, recalled that a state of emergency is in force in the capital that limits the rights of freedom of association, a warning that coincides with the protests.
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Palencia, along with other government authorities, released a video in which they indicated that the streets of the Historic Centre, where the mobilisation was planned to take place, will be closed on Thursday.
The general commander of the National Police, Víctor Zárate, indicated that entry to this area of the capital is restricted and added that they will be able to ‘repel any aggression with the legitimate use of force’.
The chief of operations of the Armed Forces, Pablo Caicedo, exhorted the public not to participate in provocative attitudes towards the forces of order or with the intention of causing terror or violent acts.
Social and trade union organisations grouped in the United Workers’ Front (FUT) called for an anti-government demonstration this Thursday from 16:00 (local time) in Quito.
‘We are here to fight against Noboa’s neoliberal policies, which have deteriorated the economic crisis that the people are currently experiencing,’ said Edwin Bedoya, president of the Confederación de Organizaciones Clasistas Unitarias de Trabajadores (Cedocut).
Palencia pointed out that the Intendencia General de la Policía has not received any request to authorise a march or mobilisation, so it is prohibited.
Last week there was a march in the capital that brought together hundreds of citizens who demanded the resignation of the president for his ineffective management of the multidimensional crisis that this South American nation is suffering, with insecurity, blackouts and unemployment.
The demonstration ended with clashes between the demonstrators and the police, who finally dispersed the participants with tear gas.
For Minister Palencia, what happened on 15 November were violent acts against citizens and the forces of law and order. In this context, the radio station Radio Pichincha revealed the day before that the Ministry of Defence had made a gigantic, million-dollar purchase of tear gas canisters.
Autor: OSG
Fuente: The Independent-The Star
