Pope, bishops urge peace in protest-hit Ecuador

Catholic bishops in Ecuador have extended their support to end the political impasse and urged the government to create a conducive environment to hold peace talks to curb the civil unrest which started June 13 in the South American country.

Indigenous groups, led by their powerful body -- Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) -- in the mineral-rich Ecuador continues to see violent protests in response to rising food and fuel prices and against the economic policies of the conservative government of President Guillermo Lasso. 

The unrest has claimed four lives while at least a hundred people have been arrested. Over 120 police officers have been injured as they tried to lift the roadblocks erected by CONAIE sympathizers. 

"We offer ourselves as observers of this whole process," Archbishop Luis Cabrera of Guayaquil and president of the bishops’ conference of Ecuador (CEE), said while addressing the media.

Pope Francis too said he is following "with concern" the situation in Ecuador, calling on all parties “to abandon violence and extreme positions”, after his weekly Sunday Angelus prayer at the Vatican June 26.

The pope expressed his closeness to the people of Ecuador, while insisting that “it is only through dialogue that social peace can be achieved… with particular attention to the marginalized populations and the poorest, but always respecting everyone’s rights, as well as those of the country’s institutions.”

Bishops for solutions that benefit all

Archbishop Cabrera proposed a "humanitarian support, peace and dialogue promotion campaign" to end the public protests, spearheaded by indigenous bodies, representing over 1 million of Ecuador's 17.7 million inhabitants. 

Exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Ecuador is grappling with high levels of inflation and unemployment. 

"These and other crises challenge us to seek, in a realistic, courageous and creative way, the best solutions that benefit all the peoples and nationalities of our country, particularly the great impoverished and excluded majorities of society," the 67-year-old archbishop, along with other prelates told journalists. 

Despite warnings from the government, CONAIE has used piles of burning tires and mounds of earth to prevent access to the capital from 11 of Ecuador's 24 provinces. The widespread protests have curbed farm exports in the provinces of Los Rios, Cotopaxi (La Mana), Guayas and El Oro.

The protesters want the government to fix fuel prices urgently. 

Since 2020, fuel prices have risen in the country. Prices of diesel almost doubled from $1 to $1.90 per gallon (about 3.78 liters) and gasoline prices increased from $1.75 to $2.55.  

CONAIE wants diesel to be sold for $1.50 per gallon and gasoline for $2.10.

The protesters also want price controls on agricultural products, a moratorium on farmers' debts and limiting mining expansion in the nation.

CONAIE has called on the government to create actual conditions for dialogue to occur. The organization wants immediate cessation of repression and criminalization actions, and repeal of the state of emergency. 

President Lasso, who is currently in isolation, after testing positive for COVID-19, on Sunday announced a concession to cut petrol prices a day after lifting a state of emergency that he had been imposed in six provinces.

“Ecuadorians who seek dialogue will find a government with an outstretched hand, those who seek chaos, violence and terrorism will face the full force of the law,” Lasso said in the televised address, saying the country must return to normality.

CONAIE has not officially responded but Ecuador's government and Indigenous leaders have met for the first formal talks since the protests began.

Dialogue is the "more intelligent and fraternal" path, the bishops pointed out. These crises challenge us to seek the best solutions that “benefit all the peoples and nationalities," they said. 

The bishops asked the government to ensure a conducive environment to hold talks.

The suspension of all acts of violence and the creation of conflict-free zones are expected from the government if it is serious about finding a solution, the bishops said.

Country in crisis

President Lasso has accused CONAIE of trying to usurp the legally constituted government. 

The police and the armed forces will act to defend, “through the progressive use of force, public order and democracy,” Lasso said.

On June 14, the police arrested CONAIE chief Leonidas Iza after the group set up more than 20 roadblocks.

The country is facing problems on economic, political, social and ecological fronts. The Church held a day of "Day of Prayer for Dialogue and Peace" for peace to prevail in the country.

There are 14 indigenous-dominated provinces in the country, many of them rich in mineral deposits, including copper, gold and silver due to their closeness to the Andes mountain ranges. 

Life in Ecuador has become more expensive and precarious, due to the absence of fair prices for products and because of the high interest rates on loans, people in the countryside have taken to the streets and massive migration out of the country. 

The popularity of President Lasso’s government has decreased to an all-time low (17 percent), according to an opinion poll conducted in the two largest cities, Quito and Guayaquil, in the beginning of this month.

More than 81 percent of people surveyed said his administration is “bad” or “very bad”.

A debate is going on in the National Assembly, which has been at loggerheads with the president about his economic policies, to remove Lasso from office. This would require 92 of the 137 legislators to vote him out. 

If the no-confidence vote passes, Vice President Alfredo Borrero will assume interim power and call for new presidential and legislative elections.