October 31, 2021

This Week in Human Rights News

Indigenous-led demonstrations in Ecuador protest fuel prices, oil drilling in rainforest

Sources: Al Jazeera, BBC, Stanford Journal, BBC, La Prensa Latina, Twitter

Indigenous-led demonstrations in Quito, Ecuador were organised this week to protest a recent announcement that fuel prices would be increasing. The demonstrations have been mostly peaceful, but violence has been reported and human rights groups have documented allegations of excessive police force, including one against a journalist, and a case of sexual abuse. 

The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities (CONAIE) and Ecuador’s recently elected President Guillermo Lasso have been embroiled in tensions and “deadlock” negotiations for several months, namely over fuel increases and oil extraction. 

Fuel increases would put a heavy strain on citizens, especially after economic hardships were exacerbated by Covid-19. Oil extraction in Ecuador has also harmed Indigenous people and the rainforest for decades. 

The Lago Agrio region in Ecuador, for example, has been the subject of a continuing legal battle that began in 1993 when 30,000 Indigenous residents and local farmers filed a lawsuit against Texaco (Chevron) for dumping “eighteen billion gallons of toxic waste” into open-air pits and contaminating water sources. 

 In response to the pressure from CONAIE and the demonstrations, President Lasso has suspended the fuel price increases. CONAIE has announced plans to continue mobilising, with frequent announcements from their Twitter account.