Quito, September 17 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Artisans from across Ecuador came to Quito's San Francisco Plaza for what has been called a Solidarity Fair.  It is one of the spaces created for national producers to sell their goods, which range from clothing to food items and musical instruments.  And while they praised the government for reforms that have benefited them, anti-government supporters rallied simultaneously demanding the reforms be dropped.

“We are able to sell our products in different places, through special orders, also via email, and through this we have been selling our product,” said Elsa Gabriela de la Cruz, who sells dried fruits and jams as part of an indigenous collective based out of Cotacachi, Ecuador.
 
Many at the fair felt the safeguard measure implemented by the national government this past March have made their goods more competitive.

Mary Pulga has now expanded her business knitting hats, gloves and scarves to export her product to Canada. She told teleSUR,“We have gained a lot of space with the safeguards, because we are now able to elaborate products for export.”
   
Simultaneously to the fair, about 2,000 members of opposition carried out a rally in Quito's historic sector.

The demonstrators were protesting precisely against the same safeguard measures the artisans were praising. Others were calling for constitutional reforms and demanding that other reforms, such as the reform which would allow for indefinite re-election to be dropped, despite assurances from President Correa that he will not run for president again.

A permanent vigil for democracy is maintaining a presence in front of the presidential palace Carondelet. Government supporters gathered there to reject the opposition marches, and defend what they believe are unprecedented strides made under the government of Correa.

Government supporter Patricia Cornejo told teleSUR, “I left because of the economic situation in the county since (Jose Maria) Velasco Ibarra (five-time president of Ecuador, being his last period from 1968 to 1972). And so I left, and I came back two years ago. And I can see the scientific, technological and cultural advances, how agriculture has improved, exports, before there was none of this.”

Opposition groups like the United Workers Front and the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador have refused to enter the National Dialogue for Equality and Social Justice, which is open to all citizens and has counted with the participation of a diversity of sectors.

Government authorities announced over 150,000 citizens have contributed to the dialogue, which is set to continue until December.

The opposition maintains they will not participate in the national dialogue, and instead will continue their protests.