Several months ago, Conaie asked President Guillermo Lasso for a broad working meeting to address numerous demands of the Plurinational Parliament​

Quito, October 5 (RHC)-- The president of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE), Leonidas Iza, said Monday that he will ask the government of President Guillermo Lasso to freeze fuel prices and advanced the six points of his agenda for the working meeting he will hold with the president.  

In a press conference shortly before entering the Carondelet Palace, seat of the Executive, the indigenous leader said he will request to freeze the price of fuel.  He assured that this situation affects the increase in the price of basic necessities.

As a second point, he mentioned the unpaid credits of the indigenous sector. He recalled that "many families have lost everything," for which reason they are calling for "state action in the face of the deterioration of the economy."

In this sense, he questioned that during the last year, in the middle of the pandemic, Ecuador's financial system earned more than 377 million dollars while the businesses of thousands of families went bankrupt.  As a third point, he addressed the need to help producers and generate mechanisms that at least allow them to maintain production costs.

Iza added that the fourth demand will focus on improving access to employment and avoiding its precariousness. He warned about the risk that a law passed during the administration of former President Lenín Moreno and another proposed by the current president institutionalize slavery in the 21st century.

As last points, he pointed out the "mining-oil problem" and stated that the Government must review its dependence on extractivism.  In this regard, he denounced that in 40 years extractive policies have caused negative environmental impacts and that communities have not benefited from the profits.