Ecuador: Agreement ends 18-day strikes

The agreement sees gasoline prices drop by 15 cents to $2.40 a gallon and diesel prices by the same amount from $1.90 a gallon to $1.75.

The agreement also limits the expansion of oil exploration areas and bans mining activities in protected areas, national parks and water sources.

The government now has 90 days to provide solutions to the indigenous groups’ demands.

“Hopefully, social peace can soon only be achieved through a dialogue that pays special attention to marginalized communities, but always respects the rights of all,” said Cabrera.

He went on to warn, “If government policies don’t solve the problem of the poor, people will rise up.”

“We know we have a country with many divisions, many problems, unresolved injustices, and key communities that are still marginalized,” Jiménez said.

The two sides had started negotiations on Monday and an agreement seemed within reach until an attack allegedly carried out by tribal peoples on a fuel convoy killed a military officer and wounded 12 others, prompting the government to shut down the break off conversations.

Authorities have directly attributed four deaths to the 18-day strike.

The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities launched an indefinite nationwide strike on June 13, demanding, among other things, a cut in fuel prices and an increase in health and education budgets, as well as price controls on certain goods.

In the face of increasing food and fuel shortages and millions in losses for farmers and business leaders, both sides agreed to start negotiations.

The protests were marked by strict roadblocks preventing the movement of food, fuel and even ambulances. As a result, there was a sharp increase in the price of food that managed to reach the cities, especially in the north of the Andes, one of the areas most affected by the strike.