Ecuador’s Indigenous movement launches ‘indefinite national strike’

This is the sound on the streets of Ecuador, in cities and along highways running across the country. The sound of indignation. The sound of protest. The sound. of resistance.

In Ecuador, today, that sound is loud. And it’s getting louder. Last month, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa lifted diesel subsidies. It was something he had promised not to do in interview after interview. But he did it anyway. Gas prices spiked overnight by 60%. Many fear food prices will also rise.

Ecuador’s largest Indigenous movement declared an “indefinite national strike.” Others joined. They have been in the streets for more than a week. Noboa’s state security forces have cracked down hard, firing on protests with tear gas and rubber bullets. 

They’ve beaten and kicked protesters. They’ve arrested a hundred people. They’ve charged a dozen people with terrorism. They’ve killed one man—Efrain Fuerez. 46 years old. Husband. Hard worker. Father of two children. Shot with live ammunition at a protest in Imbabura.

The country is now on fire. Demanding justice. Demanding their rights. Standing in defense of their communities. 

See, Noboa is a millionaire ally of U.S. President Donald Trump. A fan of El Salvador’s firebrand President Nayib Bukele. Since late 2023, Noboa has governed with an iron fist. He’s promised to do away with criminals and narcotraffickers. But violence and homicides have only gotten worse. He’s used rolling states of emergency to push his agenda. To push oil, gas and mining in Indigenous territories.

Now, he’s using his security forces not against criminals, but against people who are standing up. Standing for their rights. Defending their communities. Demanding justice for the violence, the repression, and the killing of Efrain Fuerez. 

This is not the first time movements in Ecuador have risen up. In 2019 and 2022, they also shut down the country for weeks, after governments tried to push austerity measures. The story is the same, repeated again and again.

Noboa’s decision to lift the diesel subsidy was likely mandated by the International Monetary Fund, which has promised to increase loans to the Andean country. Noboa, it seems, would rather listen to a foreign international organization than his own people. 

It is partly why those in the streets are so upset. 

Noboa has promised he will not back down. So have those who have built road blocks, and shut down highways, and are protesting and marching right now. They have promised to fight. And if repression grows, so will their resolve. 

Resistance against structural adjustment policies mandated by the IMF. Resistance against injustice. Resistance against the repression. Resistance for their communities, and their future. 

Hi everyone, I’m your host Michael Fox. Thanks for listening.

Two things I want to say before I go. First, I’m just finishing a really important piece on this national strike in Ecuador. The article is for Truthout. You can find it over the next day at Truthout.org. Please check it out. As soon as it’s up, I’ll place a link in the show notes.

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