Ecuador Indigenous Debunk Misinfo

Leader of the CONAIE, Blanca Chancoso
Quito
Ecuadorean indigenous leaders denounced a disinformation campaign by government and the media to try to distort the purpose of protests taking place in different areas of the country.

Leader of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE), Blanca Chancoso, and chief of the Pachakutik movement Gilberto Talahua said the demonstrations are against the free trade agreement currently under negotiation with the US.

"We are not targeting President Alfredo Palacio or trying to destabilize Ecuador, but rather preventing the signing of the pact and demanding the cancellation of operation contracts of the US oil firm Oxy, as well as the convening of a Constituent Assembly," Chancoso stressed.

"If Palacio feels pressed by business people and Washington, he has the possibility of convening a popular consultation about the FTA so that all the people rather than one group can decide whether they want the agreement," he said.

The leader said that if the government signs the agreement, which would affect farmers, artisans and most Ecuadoreans who live in poverty, there would be countrywide protests.