September 23, 2025 Hour: 10:16 am
Police clash with protesters in Ecuador; 24 arrested during national strike
Ecuadorian security forces arrested 24 individuals on Monday amid the first day of a nationwide strike led by the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE), reports 24brussels.
The nationwide protest is fueled by widespread discontent over economic policies enacted by President Daniel Noboa, particularly the increase in diesel prices, which critics argue will exacerbate inflation in an ailing job market. Activists, including workers, farmers, and students, are urging the government to repeal the decree that raised diesel prices from US$1.80 to US$2.80 per gallon.
CONAIE has alleged that police violently entered homes and discharged weapons at protesters in Gonzalez Suarez, Imbabura, and reported similar acts of aggression in Otavalo and Cayambe. Interior Minister John Reimberg attributed the clashes to the actions of those arrested, particularly in Otavalo.
Footage shared by Kichwa leader Apawki Castro depicted confrontations in El Cajas, where police used tear gas in residential areas. Former presidential candidate Leonidas Iza also released videos documenting the tensions and the firing of tear gas in Ecuador’s highlands.
“The national strike is not limited to rejecting the diesel price increase but rather expresses a deep discontent with an austerity model that worsens living conditions and advances with the implementation of extractive projects in Indigenous territories,” stated the online media outlet ANRED.
In a statement reflecting on the broader implications of the protests, ANRED noted that organized communities will mobilize against the political and economic elite in September 2025, leveraging their historical legacy of resistance.
Protests in Otavalo turned violent when a man was struck by a car that subsequently crashed into a police station. Infuriated locals responded by storming the facility and setting it ablaze.
On Tuesday, Government Minister Zaida Rovira dismissed the demonstrations as acts of terrorism, linking them to alleged criminal elements such as the Aragua Train gang. As of Tuesday, authorities reported that 47 individuals have been detained during the unrest.
Authoritative sources cite escalating tensions as the government grapples with the challenges posed by the strike, which poses further questions regarding its economic policies and their impact on the societal fabric in Ecuador.
Sources: CONAIE – ANRED – EFE
