Ecuador says aid fleet carrying President Daniel Novoa and a foreign diplomat was attacked in Imbabra on Sunday in protest of fuel prices.
The current 8th day of anxiety has become fatal over the weekend. It started after the government said it would end diesel subsidies, reduce public spending, curb fuel smuggling, and free up funds for social programs. In Imbabura, dozens of demonstrators cut off roads and clashed with security forces.
The government said on Monday that around 350 people were ambushing the convoy on Sunday as they were driving towards the area to provide humanitarian aid with fireworks, Molotov cocktails and rocks.
President’s spokesman Carolina Jaramiro said that about 50 soldiers guarding the vehicle tried to repel the attacker, without specifying whether they were injured.
The presidency also carried senior officials such as Vatican diplomat Andres Caracosa, European Union ambassador Gécaterina Dorodnova and Italian ambassador Giovanni Daboli.
The Italian embassy in Ecuador said the ambassador was not harmed by the attack, which is described as “terrorist law” directed at Ecuadorian head of state.
CNN has contacted the EU and Vatican diplomatic missions for more information.
Noboa posted the image on Monday, posted the image on X. He argued that the attackers were trying to resist Ecuador’s progress with violence. “We will continue: Ecuador cannot retreat,” he said.
The presidency said it condemned Sunday’s attack on “terrorist groups.”
Officials said another attack on another humanitarian convoy last weekend killed at least one person and injured nine soldiers. The presidency allegedly claimed that 17 more soldiers had been invited.
The coalition of Indigenous peoples, leading the protest, rejected the government’s claims. The person who died on Sunday said they were indigenous people who were shot by members of the military. It called on the government to end its consideration of community oppression. Indigenous leaders accused them of violent suppression of protests and allowing unidentified mining and oil drilling on their ancestral lands. The government suggests that protesters are responsible.
“I think it’s clear that violent behavior in this case, instigated by Conaie leader Marlon Vargas, who had sought protests and criminal acts, such as taking over oil wells, could ultimately have tragic consequences, such as the loss of human life.
The Ecuadorian prosecutor’s office said it would investigate the issue.
“Preliminary investigations will be carried out by its specialized unit, based on international protocols, to ensure the objectivity of the process,” the office said.
