Mass protests against fuel prices in Ecuador

© Dolores Ochoa / AP / TT
Fuel protests in Ecuador. Here is a roadblock in Bugeli, south of the capital, Quito.

Protests against high fuel prices continued in Ecuador. For the second day in a row, roads were closed in several provinces.

Among the protesters are many of the country’s indigenous people.

On Tuesday, 37 people were arrested. In addition, five policemen, a journalist and at least one protester were injured in the protests.

The government has gotten rid of itself and raised fuel prices, says Denis Vettery, a 28-year-old textile worker.

He and several other people used soil, stumps and burning tires to block off part of the highway northeast of the capital, Quito.

President Guillermo Laso calls for dialogue.

– He said in a speech on Wednesday, in these times of economic recovery, it is time for us to unite.

But the president said at the same time that security forces should continue to be deployed on the highways to ensure order.

Lasso recently announced that fuel prices will rise twelve percent. Since last year, prices have almost doubled.

Reducing fuel subsidies is a way for the country to reduce its spending in exchange for loans from the International Monetary Fund.