Ecuador faces social stalemate over Indians' protests

When thousands of poor Ecuadorian Indians arrived in the country's capital, Quito, last Monday, having marched up to 100 miles from their rural provincial homes to protest against government economic policy, they hoped their demands would be swiftly met.

However, with the government refusing to back down over a series of economic measures it implemented in response to International Monetary Fund stipulations, the country is at a social stalemate.

The measures, which were introduced at the end of December, include increases in fuel and cooking gas prices and public transport tariffs, provoked about 5,000 Indians into downing their farming tools in the highland provinces of Cotopaxi, Tungurahua and Chimborazo and marching north into the capital. The Indians, organised by Ecuador's largest political indigenous group, the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities (CONAIE), have been granted refuge in Quito by a local private university.

For the past week, the university campus has been transformed and the sight of Indians dancing to Andean pipe music and playing volleyball there has become common.

However, a week living away from their farms is beginning to take its toll on protesters.

While the protests of the Indians in Quito have been mainly peaceful - apart from occasional clashes with police - other parts of the highlands around the capital have seen more violent incidents. Indians have closed roads to the north of the country, and with felled trees, rocks and burning tyres, have preventing food supplies from reaching many of Quito's markets. Exchanges of rocks and tear gas between the police and protesters have been frequent, with a number of injuries sustained by both sides.

The government has taken a tough line since the protests began, arresting the CONAIE leader, Mr Antonio Vargas, on Tuesday for allegedly generating subversion. Mr Vargas was released on Thursday due to a legal glitch and his detention was seen to increase both social tension and his own credibility.

Although both sides initially announced they would not give way, by the end of last week representatives from the government and the CONAIE were at the negotiating table, discussing indigenous demands. However, talks broke down within hours and the government reaffirmed its intention to crack down on dissent by declaring a state of emergency on Friday night. The decree increases police powers to break up subversive groups and protests and allows the government to impose curfews around the country.

This time of year has become a time of political and social unrest for Ecuador. January 21st was the anniversary of the military-indigenous coup that ousted president Jamil Mahuad in 2000, and February 5th is the fourth anniversary of the popular uprising that overthrew president Abdala Bucaram.