Quito, March 20 1999

Press Release

Indigenous and Popular Levantamiento Achieved Important Results

The indigenous and popular levantamiento (uprising) that began 11 days ago against the government, the Social Christian (PSC) Party and the sectors of economic power that are responsible for deepening the crisis in which the country is living, achieved important changes in the government's conduct. This change can be seen in the beginning of a dialogue between the different sectors of civil society and the state through the National Accord Forum (Mesa de Acuerdo Nacional). This Forum will define the economic, political, and social criteria that will re-orient the country along the path of equity, justice, and pluralism with improved living standards for all.

This levantamiento demonstrates once again that governments should not underestimate the people's forms of resistance against all the measures that take bread from our children. The government learns to govern for all; otherwise it will falter.

At the same time, this levantamiento reveals that when the nation's rulers only attend to the interest of the rich and grow insensitive to the people's hunger, misery, unemployment and poor health, the Indian Nationalities and Social Movements-- when we work together, when we grow in dignity and hope-- have as instruments of power our voices, hands, and hearts.

The active participation of civil society is necessary to ensure the fulfillment of the commitments that we have won from the government. In particular, the Indian Nationalities and Social Movements that have been developing alternative proposals for social and economic development must be vigilant.

The dialogue prompted by CONAIE has gathered the demands felt by the people like the un-freezing of saving and checking accounts with funds of up to 50 million sucres. Moreover, the price of gas will not rise, electricity rates will be re-defined, and direct subsisidies will be set for the rural sector. The prices of primary food stuffs will be contolled and frequencies will be assigned to indigenous radio stations. In the case of gasoline, whose price has been set close to 12 thousand sucres, a price freeze will continue to be one of the topics of discussion for the National Accord Forum.

This levantamiento will be the seed that will change the nation's course, for the better.

Antonio Vargas
PRESIDENT


 

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