The regime of president Gustavo Noboa has answered with force as thousands of indigenous people marched in Quito, the capital city. On January 29, the government arrested Antonio Vargas, president of the Confederation of Indigenous Nations of Ecuador (CONAIE), the largest indigenous movement in the country, along with other leaders of prominent organizations, on charges of "subversion."

Students and other youth have led many of the actions, often standing up to police and military assaults. Nationally coordinated actions drew thousands into the streets January 21–22. These were called by the Popular Front (FP) and the Coordinating Committee of Social Movements (CMS), coalitions made up of trade unions, student groups, and peasant organizations. Another national mobilization is scheduled for February 7.

The Ecuadoran government has instituted measures that have resulted in up to 100 percent increases in the price of gas, cooking fuel, and transportation fees. Prices for basic food items, such as milk and meat, have risen dramatically. Inflation stands at 91 percent, the highest in Latin America, and more than 70 percent of the population now lives under the official poverty line. Ecuador is a country of 12.4 million people, located in the northwestern part of South America.

In response to the protests, Noboa reaffirmed his determination to stick with the government's cutbacks, and in a speech claimed the planned construction of an oil pipeline will create 30,000 jobs. A total of $1.1 billion has reportedly been allocated to the project, which will cover three regions in Ecuador.

The military and the national police announced their support to the government by warning that those who want "another January 21" will be met with force to stop "any attempt to destabilize the constitutional order." The police are referring to the overthrow of president Jamil Mahuad last January by a popular rebellion of tens of thousands of working people, led in part by indigenous people. In face of growing popular opposition, Mahuad had pressed forward with austerity measures, a drive to make the U.S. dollar the official currency of Ecuador, and talks to give Washington the right to use as a military base the seaport and airport in Manta. The U.S. government is now upgrading this facility, which it is "leasing" free of charge, to accommodate large military jets and house 400 troops.

Following Mahuad's ouster, a short-lived governing junta took over, composed of Antonio Vargas, president of CONAIE; Carlos Mendoza, one of the army colonels involved in the action; and Carlos Solórzano, a former supreme court president. In a recent article on delays in getting the Manta base going, the Washington Post reported that following the ouster of Mahuad "by a military coup aided by left-wing indigenous groups" a year ago, "intense pressure from the State Department forced the military to back down, allowing civilian Gustavo Noboa, then Mahuad's vice president, to assume the presidency."

The January 21 protests this year took place in various major cities around the country and included marches and road blockades. In Latacunga, Cotopaxi, more than 1,500 peasants occupied the Pan-American highway, paralyzing traffic between Quito, the capital, and other cities. Participants also marched on the government building there. Similar actions took place in the provinces of Chimborazo, Carchi, Tungurahua, Pastaza, and Loja, in the Andes.

In a move denounced by CONAIE, military troops attacked and fired on a peaceful demonstration of 5,000 indigenous people in Latacunga. Six peasants were wounded and more than 100 people arrested. In response, some 2,000 peasants occupied the government building in Latacunga and replaced the governor of the province with the president of the Federation of University Students of Ecuador (FEUE), Paúl Jácome.

Marches were held in Guayaquil and Babahoyo among other cities on the coast. Lucio Gutiérrez, one of the colonels involved in the January 21 overthrow of Mahuad, led a demonstration of 6,000 in Cuenca, saying that if Noboa continues the austerity measures "the people will oust you." Gutiérrez has also participated in and spoken at other marches in Quito.

A January 16 demonstration of 3,200 high school students protesting austerity measures included students from nine high schools who were marching together for the first time. The action was attacked with tear gas by the police, despite the peaceful character of the march. In the provinces of Pichincha and Azuay classes were suspended in the public schools because of the actions. The government deployed 23,000 police who collaborated with the army to patrol highways where indigenous groups are holding their blockades.  
 
 
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