Noboa Decrees State of Exception Amid Protests Over Diesel Price Hike

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa today decreed a state of exception in the provinces of Carchi, Imbabura, Pichincha, Azuay, Bolívar, Cotopaxi, and Santo Domingo, in response to protests over the elimination of the diesel subsidy.

The president's decision will last for 60 days and is based on the argument of grave internal commotion.

“This declaration is limited to the indicated provinces as they are where the majority of violent acts, transportation stoppages, and road blockades are concentrated,” states the presidential document.

Following the announcement of mobilizations by social, union, and student organizations, the ruler ordered the suspension of the right to freedom of assembly in these territories, meaning citizens cannot gather in public spaces.

However, this “does not imply the restriction of the right to demonstrate, as long as it is done peacefully, and without affecting the rights, freedoms, and guarantees of the rest of the citizenry,” the decree specified.

Furthermore, it ordered that in these provinces, the Armed Forces and the National Police be tasked with maintaining order to prevent violent events.

This tool of exception, which has become recurrent in Ecuador, was invoked by Noboa as road blockades persist in rejection of the increase in the price of diesel.

The announcement comes just hours before a march in defense of water and in opposition to the Loma Larga mining project is set to begin in Cuenca. The participation of thousands of people is expected, including farmers, Indigenous people, students, and officials from the area.