There are at least five dead in social protests over the crisis in Ecuador

According to the ombudsman's office, at least one indigenous leader and four others died during demonstrations in Ecuador against the Lenin Moreno government. The protests are organized by indigenous communities, trade unions and unions that reject increases in the price of gasoline for increased consumption, a measure imposed by the president in agreement with the IMF.

"The first victim is a man who died after being beaten Sunday in the province of Azuay (south) .The other four people died in Quito," he said. AFP a source of human rights protection agency. Among the victims is the social leader Innocent Tucumbi, leader of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities (CONAIE) of Cotopaxi.

According to the Defensoría, Tucumbi would have died for a while. head trauma during massive demonstrations, which were repressed by security forces with large amounts of tear gas.

However, the authorities indicated that only two people were registered in accidents and not as a result of the clashes. In addition, he announced the arrest of at least 17 people, mainly Venezuelans, who allegedly participated in the protests.

The government of Lenín Moreno, who blames former president Rafael Correa and Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro for causing chaos in the streets, is facing its biggest political and social crisis since taking office two years ago. This will improve.

CONAIE President Jaime Vargas said on Thursday that he will not give in to protests as long as the government's economic measures are not reversed, including an increase in fuels. In fact, hundreds of natives are still in the headquarters of the Quito Cultural House, where they abducted at least eight policemen – including a woman – and they held more than twenty journalists.

The protests erupted last Thursday when the government removed the fuel subsidy because of a series of adjustments resulting from a contract with the International Monetary Fund. On Wednesday morning, thousands of natives organized a massive peaceful march towards the colonial center of Quito to demand the withdrawal of the decree that suppressed subsidies, but clashes also took place in the region.