Ecuador's Indigenous Organizations to Participate in Debates

Edited by Ivan Martínez
2015-06-19 13:58:02

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Quito, June 19 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Indigenous organizations greeted on Wednesday the Ecuadorean government's announcement of a 3-month debate regarding two tax bills that have sparked protests across the country.
 

The country's two biggest organizations – the Confederation of Indigenous People (CONAIE) and the Federation of Farmers, Blacks and Indigenous Organizations (FENOCIN) – greeted President Rafael Correa's launch of a national debate on both an inheritance and capital gain bills which have sparked protests.

However, both organizations differed on their stand towards the government's call for dialogue. While FENOCIN said it would support the government and avoid actions that can cause confrontation, the CONAIE said they wanted the debate to be broader than just the two laws.

“Our struggle is not only for the inheritance and capital gains laws...if he (President Correa) really wants to redistribute wealth he should launch a real agrarian reform,” said Severino Sharupi, leader of the CONAIE. The indigenous organization staged a small peaceful demonstration on Thursday, which the organizers claimed was to demand a wider debate.
 

Despite recent demonstrations by the Ecuadorean opposition, CONAIE openly disassociated itself from opposition leaders such as Guillermo Lasso and Jaime Nebot. FENOCIN also announced their support for both tax laws and said they would not organize demonstrations to help calm political tensions.

 

The government announced Thursday that the national debate on social justice and wealth distribution launched will last until September, to decide whether or not the two laws (inheritance and capital gains) should be approved.



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