Members of the Ecuadorian Armed Forces remove debris after a protest on Pan-American Highway North in Tabacundo, Ecuador, on Tuesday. President Daniel Noboa said he would rather die than back down on his decision to eliminate diesel subsidies. Photo by Jose Jacome/EPA
Sept. 25 (UPI) -- Streets in several provinces of Ecuador have become sites of roadblocks and demonstrations after Indigenous and student organizations called an indefinite national strike.
The protests intensified four days ago in response to President Daniel Noboa's decision to end the diesel subsidy, a benefit in place for more than four decades.
The measure, made official Sept. 13 by executive decree, raised the price of a gallon of diesel fuel to $2.80 from $1.80 in a move the government said would save more than $1.1 billion a year.
But transport workers, farmers and social movements immediately rejected it, saying it would drive up the cost of living and raise prices on basic goods.
