“October lives, the fight continues”, a journey in memory of the wounded and deceased from the national strike

The mobilization took place after filing a complaint against the Ecuadorian State for human rights violations during the 11 days of protests in 2019 at the Attorney General’s Office.

“October lives, the fight continues,” shout relatives of people injured and killed during the 2019 national strike, they toured the streets where, a year ago, there was “a brutal police repression” of the citizen protest.

Tear gas flooded the streets around the National Assembly. There was violence. On the other side of the makeshift barricades, protesters resist repression.

A year ago, the streets surrounding what is now known as the “Parque de la Resistencia” (El Arbolito) were the scene of one of the most intense demonstrations in the recent history of the country. They – indigenous people, students, teachers, workers – demanded the repeal of Decree 883, which eliminated fuel subsidies in the country.

There were 11 days of protests that left thousands of injuries and deaths that allowed the repeal of this document.

Today, October 12, 2020, the relatives of the injured and deceased walked those same streets. There is no more tear gas, nor is the dreaded noise of a riot car. But the atmosphere of resistance and struggle remains.

“October lives, the fight continues,” they exclaim.

They show photos of their dead, of their wounded. People accompany them and join in this symbolic journey of vindication of the social struggle in the country. The march took place after the Confederation of Indigenous Organizations of Ecuador (CONAIE), together with the Association of Victims of the National Strike “Inocencio Tucumbi”, filed a lawsuit against the Ecuadorian State for crimes against humanity and violation of human rights .

While they – indigenous people, students, teachers, workers – go through an individual mourning, which turned into a collective mourning, the Government also recalls this event, but they describe it as a blow to democracy and defend that the actions of the National Police , led by María Paula Romo, Minister of Government, was to “keep democracy standing.”