Indigenous leader Leonidas Iza, left, shakes hands with Government Minister Francisco Jimenez after reaching an agreement with mediation by the church at the Episcopal Conference headquarters in Quito, Ecuador, Thursday, June 30, 2022. Ecuador's government and the country's main Indigenous group reached an agreement to end 18 days of often-violent strikes that had virtually paralyzed the country. At center is Monsignor Alfredo Espinoza. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)
The Associated Press
QUITO, Ecuador (AP) - Ecuador's government and the country's main Indigenous group reached an agreement Thursday to end 18 days of often-violent strikes that had virtually paralyzed the country and killed at least four people.
The deal, which includes a decrease in the price of fuel and other concessions, was signed by Government Minister Francisco Jiménez, Indigenous leader Leonidas Iza and the head of the Episcopal Conference, Monsignor Luis Cabrera, who acted as mediator.
The agreement sets out that gasoline prices will decrease 15 cents to $2.40 per gallon and diesel prices will also decline the same amount, from $1.90 per gallon to $1.75.
The deal also sets limits to the expansion of oil exploration areas and prohibits mining activity in protected areas, national parks and water sources.
The government now has 90 days to deliver solutions to the demands of the Indigenous groups.
'œSocial peace will only be able to be achieved, hopefully soon, through dialogue with particular attention paid to marginalized communities, but always respecting everyone's rights,'ť Cabrera said.
He went on to warn that 'œif state policies do not resolve the problem of the poor, then the people will rise up.'ť
'œWe know we have a country with a lot of divisions, a lot of problems, with unresolved injustices, with important sectors of the population that are still marginalized,'ť Jiménez said.
The two sides had started negotiations on Monday and an agreement appeared to be within reach until an attack allegedly carried out by Indigenous people against a fuel convoy killed one military officer and left 12 others wounded, leading the government to abandon talks.
Authorities have directly attributed four deaths to the 18-day strike.
The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities had launched an indefinite national strike on June 13, demanding a decrease in the price of fuel and increase in the health and education budget as well as price controls on certain goods, among other demands.
Amid increasing shortages of food and fuel and millions in losses for farmers and business leaders, the two sides agreed to start negotiations.
The protests have been characterized by stringent road blockades that prevented the transportation of food, fuel and even ambulances. As a result, there has been a sharp increase in the price of the food that did manage to reach the cities, particularly in the Andean north, which has been one of the areas most affected by the strike.
Government representative Francisco Jimenez holds up the agreement made with Indigenous leaders, Eustaquio Toala, third from left, and Leonidas Iza, third from left, as they stand with Catholic Church representatives who served as mediators at the Episcopal Conference headquarters in Quito, Ecuador, Thursday, June 30, 2022. The groups reached an agreement to end 18 days of often-violent strikes over the price of gas that had virtually paralyzed the country. Church leaders are, from left, Monsignors David de la Torre, Luis Cabrera, and Alfredo Espinoza. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)
The Associated Press
Indigenous leader Leonidas Iza waits for the start of a dialogue session with the government, with Catholic Church representatives as mediador, at the Episcopal Conference headquarters in Quito, Ecuador, Thursday, June 30, 2022. The two groups are discussing solutions that could lead to the end of a strike over gas prices that has paralyzed parts of the country for two weeks. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)
The Associated Press
Indigenous protesters gather outside the Episcopal Conference headquarters where Indigenous leaders dialogue with the government in Quito, Ecuador, Thursday, June 30, 2022. Ecuador's government and the country's main Indigenous group reached an agreement Thursday to end 18 days of often-violent strikes that had virtually paralyzed the country. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)
The Associated Press
Indigenous leaders, Leonidas Iza, left, and Marlon Vargas, center, revise an agreement document with Monsignor David de la Torre during a dialogue session with the government, with Catholic Church representatives as mediador, at the Episcopal Conference headquarters in Quito, Ecuador, Thursday, June 30, 2022. The two groups are discussing solutions that could lead to the end of a strike over gas prices that has paralyzed parts of the country for two weeks. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)
The Associated Press
Indigenous protesters gather outside the Episcopal Conference headquarters where Indigenous leaders dialogue with the government in Quito, Ecuador, Thursday, June 30, 2022. Ecuador's government and the country's main Indigenous group reached an agreement Thursday to end 18 days of often-violent strikes that had virtually paralyzed the country. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)
The Associated Press
Government representative Francisco Jimenez, right, stands on the other side of religious leaders from Indigenous leader, Gary Espinoza, far left, and Leonidas Iza, second from left, during a dialogue session mediated by the church at the Episcopal Conference headquarters in Quito, Ecuador, Thursday, June 30, 2022. The groups reached an agreement to end 18 days of often-violent strikes over the price of gas that had virtually paralyzed the country. Church leaders are, from left, Monsignors David de la Torre and Luis Cabrera. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)
The Associated Press
Government representative Francisco Jimenez waves as he arrives for a dialogue session with Indigenous leaders, from left, sitting, Eustaquio Toala, Leonidas Iza and Marlon Vargas, as Catholic Church representatives serve as mediator at the Episcopal Conference headquarters in Quito, Ecuador, Thursday, June 30, 2022. The two groups are discussing solutions that could lead to the end of a strike over gas prices that has paralyzed parts of the country for two weeks. Sitting far right is Monsignor Alfredo Espinoza. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)
The Associated Press
Indigenous leader Leonidas Iza speaks after reaching an agreement with the government, as Catholic Church representatives serve as mediador, at the Episcopal Conference headquarters in Quito, Ecuador, Thursday, June 30, 2022. Ecuador's government and the country's main Indigenous group reached an agreement Thursday to end 18 days of often-violent strikes that had virtually paralyzed the country. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)
The Associated Press