Noboa’s Motorcade Stoned in Ecuador: CONAIE Calls It Government ‘Provocation,’ Not an Assassination Attempt

The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) responded after the presidential motorcade of Daniel Noboa was hit with stones in Cañar province, arguing it was the result of an official “provocation” and rejecting the notion that it was an assassination attempt against the president.

Amid a nationwide strike entering its second week over the suspension of the diesel subsidy, a group of Indigenous demonstrators who had blocked a road in El Tambo canton, in southern Ecuador’s Cañar province, threw rocks at vehicles in Noboa’s convoy, leaving dents and shattered windows, as seen in videos circulating on social media.

The right-wing president was unharmed and went ahead with the scheduled visit to Cañar to inaugurate sewer works and inspect a wastewater treatment plant.

Later, Energy and Environment Minister Inés Manzano said she filed a complaint with the Office of the Attorney General against the protesters, accusing them of attempted murder.

“Before arriving at the stadium, around 500 people began throwing stones. In addition, there appear to be bullet impact marks on the president’s vehicle,” she said, confirming the arrest of five people who will be prosecuted on suspected terrorism charges.

Official ‘Provocation’

In a statement, CONAIE’s Governing Council expressed deep concern over the events in Cañar, saying the presidential caravan, including the president’s official vehicle, entered an area of resistance and was then pelted with stones.

However, the organization argued that the incident “far from being an accident, constitutes a provocation by the national government that reprises the script of a supposed humanitarian convoy to justify repression.”

The Indigenous organization questioned why the presidential team did not assess the risks of entering a “mobilized zone” or deploy an advance team to analyze security risks along the route.

“Was there no assessment of the risk of entering a mobilized area? Is there no advance team tasked with analyzing risks before each movement? The state must guarantee the president’s security without putting civilians at risk or using official routes as political provocation,” it said.

In its view, the episode reflects a “false flag” intended to criminalize the Indigenous movement.

“We alert the country to alleged false-flag acts aimed at criminalizing the Indigenous and popular movement, diverting attention from Ecuador’s severe social, economic, and political crisis,” the statement added.

Regarding the five detained demonstrators, CONAIE rejected the government’s claim of an attempted assassination and called for due process without political pressure, urging their release.

“These decisions reflect the warlike stance of Daniel Noboa’s government, which persists in responding with military force instead of seeking solutions through dialogue. We reject baseless accusations of assassination or attempted murder and condemn the inhumane treatment of those detained, including an elderly person. We demand respect for due process, their immediate release, and a fair proceeding free from political pressure,” the Indigenous movement said.

“We remind authorities that justice is not administered via social media or through irresponsible ministerial statements,” it emphasized.

CONAIE also called for an independent and impartial investigation, with participation from national and international human rights bodies, to clarify what happened in Cañar, determine responsibility, and ensure the release of those it says were unjustly detained.

CONAIE urges Noboa to “pursue political solutions to overcome the crisis”

Since September 22, the national strike and anti-government protests in Ecuador have, over 16 days, left one Indigenous person dead, more than a hundred injured, and many others detained amid crackdowns, including 12 people charged with terrorism who remain in pretrial detention.

In this context, CONAIE criticized the Noboa administration for opting for military responses to legitimate demands “that require political and social attention,” rather than promoting dialogue.

“What is needed are political solutions that can resolve the crisis with justice and respect,” the group said, reiterating that the ongoing mobilizations “are legitimate; they stem from state neglect and structural exclusion.”

“The Indigenous movement is not terrorist; it is a historic movement fighting for life, dignity, and the rights of peoples (…) we reaffirm our commitment to peace, dialogue, and national unity in defense of life and dignity,” it concluded.