POPULAR protest has halted the “onslaught” of neoliberalism in Latin America, the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities in Ecuador (Conaie) said yesterday.

People of the working class, “long oppressed,” now “stand united” in their common struggle for humanity, according to the country’s largest indigenous organisation.

Conaie was largely responsible for organising protests which paralysed the capital Quito and forced the government to restore fuel subsidies that were axed last week in order to obtain an International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan.  

On Monday indigenous groups, including Conaie, issued an open letter rejecting the IMF proposals, saying that they “violated the rights of the Ecuadorean people” and were not in their interests. 

Conaie highlighted the ongoing protests against the lack of social provision, fuel shortages and rising inflation in Haiti as well as public anger towards the alleged corruption of Democratic Centre president Ivan Duque Marquez in Colombia as proof that the tide is turning in South America. 

Thousands of anti-government activists clashed with police in Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince last week as they marched on the home of President Jovenel Moise. 

In Colombia, at least five students were injured in anti-corruption protests in Bogota at the end of September, with reports of excessive police force triggering further solidarity protests. 

Violent suppression of public demonstrations has increased significantly since President Duque took office in August 2018, yet they continue unabated. 

Meanwhile in Chile, mass demonstrations against the rising cost of living and widening inequality saw President Sebastian Pinera declare a state of emergency.

At least 11 people have been killed as the government declared “war” on activists in an attempt to regain the initiative there. 

Polling in this weekend’s Argentinian election suggests centre-right President Mauricio Macri will lose to Peronist challenger Alberto Fernandez, who beat him heavily in a primary vote in August.