The numbers of people injured, many seriously, and those arrested, swells daily. Thousands of demonstrators have been confronting the police and army on the streets of Quito as the people gather there for a showdown with the government. In a number of provinces, such as Cotopaxi Province, a number of organisations of the people have also taken action. Antonio Vargas, Luis Villacis Maldonado and Mario Morales were arrested in Quito on January 30 and accused of subverting the legal order. Luis Villacis Maldonado is the National Chairperson and a spokesperson of the Patriotic Front and was also arrested in a pre-emptive strike five days before last year's revolt.
Morales is the leader of a labour federation of the Quito region.
Quishpe played an important part in the actions in Cotopaxi, where the indigenous people held a soldier who was later released in exchange for the army freeing seven demonstrators. Far from having the effect desired by the regime, these arrests have given fresh impetus to the mass mobilisation not only in Quito but also throughout the country. Contingents of indigenous people and peasants continue arriving in Quito after walking several days and making detours around military roadblocks. The economic crisis of the last few years and the neo-liberal direction pursued by several successive regimes has already left most Ecuadorians in great insecurity or outright poverty.