 Indigenous organizations in Ecuador began an indefinite national strike on June 13th against the neoliberal economic policies of the right-wing government of President Guayar Molazo. On Tuesday, the second day of the strike, the Ecuadorian armed forces and police detained Leonida's IZA for 24 hours. IZA is the president of the confederation of Indigenous nationalities of Ecuador or CUNE, one of the organizations that called for the strike. CUNE declared this detention arbitrary and illegal. It called on its members and associated organizations to undertake immediate protest measures for the freedom of our leader and for the dignity of our struggle. IZA was released after widespread condemnation of its detention both nationally and internationally. Statements were issued by organizations such as the Ecuadorian NGO Alliance for Human Rights Organization, Colombian Indigenous Organization, the Regional Indigenous Council of Cauca, and former believing president Evo Morales. Ecuador's Attorney General's office also issued a statement saying that IZA has not been detained under the orders of this institution. The statement added that Attorney General Diana Salazar has issued guidelines through provincial attorneys to coordinate procedures with the aim of avoiding illegal or arbitrary detentions. Along with CUNE, more than 53 social organizations called for this strike. The arrest came after a successful first day which saw thousands of protesters in at least 16 of the 24 provinces of the country blocking roads and mobilizing against the LASO government's policies and the increasing insecurity in the country. In the capital, Keto student organizations staged a massive march in support of the Indigenous organizations' demands and in defense of public higher education. However, their peaceful mobilization was violently repressed by the security forces. On the second day in the province of Cotopaxi, the national police and armed forces also carried out a violent attack on journalists. Reporters from Cordillera Medio de Comunicación were attacked and the equipment destroyed while they were covering the repression outside the Laca Conga prison. Protesters are demanding various measures to ease the financial and social tensions in the country. This includes production and fees of fuel prices, fare prices for their farm products, soft loans for farmers, poor producers and merchants, better employment opportunities, access to education in rural areas at all levels, access to healthcare, total ban on mining and oil exploitation activities in Indigenous territories, respect for the collective rights of 21 Indigenous peoples and nationalities, an end to drug trafficking, kidnappings and violence, and an end to privatization of public companies. The organizations also denounced President Lasso's policy of bailing out banks and big businessmen while 27% of the country's rural population lives in extreme poverty. They demanded that a progressive tax be imposed on people with large fortunes to combat inequality. ESA said that the strike was called after the failure of discussions with the government. In 2021, the representatives met with government authorities on three occasions and presented their demands, but the government did not get them a response. The National Strike has also received the support of the National Union of Educators, the National Anti-Mining Front among other social organizations and trade unions. The organizations have declared their intent to continue with the strike until the government responds to their demands.