Unrest in Ecuador: Expoflores threatened, Cargo personnel and more farms attacked

In an article yesterday, we shared how the unrest in Ecuador is affecting flower farms in Ecuador; they are being attacked and it is challenging to let the flowers leave the country. And the situation hasn't calmed down yet. Yesterday, Expoflores announced on their Twitter page that more farms in the Cotopaxi province (Lasso) have been attacked and workers were forced to protest. Also, cargo personnel, who are also carrying flowers, in the province of Cotopaxi have been vandalized and threatened.

Expoflores are trying to protect the industry, and are now receiving threats as well. "We are receiving threats from the indigenous community, oppression and violence", they shared on Facebook, with a picture of the document. 

But Expoflores continues rejecting all acts of violence in the flower farms of Ecuador and in a video (see below in Spanish), Jose Antonio Bueno, Presidente del Directorio de Expoflores, demands protection for all their employees and private property.

There are still flowers being exported from other parts of the Sierra, but it is a challenge. "There are still hundreds of farms that are still delivering flowers and getting their product to the airport. It hasn't been easy, however; there are still thousands of boxes of flowers that are being delivered daily", Andrew Reitz, President of Damagro farms in Chaquibamba, Ecuador, told us yesterday.

Growers do their utmost best to send the flowers to the airport, see the tweet below. 

"We are not afraid to work, we want a country without violence and productive. We need support from @FFAAECUADOR to continue taking Ecuador forward."

¡RECHAZAMOS LA VIOLENCIA!
Nos siguen reportando agresión a nuestros colaboradores que estaban transportando flor.
¡EXIGIMOS PROTECCIÓN!@FFAAECUADOR @PoliciaEcuador @ECU911Quito @ECU911Ambato @mariapaularomo @MinGobiernoEc @XavierLazoG @Lenin @Presidencia_Ec pic.twitter.com/hY0uNdBtjx

— Expoflores (@ExpofloresEc) October 9, 2019
"WE REJECT THE VIOLENCE!
We continue to report aggression to our collaborators who were transporting flowers.
WE DEMAND PROTECTION!"