Nearly three weeks of striking bus drivers and roadblocks by angry farmers in response to the government’s increase of diesel fuel costs have put Ecuador President Daniel Noboa in one of the tensest moments of his presidency.

The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador, the protests’ organizers, mobilized their people after Noboa decreed the elimination of a subsidy on diesel on Sept. 12. Diesel is critical to the agricultural, fishing and transport sectors where many Indigenous people work. The move raised the cost of a gallon of diesel to $2.80 from $1.80, which they said hit the poor hardest.

With no signs of dialogue after 18 days, one protester has been killed, numerous protesters and authorities injured, and more than 100 people arrested.

The army announced a large deployment to the capital Thursday, saying it would prevent vandalism and destruction of property. As many as 5,000 troops were being deployed after dozens of protesters had marched at various sites in the city earlier in the day.

The most acute impact has been in the northern part of the country, especially Imbabura province, where Noboa won in April’s election with 52% of the vote.

According to Farith Simon, a law professor at the Universidad San Francisco in Quito one side is “a president who assumes that after winning the elections he has all of the power at his disposal, who has authoritarian tendencies and no disposition for dialogue,” and on the other side “an Indigenous sector that has shown itself to be uncompromising and is looking to co-govern through force.”

Protesters attacked Noboa’s motorcade with rocks Tuesday, adding to the tension as the administration denounced it as an assassination attempt.

The Indigenous organization rejected that assertion and insists its protests are peaceful and that it is the government that is responding with force.

AP Video shot by Cesar Olmos