Carlos Pérez Guartambel is also an indigenous leader and the president of Confederación de Pueblos de la Nacionalidad Kichwa del Ecuador – ECUARUNARI. On 3 December 2015, in the context of a series of peaceful demonstrations in different parts of Ecuador aimed at opposing the recent approval of constitutional amendments authorising President Correa to run indefinitely for re-election, he got assaulted by mounted police officers. ECAURUNARI has been known for its opposition to privatization of water and the advance of mining operations into water sources.