2012 Ecuadorian protests: Difference between revisions
per talk, rvt non AGF vandalism starkyl against CONSENSUS and now not AGF but bordering on "vandalism" |
|||
| Line 33: | Line 33: | ||
==Background== |
==Background== |
||
{{POV|date=March 2012}} |
{{POV|date=March 2012}} |
||
The protests commenced in part due to an agreement between Ecuador and China's for a 25-year<ref name="gpost">{{cite web|url=http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/120309/ecuador-natives-begin-two-week-march-protest-chinese-mining-company |title=Ecuador natives begin two-week march to protest Chinese mining companies |publisher=Globalpost.com |date=2009-11-29 |accessdate=2012-03-11}}</ref> investment contract of US$1.4 billion (£900m) El Pangui<ref name="bbc">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-17306228 |title=BBC News - Ecuador indigenous protesters march against mining |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2012-03-11}}</ref> for an open-cast industrial copper mining concession in |
The protests commenced in part due to an agreement between Ecuador and China's for a 25-year<ref name="gpost">{{cite web|url=http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/120309/ecuador-natives-begin-two-week-march-protest-chinese-mining-company |title=Ecuador natives begin two-week march to protest Chinese mining companies |publisher=Globalpost.com |date=2009-11-29 |accessdate=2012-03-11}}</ref> investment contract of US$1.4 billion (£900m) El Pangui<ref name="bbc">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-17306228 |title=BBC News - Ecuador indigenous protesters march against mining |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2012-03-11}}</ref> for an open-cast industrial copper mining concession in the province of [[Zamora-Chinchipe]].<ref name="Aljaz"/> |
||
At the same time a march took place against Canada's [[Corriente Resources]]' [[Ecuacorriente]]'s [[Mirador (Ecuador)|Mirador]] copper mine in [[Yantzaza]].<ref name="canada">{{cite web|author=staff |url=http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/mar2012/2012-03-08-01.html |title=Indigenous Ecuadorians March Against Canadian Copper Mine |publisher=Ens-newswire.com |date= |accessdate=2012-03-11}}</ref> |
At the same time a march took place against Canada's [[Corriente Resources]]' [[Ecuacorriente]]'s [[Mirador (Ecuador)|Mirador]] copper mine in [[Yantzaza]].<ref name="canada">{{cite web|author=staff |url=http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/mar2012/2012-03-08-01.html |title=Indigenous Ecuadorians March Against Canadian Copper Mine |publisher=Ens-newswire.com |date= |accessdate=2012-03-11}}</ref> |
||
CONAIE, the umbrella organisation leading the protest march, |
CONAIE, the umbrella organisation leading the protest march, claims to represent the interests of Ecuador's indigenous population. CONAIE supported Correa in the [[Ecuadorian presidential election, 2006|2006 election]] when he won his first term,<ref name="Aljaz"/> as well as many of his programmes;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://upsidedownworld.org/main/content/view/1288/49/ |title=Ecuador: CONAIE Indigenous Movement Condemns President Correa |publisher=Upsidedownworld.org |date=2008-05-16 |accessdate=2012-03-11}}</ref> however they later accused him of favouring [[free market]] policies in disregards of his original intentions. In the past their protests have contributed to the removals of presidents [[Abdalá Bucaram]] in 1997 and [[Jamil Mahuad]] in 2000.<ref name="Aljaz"/> |
||
===Parallels=== |
===Parallels=== |
||
| Line 43: | Line 43: | ||
==Goals== |
==Goals== |
||
Humberto Cholango, the head of CONAIE, said that the protest did not seek to oust President [[Rafael Correa]], but only to seek the passing of laws to protect water resources and consultation with indigenous groups over future mining projects.<ref name="Aljaz"/> CONAIE also said that many people would be forced off their land.<ref name="bbc"/> They also claimd the policy would lead to more mining concessions.<ref name="france24"/> The protesters also seek Congress' denunciation of what they called the "criminalisation of social protest," the collection of new taxes and for the removal of "some" civil servants.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5issdLTmEu4HMMx3JzvKbfI2I8FCg?docId=CNG.7feae09cde7d4c3d75379bfb3430d933.461 |title=AFP: Ecuador Indians march to protest Correa's land policies |publisher=Google.com |date= |accessdate=2012-03-11}}</ref> |
Humberto Cholango, the head of CONAIE, said that the protest did not seek to oust President [[Rafael Correa]], but only to seek the passing of laws to protect water resources and consultation with indigenous groups over future mining projects.<ref name="Aljaz"/> CONAIE also said that many people would be forced off their land.<ref name="bbc"/> They also claimd the policy would lead to more mining concessions.<ref name="france24">{{cite web|url=http://www.france24.com/en/20120308-ecuador-indians-begin-protest-march-against-land-policy |title=Ecuador Indians begin protest march against land policy |publisher=FRANCE 24 |date= |accessdate=2012-03-11}}</ref> The protesters also seek Congress' denunciation of what they called the "criminalisation of social protest," the collection of new taxes and for the removal of "some" civil servants.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5issdLTmEu4HMMx3JzvKbfI2I8FCg?docId=CNG.7feae09cde7d4c3d75379bfb3430d933.461 |title=AFP: Ecuador Indians march to protest Correa's land policies |publisher=Google.com |date= |accessdate=2012-03-11}}</ref> |
||
==Protest march== |
==Protest march== |
||
The [[Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador]] (CONAIE), supported by some opposition parties and student and teachers' unions,<ref name="bbc"/> organised the cross-country march starting from [[El Pangui]], [[Zamora-Chinchipe]]. Several hundred indigenous Ecuadorians took part in the first stage in protest against the mining concessions in the [[Amazon basin]], which they said would lead to [[ |
The [[Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador]] (CONAIE), supported by some opposition parties and student and teachers' unions,<ref name="bbc"/> organised the cross-country march starting from [[El Pangui]], [[Zamora-Chinchipe]]. Several hundred indigenous Ecuadorians took part in the first stage in protest against the mining concessions in the [[Amazon basin]], which they said would lead to [[environmental degradation]] and threaten their livelihoods. The march reached [[Quito]] on 22 March. |
||
On 22 March, about 1,000 of the indigenous protesters entered Quito from the south with a giant rainbow flag. CONAIE's Humberto Cholango said that they had not "come to destabilise."<Ref name="reach"/> |
|||
===Counter-protest=== |
===Counter-protest=== |
||
Nearly 10,000 Correa supporters were called out<ref>{{cite web|author=Hello, Guest |url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/mar/08/ecuador-amazon-indians-in-mine-protest/ |title=Ecuador Amazon Indians in mine protest |publisher=UTSanDiego.com |date= |accessdate=2012-03-11}}</ref> outside the presidential palace in Quito on 8 February to show their support for the president.<ref name="Aljaz"/> As the protesters reached Quito on 22 March, the [[government of Ecuador]] called for guarding against a coup d'etat. Correa spoke to his supporters, 500 of whom were indigenous protesters entering the Quito from the north:<ref name="reach">http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2012/03/2012322212522359941.html</ref> |
Nearly 10,000 Correa supporters were called out<ref>{{cite web|author=Hello, Guest |url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/mar/08/ecuador-amazon-indians-in-mine-protest/ |title=Ecuador Amazon Indians in mine protest |publisher=UTSanDiego.com |date= |accessdate=2012-03-11}}</ref> outside the presidential palace in Quito on 8 February to show their support for the president.<ref name="Aljaz"/> As the protesters reached Quito on 22 March, the [[government of Ecuador]] called for guarding against a coup d'etat. Correa spoke to his supporters, 500 of whom were indigenous protesters entering the Quito from the north:<ref name="reach">http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2012/03/2012322212522359941.html</ref> |
||
<blockquote>We will never talk to the corrupt right, with the liars! |
<blockquote>We will never talk to the corrupt right, with the liars! ... We know that mining is necessary for modern life. As well as the raw materials, we need the revenue so that we can care for handicapped people, pay for social security, build roads. These are the best negotiated contracts ever in world history," he said. "We got as much out of them as was possible.</blockquote> |
||
==Responses== |
==Responses== |
||
Revision as of 20:24, 26 March 2012
| 2012 Ecuadorian protests | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | March 2012 – | ||
| Location | |||
| Caused by | Environmental degradation Perceived threat to indigenous livelihoods Mining concessions in the Amazon | ||
| Goals | Laws protecting water resources Consultation with indigenous communities over mining projects | ||
| Status | Ongoing | ||
| Parties | |||
| Lead figures | |||
The 2012 Ecuadorian protests is a series of demonstrations by indigenous peoples who oppose the copper mining concessions in the province of Zamora-Chinchipe. On 22 March, the protesters reached the capital Quito to be met with counter protesters and warnings from the government and President Rafael Correa.
Background
 |
The protests commenced in part due to an agreement between Ecuador and China's for a 25-year[1] investment contract of US$1.4 billion (£900m) El Pangui[2] for an open-cast industrial copper mining concession in the province of Zamora-Chinchipe.[3]
At the same time a march took place against Canada's Corriente Resources' Ecuacorriente's Mirador copper mine in Yantzaza.[4]
CONAIE, the umbrella organisation leading the protest march, claims to represent the interests of Ecuador's indigenous population. CONAIE supported Correa in the 2006 election when he won his first term,[3] as well as many of his programmes;[5] however they later accused him of favouring free market policies in disregards of his original intentions. In the past their protests have contributed to the removals of presidents Abdalá Bucaram in 1997 and Jamil Mahuad in 2000.[3]
Parallels
Similarly, in August 2011, protesters in Bolivia began a cross-country march against fellow pink tide President Evo Morales' initiative to build the Villa Tunari – San Ignacio de Moxos Highway through the Isiboro Sécure National Park and Indigenous Territory.[3] CONAIE also sent Morales a letter of concern.[6]
Goals
Humberto Cholango, the head of CONAIE, said that the protest did not seek to oust President Rafael Correa, but only to seek the passing of laws to protect water resources and consultation with indigenous groups over future mining projects.[3] CONAIE also said that many people would be forced off their land.[2] They also claimd the policy would lead to more mining concessions.[7] The protesters also seek Congress' denunciation of what they called the "criminalisation of social protest," the collection of new taxes and for the removal of "some" civil servants.[8]
Protest march
The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE), supported by some opposition parties and student and teachers' unions,[2] organised the cross-country march starting from El Pangui, Zamora-Chinchipe. Several hundred indigenous Ecuadorians took part in the first stage in protest against the mining concessions in the Amazon basin, which they said would lead to environmental degradation and threaten their livelihoods. The march reached Quito on 22 March.
On 22 March, about 1,000 of the indigenous protesters entered Quito from the south with a giant rainbow flag. CONAIE's Humberto Cholango said that they had not "come to destabilise."[9]
Counter-protest
Nearly 10,000 Correa supporters were called out[10] outside the presidential palace in Quito on 8 February to show their support for the president.[3] As the protesters reached Quito on 22 March, the government of Ecuador called for guarding against a coup d'etat. Correa spoke to his supporters, 500 of whom were indigenous protesters entering the Quito from the north:[9]
We will never talk to the corrupt right, with the liars! ... We know that mining is necessary for modern life. As well as the raw materials, we need the revenue so that we can care for handicapped people, pay for social security, build roads. These are the best negotiated contracts ever in world history," he said. "We got as much out of them as was possible.
Responses
Zamora-Chinchipe's governor, Salvador Quishpe, said of the protesters planned expansion route that: "People are very motivated, there will always be more people in each village."
President Rafael Correa alleged that CONAIE sought to destabilise his government, while claiming the protest march would be a "resounding failure."[3] He also claimed the mine would help fund other development projects as roads, schools and hospitals.[2] Meanwhile he also called for further mobilisations til 22 March saying: "Resist peacefully, on March 8 we will gather in Independence Square and say, 'Here we are and this revolution does not stop anything or anyone!'"[4]
References
- ^ "Ecuador natives begin two-week march to protest Chinese mining companies". Globalpost.com. 29 November 2009. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
- ^ a b c d "BBC News - Ecuador indigenous protesters march against mining". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Native Ecuadorans protest Amazon mining - Americas". Al Jazeera English. 4 October 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
- ^ a b staff. "Indigenous Ecuadorians March Against Canadian Copper Mine". Ens-newswire.com. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
- ^ "Ecuador: CONAIE Indigenous Movement Condemns President Correa". Upsidedownworld.org. 16 May 2008. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
- ^ Rising, Bolivia (1 October 2011). "Bolivia Rising: Letter from CONAIE to Evo Morales regarding TIPNIS". Boliviarising.blogspot.in. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
- ^ "Ecuador Indians begin protest march against land policy". FRANCE 24. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
- ^ "AFP: Ecuador Indians march to protest Correa's land policies". Google.com. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
- ^ a b http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2012/03/2012322212522359941.html
- ^ Hello, Guest. "Ecuador Amazon Indians in mine protest". UTSanDiego.com. Retrieved 11 March 2012.