2010 Ecuadorian crisis: Difference between revisions

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The most direct cause of the protest that appears to have lead to the current crisis is reported to be that as part of Correa's new law was introduced that cuts benefits for public servants.<ref name="bbcfirst" /> The ''Public service Law'' had already generated controversy during discussion in parliament<ref name= P12b>[http://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/ultimas/20-154095-2010-09-30.html Correa negó cualquier tipo de negociación con quienes lo mantienen secuestrado mientras no lo dejen salir del Hospital Policial, Página/12]</ref>; it even divided Correa's supporters and prompted him to consider dissolving parliament the day before and call for new elections<ref name=ET>[http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/latinoamerica/crisis-en-ecuador-con-el-presidente-rafael-correa_8037661-1 Rafael Correa, con apoyo del Ejército, se impuso a revuelta y venció a policías sublevados, El Tiempo]</ref>.
The most direct cause of the protest that appears to have lead to the current crisis is reported to be that as part of Correa's new law was introduced that cuts benefits for public servants.<ref name="bbcfirst" /> The ''Public service Law'' had already generated controversy during discussion in parliament<ref name= P12b>[http://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/ultimas/20-154095-2010-09-30.html Correa negó cualquier tipo de negociación con quienes lo mantienen secuestrado mientras no lo dejen salir del Hospital Policial, Página/12]</ref>; it even divided Correa's supporters and prompted him to consider dissolving parliament the day before and call for new elections<ref name=ET>[http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/latinoamerica/crisis-en-ecuador-con-el-presidente-rafael-correa_8037661-1 Rafael Correa, con apoyo del Ejército, se impuso a revuelta y venció a policías sublevados, El Tiempo]</ref>.

The law was never read nor accessorized to any of the participants in the coup d' etat. <ref>[http://eluniverso.com/2010/10/01/1/1355/correa-quieren-matar-presidente-matenme.html?p=1354&m=1775]</ref> It's known that the police were ill informed of the new measures that were not meant to cut benefits, but intended to be given through other means. <ref>[http://eluniverso.com/2010/10/01/1/1355/correa-quieren-matar-presidente-matenme.html?p=1354&m=1775]</ref> Police did chant "Lucio Gutierrez president" which is the direct connection to implicated former president [[Lucio Gutierrez]], who had already participated in the coup d' etat to Jamil Mahuad, and was later deposed of himself in 2005 for taking dictator type actions in government. When he escaped manifestations against him, he vowed he would return to power. <ref>[http://eluniverso.com/2010/10/01/1/1355/correa-quieren-matar-presidente-matenme.html?p=1354&m=1775]</ref>



Parallels have been drawn to the [[2009 Honduran coup d'état|coup d'état in Honduras]] in which another [[Pink tide|left-leaning Latin American president]], [[Manuel Zelaya]], was overthrown by the military.<ref>[http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gv-LKSLPrUjDx3AE_Z3miYHvbnNQ?docId=CNG.73253ccffd9665fd3d9deefa4f505723.01 Ecuador in turmoil amid 'coup attempt'] - AFP/Yahoo News, 30 Sep 2010. "''The unrest, which recalled a coup which overthrew the elected president in Honduras last year''"</ref> Correa also describes himself as "[[Left-wing politics|left-wing]]."<ref name="bbc2">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6187364.stm Profile: Ecuador's Rafael Correa] - BBC News</ref>
Parallels have been drawn to the [[2009 Honduran coup d'état|coup d'état in Honduras]] in which another [[Pink tide|left-leaning Latin American president]], [[Manuel Zelaya]], was overthrown by the military.<ref>[http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gv-LKSLPrUjDx3AE_Z3miYHvbnNQ?docId=CNG.73253ccffd9665fd3d9deefa4f505723.01 Ecuador in turmoil amid 'coup attempt'] - AFP/Yahoo News, 30 Sep 2010. "''The unrest, which recalled a coup which overthrew the elected president in Honduras last year''"</ref> Correa also describes himself as "[[Left-wing politics|left-wing]]."<ref name="bbc2">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6187364.stm Profile: Ecuador's Rafael Correa] - BBC News</ref>

Revision as of 09:05, 1 October 2010

On September 30, 2010, the National Police and deserter Military Forces of Ecuador blockaded highways and occupied Mariscal Sucre International Airport and National Parliament in Quito[1] protesting proposed cuts to their bonuses and benefits. After being attacked by the police[2], President Rafael Correa was escorted to a hospital within a police compound, where he was treated for irritant gas inhalation. From there, he declared a state of emergency,[3] accusing the opposition of attempting a coup.[4] Clashes occurred between rebellious police ranks and loyal army forces,[5] who successfully rescued Correa after he was held for 10 hours at the hospital.[6] Unrest and looting had been reported around the country.[4]

Background

Main article: Rafael Correa § Presidency 2009-present

In the past few years Ecuador had seen the overthrow of numerous presidents because of political unrest: Jamil Mahuad in 2000 by Lucio Gutierrez, and Lucio Gutiérrez himself in 2005, and between 1997 and 2007 (when Rafael Correa was first elected) there were eight presidents in Ecuador.[7] A poll in mid-September, showed Correa had a 67% approval rating in Quito and 59% approval in Guayaquil.[2].

The most direct cause of the protest that appears to have lead to the current crisis is reported to be that as part of Correa's new law was introduced that cuts benefits for public servants.[4] The Public service Law had already generated controversy during discussion in parliament[8]; it even divided Correa's supporters and prompted him to consider dissolving parliament the day before and call for new elections[9].

The law was never read nor accessorized to any of the participants in the coup d' etat. [10] It's known that the police were ill informed of the new measures that were not meant to cut benefits, but intended to be given through other means. [11] Police did chant "Lucio Gutierrez president" which is the direct connection to implicated former president Lucio Gutierrez, who had already participated in the coup d' etat to Jamil Mahuad, and was later deposed of himself in 2005 for taking dictator type actions in government. When he escaped manifestations against him, he vowed he would return to power. [12]


Parallels have been drawn to the coup d'état in Honduras in which another left-leaning Latin American president, Manuel Zelaya, was overthrown by the military.[13] Correa also describes himself as "left-wing."[14]

Mutiny

On the morning of September 30, members of the Ecuadorian Armed Forces and police occupied several barracks and set up road blocks in nine of the country's provintial capitals to demand that special bonuses received by the police and military be continued.[4] These disgruntled personnel occupied Quito's Mariscal Sucre International Airport, forcing it to close for many hours, and the National Parliament building. They burned tires on the streets to protest proposed cuts to their bonuses and other benefits,[15] even taking hostage President Rafael Correa at a hospital[7][15] after he had left a barracks and was attacked by the police with tear gas.[15] Forces outside the hospital have kept him from leaving; a helicopter trying to evacuate him could not land.[16]

A state of emergency was then declared by Correa, after he accused the opposition and security forces of an attempted coup[4] and orchestrating the protests. He stated that he was declaring a five-day state of emergency in an attempt to restore order.[17] Police also blocked roads in Guayaquil, the largest city of Ecuador, and reported unrest in 2 other cities.

He later spoke to national radio from hospital. He said he would not negotiate until the protests were called off and added that he would either leave as president or be taken out as a corpse.[18]. He called on the organisers of the protest to be punished. Reports also indicated the the armed forces were loyal to the president.[19] Correa said that a rescue operation had been ready for a few hours, but was postponed so as to avoid more bloodshed[8].

Correa's supporters, urged by the country's foreign minister to rescue "their president,"[19] were stopped from meeting the president, and clashed with the police around Quito[20]. They reportedly chanted "This is not Honduras," in reference to the 2009 coup[20].

Telesur reported that the police attacked Ecuador's state television channel.[21] Looters ransacked banks, supermarkets and shopping malls in the port city of Guayaquil. The Red Cross said 51 people were injured in the violence. Two policemen have died in the clashes,[2] and five people were reported injured.[19]

Rescue

Military forces loyal to the president rescued him after clashes with rebellious police forces outside the hospital.[5] He said police had tried to break into his room at the hospital. The rescue, which apparently destroyed the hospital, was shown live on Ecuadorean television.[19] As of 21:30, Rafael Correa was rescued from the hospital and taken to the Presidential Palace[22] and spoke to the public thanking those who supported him and came to Quito to support the "citizen's revolution and democracy in our country" and the members of the government who risked their lives in support of him. He also thanked UNASUR and the other Latin American countries that supported him[23].

He criticised those who carried out the coup saying: "How could they call themselves police after like this against the people?", and said there would not be any immunity for the perpetrators nor would there be any "negotiation under duress"[23]. He called the attackers "cowards" and claimed to have spoken to officers who were holding him hostage at the hospital and asked them two questions: Have you ever been paid this well? and have you read the law?. He claimed they said they had never been better treated than through his administration and that they had not read the controversial law. When the soldiers asked him to revoke the law, he answered that he did not have the power to do so and that he would leave as President or as a corpse, and in the end he left with his "head held high"[24]. He asserted that the "law would not be repealed" because he said "everything can be done through negotiation but not by force." He concluded his speech saying "history would judge them" and with "greater courage we will ensure that our citizen's revolution would not be stopped by anything. Until victory, always!"

His criticism included statements saying his administration had supported the police and were "stabbed in the back" by those who "bring shame to the national police," even though it was just a few members of the police who were fought only for financial reasons and for medals and honours, out of ignorance of the real content of the law [24]. He said that the mutiny was incited for political motives, and he blamed former President Lucio Gutiérrez and opposition politicians for instigating the coup.[25].

Perpetrators

Reports alleged Lucio Gutiérrez, a former president ousted by a popular uprising and leader of the opposition Sociedad Patriótica Party, had a hand in the attempted coup. He had been vocal in his opposition during the lead up to the coup. Gutiérrez suggested new elections "could be the constitutional solution to avoid the possibility of bloodshed in the country." His lawyer was reported to have been spotted amongst a crowd of officers that cut off the transmission of state television.[26] After being rescued, President Rafael Correa accused Gutiérrez for being behind the coup attempt [19].

Reactions

Domestic reactions

The President of Ecuadorean National Parliament condemned the uprising and asserted the assembly would not be intimidated. He also said the mutiny was the result of a conspiracy and called on the people of Ecuador to defend democratic institutions.[27]

Supranational reactions

Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon expressed concern.[28]

The Organization of American States Permanent Council unanimously approved by acclamation a resolution supporting Correa's government and asked all the stakeholders to avoid "exacerbating" the political instability.[29] The Ecuadorian ambassador, María Isabel Salvador, said that the events "cannot, in any way, be considered as simple union acts or public protests."[30] She also said Correa was in touch with his ministers.[19]

The European Union's Foreign Policy chief also called for the respect of law and order.[19]

UNASUR

The Secretary General of UNASUR, Néstor Kirchner, said "South America cannot tolerate that corporative interests threat and put pressure on democratically elected governments for fear of losing undue privileges"[31]. An emergency summit was held on September 30 night in Buenos Aires, Argentina, attended by UNASUR member state Presidents Evo Morales, Sebastián Piñera, José Mujica, Juan Manuel Santos, Hugo Chávez, Alan García, and host Cristina Kirchner,[32][33] along with representatives of Brazil and Paraguay[34].There were two notable exceptions to the meeting: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva did not attend because of the impending Brazilian general elections; and Fernando Lugo was absent because he was undertaking chemotherapy[34].

A statement[35] was issued condemning the coup attempt, reaffirming the regional compromise with democratic institutions, peace, rule of law, constitutional order and human rights as means to regional integration, and announcing the adoption of a Democratic Clause as an additional protocol to the Unasur Constitutive Treaty at the next Head of State summit in Guayana, on 26 November[31][36]. It was also decided that the Foreign Ministers of the South American countries travel to Quito on October 1 morning [37].

International reactions

Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez condemned the coup attempt, and stated that he and other South American leaders were "mobilizing to reject the coup".[17] Chilean president Sebastián Piñera also declared "absolute and total support for President Correa", and called for all democratic countries in South America to support Ecuadorian democracy.[38] Guatemalan President Álvaro Colom called on the international community to condemn "attempts similar to what happened in Honduras," and said the Central American Integration System was considering the issuance of a communiqué.[39]

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Mexico, Uruguay, Paraguay and Spain also expressed full support for Correa's government.[40] Argentina's Foreign Affairs Minister, Héctor Timerman, said "Latin American democracies will not allow a repeat in Ecuador of the coup in Honduras"[33].

Colombia said it had shut its border with Ecuador in solidarity with Correa.[41] Peru shut its border with Ecuador due to unrest,[42] with President Alan García saying it would not reopen "until Democratic authority is restored."[40]

The United States declared support for Correa through its ambassador to the Organization of American States.[43] US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed "full support for President Rafael Correa, and the institutions of democratic government in that country."[44]

See also

External links

  • Hoy Chronology of the events. Published in one of the largest Quito'S daily newspapers.

References

  1. ^ "Decretan el estado de sitio en Ecuador y la policía tomó el Parlamento" (in Spanish). La Nacion. 30 Sep 2010.
  2. ^ a b c Ecuador president, hostage of mutinous police freed by elite Army forces, Mercopress
  3. ^ "Chavez Condemns 'Coup Attempt' On Ecuador's Correa". Wall Street Journal. 30 Sep 2010.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Ecuador declares state of emergency amid 'coup attempt'". BBC news. 30 Sep 2010. Cite error: The named reference "bbcfirst" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b El Ejército se enfrenta a tiros a los policías que retienen a Correa, El País
  6. ^ "Militares rescatan a presidente de Ecuador secuestrado por policías sublevados". Telesur. 30 Sep 2010.
  7. ^ a b Los policías rebeldes retienen a Correa en un hospital de Quito, El País
  8. ^ a b Correa negó cualquier tipo de negociación con quienes lo mantienen secuestrado mientras no lo dejen salir del Hospital Policial, Página/12
  9. ^ Rafael Correa, con apoyo del Ejército, se impuso a revuelta y venció a policías sublevados, El Tiempo
  10. ^ [1]
  11. ^ [2]
  12. ^ [3]
  13. ^ Ecuador in turmoil amid 'coup attempt' - AFP/Yahoo News, 30 Sep 2010. "The unrest, which recalled a coup which overthrew the elected president in Honduras last year"
  14. ^ Profile: Ecuador's Rafael Correa - BBC News
  15. ^ a b c Ecuador thrown into chaos as police and troops take over airport; President Rafael Correa in showdown with protesters angry at new law that cuts their benefits - The Guardian, Sep 30 2010
  16. ^ "Ecuador declares emergency as police protest, president is attacked". CNN. 30 Sep 2010.
  17. ^ a b Chavez Condemns 'Coup Attempt' On Ecuador's Correa - Wall Street Journal, 30 Sep 2010
  18. ^ Correa ratifica que no negociará bajo presión, Telesur
  19. ^ a b c d e f g Al Jazeera English News Update. 1 October 2010, 3:00.
  20. ^ a b "Esto no es Honduras", El País
  21. ^ "Ex abogado de Lucio Gutiérrez lideró ataque contra televisión pública de Ecuador". Telesur. 30 Sep 2010.
  22. ^ "Las Fuerzas Armadas del Ecuador lograron rescatar al Presidente Rafael Correa del hospital de la policía". Twitter.com. 30 Sep 2010.
  23. ^ a b Correa: "Ecuadorian blood has been unnecessarily shed", Télam
  24. ^ a b Presidente Correa anuncia la depuración de la Policía Nacional de Ecuador , Telesur
  25. ^ Para Correa, detrás de la revuelta "hay muchos infiltrados de partidos políticos", La Nación
  26. ^ http://www.abc.es/agencias/noticia.asp?noticia=537069
  27. ^ Presidente de Asamblea Nacional de Ecuador dice que parlamento "no se dejará intimidar por presiones", Telesur
  28. ^ La ONU expresó su "firme respaldo" a Correa, Página/12
  29. ^ OAS Permanent Council Repudiates Events in Ecuador and Supports the Government of President Correa
  30. ^ "OAS secretary general shows support towards Ecuador's Correa". Andina - Peru News Agency. September 30, 2010.
  31. ^ a b Los presidentes de la Unasur se reunirán de urgencia en Buenos Aires, La Nación
  32. ^ "Los presidentes de la región se reunirán en Buenos Aires por la crisis en Ecuador". Infobae.com. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
  33. ^ a b Unasur emergency summit in Buenos Aires in support of Correa and democracy, Mercopress
  34. ^ a b La Unasur reaccionó sin fisuras, Página/12
  35. ^ The Heads of State and Government of the Unasur, reunited in the San Martín Palace, in the city of Buenos Aires, Republic of Argentina, on October 1st, 2010,
     1. Reaffirm their strong commitment to the preservation of democratic institutionality, the rule of law, constitutional order, social peace and unwavering respect for human rights, essential conditions in the process of regional integration.
    2. Strongly condemn the attempted coup and the subsequent kidnapping of President Rafael Correa Delgado in the sister Republic of Ecuador, on September 30.
    3. Celebrate the liberation of President Correa Delgado, and the prompt return to democratic institutional normality in the sister republic, expressing the need for the trial and conviction of those responsible for the coup. In this context, they reiterate their fullest support for the constitutional government and highlight the role played by the institutions for the restoration of the constitutional order.
    4. Affirm that their respective governments strongly reject and will not tolerate – in any way – any further defiance to the institutional authority, nor any attempt at coup against the legitimately elected civil power. They warn that in the case of a break with constitutional order, they will adopt immediate and concrete steps, such as the closure of borders, suspension of commerce, air traffic, and energy, services, and other supplies.
    5. Decide that their foreign ministers will travel today to the city of Quito to express their fullest support to the constitutional president of the Republic of Ecuador, Mr. Rafael Correa Delgado, and the Ecuadorian people, indispensible participants in the process of full reestablishment of the democratic institutionality in this country.
    6. Agree to adopt an additional protocol to the constitutive treaty of the Unasur, which shall establish the democratic clause
     Los presidentes de la Unasur se reunirán de urgencia en Buenos Aires, La Nación
  36. ^ Unasur exige que responsables de desórdenes en Ecuador sean condenados, El Tiempo
  37. ^ Unasur: los cancilleres de la región viajarán a Quito para "respaldar" a Correa, La Nación
  38. ^ Chile's Pinera Backs Ecuador's Correa, Calls For Unasur Meeting - Dow Jones Newswires, 30 Sep 2010
  39. ^ Presidente de Guatemala llama a comunidad internacional a rechazar golpe en Ecuador , Telesur
  40. ^ a b La Nación
  41. ^ Colombia joins Peru in closing borders with Ecuador - Reuters, 30 Sep 2010
  42. ^ "Peru's Garcia says to shut Ecuador border due unrest". Reuters.com. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
  43. ^ Protesting police throw Ecuador into chaos - AP/USA Today, 30 Sep 2010
  44. ^ Ecuador declares emergency as police protest, president is attacked - CNN
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