2010 Ecuadorian crisis: Difference between revisions
→Mutiny: "demonstrators" was ambiguous, as it could have meant either the police-as-attackers or counter-demonstrators; Pablo Guerrero was involved in the TV attack according to the source |
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The most direct cause of the protest is reported to be that, as part of a government-sponsored new public service law, cuts to the benefits for public servants were introduced.<ref name="bbcfirst" /> The ''Public service Law'' had already generated controversy during discussion in parliament;<ref name= P12b>{{es}}[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>{{es}}[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 is reported to be that, as part of a government-sponsored new public service law, cuts to the benefits for public servants were introduced.<ref name="bbcfirst" /> The ''Public service Law'' had already generated controversy during discussion in parliament;<ref name= P12b>{{es}}[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>{{es}}[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> |
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==Coup d'état Attempt== |
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==Mutiny== |
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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 provincial capitals to demand that special bonuses received by the police and military be continued.<ref name="bbcfirst"/> These disgruntled personnel occupied the [[National Assembly of Ecuador|National Assembly]] building and Quito's Mariscal Sucre International Airport, forcing it to close for many hours. They burned tires on the streets to protest proposed cuts to their bonuses and other benefits,<ref name="guardian">[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/30/ecuador-chaos-police-rafael-correa 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</ref> even taking President Rafael Correa hostage at a hospital<ref name=ELPAIS>{{es}}[http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/policias/rebeldes/retienen/Correa/hospital/Quito/elpepuint/20100930elpepuint_5/Tes Los policías rebeldes retienen a Correa en un hospital de Quito, El País]</ref><ref name="guardian"/> after he had left a barracks and was attacked by the police with tear gas.<ref name="guardian"/> Forces outside the hospital kept him from leaving; a helicopter trying to evacuate him could not land.<ref name=CNN30Sep10>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/09/30/ecuador.violence/index.html?hpt=T1|title=Ecuador declares emergency as police protest, president is attacked|publisher=CNN|date=30 Sep 2010}}</ref> |
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 provincial capitals to demand that special bonuses received by the police and military be continued.<ref name="bbcfirst"/> These disgruntled personnel occupied the [[National Assembly of Ecuador|National Assembly]] building and Quito's Mariscal Sucre International Airport, forcing it to close for many hours. They burned tires on the streets to protest proposed cuts to their bonuses and other benefits,<ref name="guardian">[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/30/ecuador-chaos-police-rafael-correa 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</ref> even taking President Rafael Correa hostage at a hospital<ref name=ELPAIS>{{es}}[http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/policias/rebeldes/retienen/Correa/hospital/Quito/elpepuint/20100930elpepuint_5/Tes Los policías rebeldes retienen a Correa en un hospital de Quito, El País]</ref><ref name="guardian"/> after he had left a barracks and was attacked by the police with tear gas.<ref name="guardian"/> Forces outside the hospital kept him from leaving; a helicopter trying to evacuate him could not land.<ref name=CNN30Sep10>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/09/30/ecuador.violence/index.html?hpt=T1|title=Ecuador declares emergency as police protest, president is attacked|publisher=CNN|date=30 Sep 2010}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 15:21, 1 October 2010
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 Ecuador portal |
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. |
On September 30, 2010, portions of the national police and military forces of Ecuador blockaded highways and occupied the National Parliament and Mariscal Sucre International Airport 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
In the past few years Ecuador had seen the overthrow of numerous presidents because of political unrest: Jamil Mahuad in 2000 and Lucio Gutiérrez in 2005. 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 is reported to be that, as part of a government-sponsored new public service law, cuts to the benefits for public servants were introduced.[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]
Coup d'état Attempt
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 provincial capitals to demand that special bonuses received by the police and military be continued.[4] These disgruntled personnel occupied the National Assembly building and Quito's Mariscal Sucre International Airport, forcing it to close for many hours. They burned tires on the streets to protest proposed cuts to their bonuses and other benefits,[10] even taking President Rafael Correa hostage at a hospital[7][10] after he had left a barracks and was attacked by the police with tear gas.[10] Forces outside the hospital kept him from leaving; a helicopter trying to evacuate him could not land.[11]
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.[12] 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.[13] He called on the organisers of the protest to be punished. Reports also indicated the armed forces were loyal to the president.[14] 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,"[14] were stopped from meeting the president, and clashed with the police around Quito.[15] They reportedly chanted "This is not Honduras," in reference to the 2009 coup.[15]
Telesur reported that the police, accompanied by former president Lucio Gutiérrez' lawyer Pablo Guerrero, attacked Ecuador's state television channel,[16] and took abrupt control of the channels.[17] 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.[14]
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.[14] Rafael Correa was rescued from the hospital and taken to the Presidential Palace[18] 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.[19]
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".[19] 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 protestors 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".[20] 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 only a few members of the police who acted only for financial reasons and for medals and honours, out of ignorance of the real content of the law.[20] He said that the mutiny was incited for political motives, and he blamed former President Lucio Gutiérrez and opposition politicians for instigating the coup.[21]
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.[22] After being rescued, President Rafael Correa accused Gutiérrez for being behind the coup attempt.[14]
The law was never read nor accessorized[clarification needed] to any of the participants in the coup d' etat.[23] It is 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.[23][clarification needed] Police did chant "Lucio Gutiérrez president" which is the direct connection to implicated former president Lucio Gutiérrez, who had already participated in the coup d'etat against Jamil Mahuad, and was later deposed himself in 2005 for taking dictatoral actions while in government.[24] When he escaped demonstrations[clarification needed] against him, he vowed he would return to power.[23] While the incident was in progress Gutierrez called for the dissolution of the National Assembly,[25][26] coinciding with the actions of the police who had taken occupation of the assembly building. [27]
Journalist Jean-Guy Allard claimed on Radio Del Sur that the coup attempt "confirmed" a 2008 report by Defence Minister Javier Ponce on infiltration of the Ecuadorian police by United States intelligence services, including funding of police equipment and operations by the US, and payment of informers.[28] Allard claimed that the official reason for the visit of several United States officials to Ecuador during the months prior to the coup, "to deepen relations", was an "excuse" (Template:Es: pretexto).[28]
Reactions
Domestic reactions
The President of the National Assembly of Ecuador condemned the uprising and asserted that the assembly would not be intimidated. He also said that the mutiny was the result of a conspiracy and called on the people of Ecuador to defend democratic institutions.[29]
Citizens presented themselves in front of their provincial governments to evidence support towards their president Rafael Correa. [30] [31]
Supranational reactions
Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon expressed concern.[32]
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.[33] The Ecuadorian ambassador, María Isabel Salvador, said that the events "cannot, in any way, be considered as simple union acts or public protests."[34] She also said Correa was in touch with his ministers.[14]
The European Union's Foreign Policy chief also called for the respect of law and order.[14]
- 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".[35] 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,[36][37] along with representatives of Brazil and Paraguay.[38] 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.[38]
A statement[39] 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.[35]
It was established that, in the event of further attempts, immediate and concrete steps would be adopted, such as the closure of borders, suspension of commerce, air traffic, energy, services, and other supplies.[40] It was also decided that the Foreign Ministers of the South American countries travel to Quito on October 1 morning.[41]
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".[12] 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.[42] 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.[43]
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Mexico, Uruguay, Paraguay and Spain also expressed full support for Correa's government.[44] Argentina's Foreign Affairs Minister, Héctor Timerman, said "Latin American democracies will not allow a repeat in Ecuador of the coup in Honduras".[37]
Colombia said it had shut its border with Ecuador in solidarity with Correa.[45] Peru shut its border with Ecuador due to unrest,[46] with President Alan García saying it would not reopen "until Democratic authority is restored."[44]
The United States declared support for Correa through its ambassador to the Organization of American States.[47] US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed "full support for President Rafael Correa, and the institutions of democratic government in that country."[11]
See also
References
- ^ Template:Es"Decretan el estado de sitio en Ecuador y la policía tomó el Parlamento". La Nacion. 30 Sep 2010.
- ^ a b c "Ecuador president, hostage of mutinous police freed by elite Army forces, Mercopress". En.mercopress.com. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
- ^ "Chavez Condemns 'Coup Attempt' On Ecuador's Correa". Wall Street Journal. 30 Sep 2010.
- ^ 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).
- ^ a b Template:EsEl Ejército se enfrenta a tiros a los policías que retienen a Correa, El País
- ^ Template:Es"Militares rescatan a presidente de Ecuador secuestrado por policías sublevados". Telesur. 30 Sep 2010.
- ^ a b Template:EsLos policías rebeldes retienen a Correa en un hospital de Quito, El País
- ^ a b Template:EsCorrea negó cualquier tipo de negociación con quienes lo mantienen secuestrado mientras no lo dejen salir del Hospital Policial, Página/12
- ^ Template:EsRafael Correa, con apoyo del Ejército, se impuso a revuelta y venció a policías sublevados, El Tiempo
- ^ 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
- ^ a b "Ecuador declares emergency as police protest, president is attacked". CNN. 30 Sep 2010.
- ^ a b Chavez Condemns 'Coup Attempt' On Ecuador's Correa - Wall Street Journal, 30 Sep 2010
- ^ Template:EsCorrea ratifica que no negociará bajo presión, Telesur
- ^ a b c d e f g Al Jazeera English News Update. 1 October 2010, 3:00.
- ^ a b Template:Es"Esto no es Honduras", El País
- ^ Template:Es"Ex abogado de Lucio Gutiérrez lideró ataque contra televisión pública de Ecuador". Telesur. 30 Sep 2010.
- ^ "Manifestantes se tomaron canal de televisión pública- Noticias de Cuenca - Azuay - Ecuador - Eltiempo de Cuenca". Eltiempo.com.ec. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
- ^ Template:Es"Las Fuerzas Armadas del Ecuador lograron rescatar al Presidente Rafael Correa del hospital de la policía". Twitter.com. 30 Sep 2010.
- ^ a b "Correa: "Ecuadorian blood has been unnecessarily shed", Télam". English.telam.com.ar. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
- ^ a b Template:EsPresidente Correa anuncia la depuración de la Policía Nacional de Ecuador , Telesur
- ^ Template:EsPara Correa, detrás de la revuelta "hay muchos infiltrados de partidos políticos", La Nación
- ^ Template:Es[1]
- ^ a b c Template:Es El Universo, 1 October 2010, Correa: ¡Si quieren matar al Presidente, mátenme!
- ^ "Americas | Ecuador lifts state of emergency". BBC News. 2005-04-17. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
- ^ The National Assembly replaced the National Congress in 2009, under the 2008 Constitution of Ecuador.
- ^ "El ex presidente Gutiérrez pide la disolución de la Asamblea- Noticias de Cuenca - Azuay - Ecuador - Eltiempo de Cuenca". Eltiempo.com.ec. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
- ^ "Escolta legislativa cambió de objetivo y frenó a los oficialistas - OCT. 01, 2010 - Política". El Universo. 1980-01-01. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
- ^ a b Allard, Jean-Guy (2010-09-30). "Informe confirmado: Inteligencia USA penetró a fondo la policía ecuatoriana" (in Spanish). Radio of the South. Archived from the original on 2010-10-01. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link) (archival copy has css problem: change style or select text to read) - ^ Template:EsPresidente de Asamblea Nacional de Ecuador dice que parlamento "no se dejará intimidar por presiones", Telesur
- ^ "El apoyo al presidente Correa se sintió en Cuenca- Noticias de Cuenca - Azuay - Ecuador - Eltiempo de Cuenca". Eltiempo.com.ec. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
- ^ [2]
- ^ Template:EsLa ONU expresó su "firme respaldo" a Correa, Página/12
- ^ "OAS Permanent Council Repudiates Events in Ecuador and Supports the Government of President Correa". Oas.org. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
- ^ "OAS secretary general shows support towards Ecuador's Correa". Andina - Peru News Agency. September 30, 2010.
- ^ a b Template:EsLos presidentes de la Unasur se reunirán de urgencia en Buenos Aires, La Nación
- ^ Template:Es"Los presidentes de la región se reunirán en Buenos Aires por la crisis en Ecuador". Infobae.com. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
- ^ a b "Unasur emergency summit in Buenos Aires in support of Correa and democracy, Mercopress". En.mercopress.com. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
- ^ a b Template:EsLa Unasur reaccionó sin fisuras, Página/12
- ^ 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 - ^ Template:EsUnasur exige que responsables de desórdenes en Ecuador sean condenados, El Tiempo
- ^ Template:EsUnasur: los cancilleres de la región viajarán a Quito para "respaldar" a Correa, La Nación
- ^ Chile's Pinera Backs Ecuador's Correa, Calls For Unasur Meeting - Dow Jones Newswires, 30 Sep 2010
- ^ Template:EsPresidente de Guatemala llama a comunidad internacional a rechazar golpe en Ecuador , Telesur
- ^ a b Template:EsLa Nación
- ^ Colombia joins Peru in closing borders with Ecuador - Reuters, 30 Sep 2010
- ^ "Peru's Garcia says to shut Ecuador border due unrest". Reuters.com. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
- ^ Protesting police throw Ecuador into chaos - AP/USA Today, 30 Sep 2010
External links
- Hoy Chronology of the events. Published in one of the largest Quito's daily newspapers.