Jump to content

2010 Ecuadorian crisis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Diazleonardo (talk | contribs) at 00:52, 1 October 2010 (Added Honduran coup d'état). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

On September 30, 2010, the National Police and Military Forces of Ecuador occupied Mariscal Sucre International Airport and the National Parliament in Quito, the country's capital,[1] protesting proposed cuts to their bonuses and benefits. After being attacked by the police President Rafael Correa was taken to a hospital where he declared a state of emergency,[2] accusing the opposition of attempting a coup.[3]

Background

Main article: Rafael Correa § Presidency 2009-present

In the past few years Ecuador has seen the overthrow of numerous presidents because of political unrest: Jamil Mahuad in 2000 and Lucio Gutiérrez in 2005, and between 1997 and 2007 (when Rafael Correa was first elected) there were eight presidents in Ecuador.[4]

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 austerity measures a new law was introduced that cuts benefits for public servants.[3] The Public service Law had already generated controversy during discussion in parliament, it even divided Correa's supporters and prompted him to consider dissolving parliament and calling for new elections.[5]

The AFP drew parallels to the 2009 Honduran coup d'état in which another Left-leaning Latin American president, Manuel Zelaya, was overthrown by paramilitary forces.[6] Correa also describes himself as "Left wing."[7]

Mutiny

Disguntled personnel from the National Police and Military Forces occupied Quito's main airport, Mariscal Sucre International Airport and the National Parliament. They burned tires in the street in protest against proposed cuts to their bonuses and benefits,[8] even taking hostage President Rafael Correa at an hospital[4][8] after he had left a barracks and was attacked by the police with tear gas.[8] Forces outside the hospital have kept him from leaving; a helicopter trying to evacuate him could not land.[9]

A state of emergency was then declared by Correa, after he accused the opposition and security forces of an attempted coup[3] and orchestrating the protests. He stated that he was declaring a five-day state of emergency in an attempt to restore order.[10] Police also closed 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 dead[11]. He called on the organisers of the protest to be punished. Reports also indicated the the armed forces were loyal to the president. [12] Correa said that a rescue operation had been ready for a few hours, but was postponed so as to avoid more bloodshed.[5]

Rafael Correa supporters were stopped from meeting the president, and there were clashes with the police in numerous places in Quito. [13] Supporters were reported to chant "This is not Honduras", referrring to the 2009 coup.[13]

Telesur reported that the police attacked Ecuador's state television channel.[14]

Reactions

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed concern.[15] The Organization of American States (OAS) Permanent Council approved by acclamation a resolution supporting the government of President Rafael Correa and asking all stakeholders to avoid "exacerbating" the political instability.[16]

UNASUR presidents will meet at Buenos Aires, Argentina in an emergency summit.[17] The Ecuadorian ambassador, María Isabel Salvador, said that the events "cannot, in any way, be considered as simple union acts or public protests."[18] She also said Correa was in touch with his ministers.[12]

Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez condemned the coup attempt, and stated that he and other South American leaders were "mobilizing to reject the coup".[10] 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.[19] Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, Paraguay and Spain also expressed full support for President Rafael Correa's government.[20]

Colombia said it had shut its border with Ecuador in solidarity with Correa.[21] Peru shut its border with Ecuador due to unrest[22], with President Alan García saying it would not reopen "until Democratic authority is restored."[20]

The United States declared support for President Rafael Correa through its Ambassador to the Organization of American States, Carmen Lomellin.[23] US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed "full support for President Rafael Correa, and the institutions of democratic government in that country."[24]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Decretan el estado de sitio en Ecuador y la policía tomó el Parlamento" (in Spanish). La Nacion. 30 Sep 2010.
  2. ^ "Chavez Condemns 'Coup Attempt' On Ecuador's Correa". Wall Street Journal. 30 Sep 2010.
  3. ^ a b c "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).
  4. ^ a b Los policías rebeldes retienen a Correa en un hospital de Quito, El País
  5. ^ a b Correa negó cualquier tipo de negociación con quienes lo mantienen secuestrado mientras no lo dejen salir del Hospital Policial, Página/12
  6. ^ 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"
  7. ^ Profile: Ecuador's Rafael Correa - BBC News
  8. ^ 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
  9. ^ "Ecuador declares emergency as police protest, president is attacked". CNN. 30 Sep 2010.
  10. ^ a b Chavez Condemns 'Coup Attempt' On Ecuador's Correa - Wall Street Journal, 30 Sep 2010
  11. ^ Correa ratifica que no negociará bajo presión, Telesur
  12. ^ a b Al Jazeera English News Update. 1 October 2010, 3:00.
  13. ^ a b "Esto no es Honduras", El País
  14. ^ "Ex abogado de Lucio Gutiérrez lideró ataque contra televisión pública de Ecuador". Telesur. 30 Sep 2010.
  15. ^ La ONU expresó su "firme respaldo" a Correa, Página/12
  16. ^ OAS Permanent Council Repudiates Events in Ecuador and Supports the Government of President Correa
  17. ^ "Los presidentes de la región se reunirán en Buenos Aires por la crisis en Ecuador". Infobae.com. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
  18. ^ "OAS secretary general shows support towards Ecuador's Correa". Andina - Peru News Agency. September 30, 2010.
  19. ^ Chile's Pinera Backs Ecuador's Correa, Calls For Unasur Meeting - Dow Jones Newswires, 30 Sep 2010
  20. ^ a b La Nación
  21. ^ Colombia joins Peru in closing borders with Ecuador - Reuters, 30 Sep 2010
  22. ^ "Peru's Garcia says to shut Ecuador border due unrest". Reuters.com. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
  23. ^ Protesting police throw Ecuador into chaos - AP/USA Today, 30 Sep 2010
  24. ^ Ecuador declares emergency as police protest, president is attacked - CNN
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=2010_Ecuadorian_crisis&oldid=388018525"