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2010 Ecuadorian crisis

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The 2010 Ecuador crisis took place on September 30, 2010, when elements 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 taken to a hospital where he declared a state of emergency,[3] accusing the opposition of attempting a coup.[4] Clashes occurred between rebellious police forces and loyal army forces,[5] who successfully rescued Correa after he had been 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 few years up to 2007 several presidents had been overthrown in political unrest, e.g., 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 published on 15 September 2010 showed Correa had a 67% approval rating in Quito and 59% in Guayaquil.[2]

The most direct cause of the protest was 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]

Parallels have been drawn to the coup d'état in Honduras[10][11][12] in which another left-leaning Latin American president, Manuel Zelaya, was overthrown by the military during a constitutional crisis in that country.[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 provincial capitals to demand that special bonuses paid to 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,[15] even preventing President Rafael Correa from leaving a hospital where he had taken refuge[7][15] after he had left a barracks and was attacked by the police with tear gas.[15] Forces outside the hospital kept him from leaving; a helicopter trying to evacuate him could not land.[16] They also arrested one presidential bodyguard.[17]

Correa then declared a state of emergency, 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.[18] 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 leave either as president or as a corpse.[19] He called on the organisers of the protest to be punished. Reports indicated the armed forces remained loyal to the president.[20] 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,"[20] were stopped from meeting the president, and clashed with the police around Quito.[12] They reportedly chanted "This is not Honduras," in reference to the 2009 coup.[12]

Telesur reported that the police, accompanied by former president Lucio Gutiérrez's lawyer Pablo Guerrero, attacked Ecuadorians state television,[21] and took abrupt control of the channels.[22] Looters also 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.[20]

Rescue

About 500 military forces[17] 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.[20] Rafael Correa was rescued from the hospital and taken to the Presidential Palace[23], where he gave a "fiery speech"[17] to the public thanking those who supported him and came to Quito to support[24][25] 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.[26]

He criticised those who attempted the coup saying: "How could they call themselves police after acting like this against the people?", and said there would not be any immunity for the perpetrators nor would there be any "negotiation under duress".[26] 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 protesters 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".[27] 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.[27] He said that the mutiny was incited for political motives, and he blamed former President Lucio Gutiérrez and opposition politicians for attempting to instigate a coup.[28]

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 attempt. Gutiérrez suggested new elections "could be the constitutional solution to avoid the possibility of bloodshed in the country."[29][30] coinciding with the actions of the police who had taken occupation of the assembly building[31]. His lawyer was reported to have been spotted amongst a crowd of officers that cut off the transmission of state television.[32] Police also chanted "Lucio [Gutiérrez] president" [33] which is a direct connection to implicate the former president, who had also participated in the coup d'etat against Jamil Mahuad.[34] After being rescued, Correa accused Gutiérrez for being behind the coup attempt.[20]

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 the CIA, including funding of police equipment and operations, and payment of informers.[35] Allard claimed that the reason for the visit of several United States officials "to deepen relations" during the months prior to the coup attempt was a "pretext."[clarification needed][35] A former CIA agent Philip Agee alleged that the coup "confirms" US involvement with the Ecuadorian police.[36] Pepe Escobar of Asia Times also alleged that "everyone in South America" knows of US involvement, as he cited similar reaction to the Honduran coup.[37] Russia Today alleged a link between the School of the Americas and the attempted coup.[38]

Aftermath

Reports also indicated the police were back to work the next day and Guayaquil was back to normal.[20] The chief of police. Freddy Martinez, took responsiblity, and resigned following the attacks saying "A commander shown such lack of respect by his subordinates cannot stay in charge."[39] The government said it would not purge the police force, but were looking for those responsible who would "not be pardoned."[20]

Ricardo Patiño, the foreign minister, warned the situation was not over. "We cannot claim total victory. We have overcome the situation for now, but we cannot relax. The coup attempt may have roots out there, we have to find them and pull them up."[40]

The media also speculated that the crisis could mean a popularity boost for Correa, who had lost some support in recent months.[20] It also cited Correa's mixed relationship with the armed forces since taking office, and this crisis could force a more "delicate line" working with the military. Previously he won over military chiefs using increases in salary hikes and appointments to what were considered "cushy state jobs." If the police protests blow over, Correa will likely be forced to negotiate to keep the ranks calm. However, the international media also cited Correa's popularatiy among the poor for his spending oil largesse on welfare programmes and a firm stance against foreign investors. He may now be forced to boost public spending and seek alternative sources of credit after Ecuador's 2008 default on about $3 billion in debt. Additionally, foreign oil companies in Ecuador have until November to sign new contracts that would boost state control on the oil industry.[41]

Reactions

Domestic

The President of the National Assembly of Ecuador condemned the uprising and said that the assembly would not be intimidated, and that the mutiny was the result of a conspiracy; he called on the people of Ecuador to defend democratic institutions.[42]

International organisations

Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon expressed concern.[43]

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.[44] Ecuadorian ambassador María Isabel Salvador said that the events "cannot, in any way, be considered as simple union acts or public protests."[45] She also said Correa was in touch with his ministers.[20]

The European Union's Foreign Policy chief called for law and order to be respected.[20]

UNASUR
UNASUR Presidents at the Buenos Aires emergency summit. Juan Manuel Santos (Colombia) and Hugo Chávez (Venezuela) were in flight to Buenos Aires at the time of this picture, and arrived hours later.

The Secretary General of UNASUR, Néstor Kirchner, said "South America cannot tolerate that corporative interests threaten and put pressure on democratically elected governments for fear of losing undue privileges".[46] An emergency summit was held on the night of September 30 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,[47][10] along with representatives of Brazil, Paraguay, Guyana and Suriname.[48] There were two notable absentees: 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.[48]

A statement[49] 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 Guyana, on 26 November.[46]

It was established that, in the event of further attempts, immediate and concrete steps would be taken, such as the closure of borders, suspension of commerce, air traffic, energy, services, and other supplies.[50] It was also decided that the Foreign Ministers of the South American countries travel to Quito on October 1 morning.[51]

International

Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez condemned the coup attempt, and stated that he and other South American leaders were "mobilizing to reject the coup".[18] 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.[52] 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.[11]

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Mexico, Uruguay, Paraguay and Spain also expressed full support for Correa's government.[46] Argentina's Foreign Affairs Minister, Héctor Timerman, said "Latin American democracies will not allow a repeat in Ecuador of the coup in Honduras".[10]

Colombia said it had shut its border with Ecuador in solidarity with Correa.[53] Peru shut its border with Ecuador due to unrest,[54] with President Alan García saying it would not reopen "until Democratic authority is restored."[46]

Iran's Ambassador, Majid Salehi, said he was monitoring the situation and that it "fully supported Correa's legal government throughout the incident." He also added that Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki talked to Correa later.[55] In the conversation, Correa stressed that ties between the two states were strong and "certain countries were seeking to damage Iran-Ecuador relations" but emphasised a will to further strengthen ties after saying "Ecuador would not allow any country to interfere in its foreign relations." Ahmadinejad, in turn, welcomed their growing ties saying "Iran and Ecuador enjoy deep, brotherly relations."[56]

The United States declared support for Correa through its ambassador to the Organization of American States.[57] US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed "full support for President Rafael Correa, and the institutions of democratic government in that country."[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ Template:Es "Decretan el estado de sitio en Ecuador y la policía tomó el Parlamento". La Nación. 30 Sep 2010.
  2. ^ a b c "Ecuador president, hostage of mutinous police freed by elite Army forces". En.mercopress.com. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
  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.
  5. ^ a b Template:Es "El Ejército se enfrenta a tiros a los policías que retienen a Correa". El País. 30 Sep 2010.
  6. ^ Template:Es "Militares rescatan a presidente de Ecuador secuestrado por policías sublevados". Telesur. 30 Sep 2010.
  7. ^ a b Template:Es "Los policías rebeldes retienen a Correa en un hospital de Quito". El País. Sep 30 2010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ a b Template:Es "Correa negó cualquier tipo de negociación con quienes lo mantienen secuestrado mientras no lo dejen salir del Hospital Policial". Página/12. 30 Sep 2010.
  9. ^ Template:Es "Rafael Correa, con apoyo del Ejército, se impuso a revuelta y venció a policías sublevados". El Tiempo. 30 Sep 2010.
  10. ^ a b c "Unasur emergency summit in Buenos Aires in support of Correa and democracy, Mercopress". En.mercopress.com. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
  11. ^ a b Template:Es "Presidente de Guatemala llama a comunidad internacional a rechazar golpe en Ecuador". Telesur. 20 Sept 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ a b c Template:Es""Esto no es Honduras"". El País. Sep 30 2010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  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. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
  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. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ a b "Ecuador declares emergency as police protest, president is attacked". CNN. 30 Sep 2010.
  17. ^ a b c "Police Officers Strike in Ecuador (slideshow)". The New York Times. Oct 1 2010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ a b "Chavez Condemns 'Coup Attempt' On Ecuador's Correa". Wall Street Journal. 30 Sep 2010.
  19. ^ Template:Es "Correa ratifica que no negociará bajo presión". Telesur. Sep 30 2010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Al Jazeera English News Update. 1 October 2010, 3:00.
  21. ^ Template:Es "Ex abogado de Lucio Gutiérrez lideró ataque contra televisión pública de Ecuador". Telesur. 30 Sep 2010.
  22. ^ Template:Es "Manifestantes se tomaron canal de televisión pública". Eltiempo.com.ec. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
  23. ^ Template:Es "Las Fuerzas Armadas del Ecuador lograron rescatar al Presidente Rafael Correa del hospital de la policía". Twitter.com. 30 Sep 2010.
  24. ^ Template:Es "El apoyo al presidente Correa se sintió en Cuenca". Eltiempo.com.ec. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
  25. ^ Template:Es "Marcha en Loja de respaldo al Gobierno". El Universo. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
  26. ^ a b "Correa: "Ecuadorian blood has been unnecessarily shed"". English.telam.com.ar. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
  27. ^ a b Template:Es "Presidente Correa anuncia la depuración de la Policía Nacional de Ecuador". Telesur. 30 Sep 2010.
  28. ^ Template:Es "Para Correa, detrás de la revuelta "hay muchos infiltrados de partidos políticos"". La Nación. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
  29. ^ The National Assembly replaced the National Congress in 2009, under the 2008 Constitution of Ecuador.
  30. ^ Template:Es "El ex presidente Gutiérrez pide la disolución de la Asamblea". Eltiempo.com.ec. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
  31. ^ Template:Es "Escolta legislativa cambió de objetivo y frenó a los oficialistas". El Universo. 1980-01-01. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
  32. ^ Template:Es "Ex presidente Lucio Gutiérrez pide disolución de parlamento ecuatoriano". abc.es. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
  33. ^ Template:Es "Correa: ¡Si quieren matar al Presidente, mátenme!". El Universo. 1 October 2010.
  34. ^ "Americas - Ecuador lifts state of emergency". BBC News. 2005-04-17. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
  35. ^ 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)
  36. ^ http://www.centrodealerta.org/noticias/inteligencia_eeuu_detras_de.html
  37. ^ Latin America Rising. Russia Today.
  38. ^ CIA behind failed Ecuador coup? . Russia Today.
  39. ^ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39441275/ns/world_news-americas
  40. ^ http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2010/10/201010120395502860.html
  41. ^ http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2010/10/201010185239445772.html
  42. ^ Template:Es "Presidente de Asamblea Nacional de Ecuador dice que parlamento "no se dejará intimidar por presiones"". Telesur. 30 Sept 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  43. ^ Template:Es "La ONU expresó su "firme respaldo" a Correa". Página/12. September 30, 2010.
  44. ^ "OAS Permanent Council Repudiates Events in Ecuador and Supports the Government of President Correa". Oas.org. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
  45. ^ "OAS secretary general shows support towards Ecuador's Correa". Andina - Peru News Agency. September 30, 2010.
  46. ^ a b c d Template:Es "Los presidentes de la Unasur se reunirán de urgencia en Buenos Aires". La Nación. September 30, 2010.
  47. ^ Template:Es "Los presidentes de la región se reunirán en Buenos Aires por la crisis en Ecuador". Infobae.com. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
  48. ^ a b Template:Es "La Unasur reaccionó sin fisuras". Página/12. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
  49. ^ 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 events. 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 a 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, indispensable 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
    From: "Los presidentes de la Unasur se reunirán de urgencia en Buenos Aires". La Nación. Retrieved 2010-09-30. Template:Es
  50. ^ Template:Es "Unasur exige que responsables de desórdenes en Ecuador sean condenados". El Tiempo. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
  51. ^ Template:Es "Unasur: los cancilleres de la región viajarán a Quito para "respaldar" a Correa". La Nación. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
  52. ^ "Chile's Pinera Backs Ecuador's Correa, Calls For Unasur Meeting". Dow Jones Newswires. 30 Sep 2010.
  53. ^ "Colombia joins Peru in closing borders with Ecuador". Reuters. 30 Sep 2010.
  54. ^ "Peru's Garcia says to shut Ecuador border due unrest". Reuters.com. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
  55. ^ http://www.presstv.ir/detail/144773.html
  56. ^ http://www.presstv.ir/detail/144623.html
  57. ^ "Protesting police throw Ecuador into chaos". AP/USA Today. 30 Sep 2010.
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