Ecuador Takes to the Streets, Again

On Friday, in an act that recalled the classic style of Latin American dictatorships, President Lucio Guriérrez of Ecuador forgot that it was his people who elected him and turned against them. Gutiérrez, faced with massive demonstrations against him, declared a state of emergency. This time, the Ecuadorian people seem to have decided not to accept the authoritarianism of Gutiérrez, a soldier who joined the popular insurrection that overthrew President Jamil Mahuad in 2002. This stage of the conflict has now gone on for two days, and the people are in the streets. The origin of the conflict: Gutiérrez’s dissolving of the Supreme Court, which he had already illegally “reorganized” several months earlier. Colonel Gutiérrez, who betrayed his indigenous allies after their joint electoral success in November 2002, has spent just over two years harassing Ecuador’s social leaders, the diverse political parties in Congress, and the journalists that have dared to criticize him, as he denounced a report from Amnesty International this March. In the last few months he has provoked new protests against him, not just for having aligned himself with the U.S. government and the recommendations of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, but also for having “reorganized” the judiciary last December, supported by members of Congress loyal to his administration.

And so, the night of Friday, April 15, Gutiérrez announced on television and radio, from the Carondelet Palace (and after an enormous march against him the same day in Quito), that he would dissolve the Supreme Court of Justice, on which he had illegally placed magistrates loyal to his own interests on December 10. To make this all “legal,” the former army colonel released Executive Decree No. 2752 on Friday at 9:30 pm. Among other things, it declared the Quito metropolitan area to be in a state of emergency, suspending several civil rights established in the constitution. But this didn’t get Gutiérrez anywhere, because the people took to the streets of the capital once again yesterday, banging on pots and waving banners, to protest the government.

The new de facto dictator (in Ecuador they’re talking about a “half-coup”) confirms that he has forgotten his own words, spoken a few hours before being elected in November 2002, when he said that in order to rebuild the country it was necessary to work together, and that “our process of dialog will now be more open than ever.” But the people understand, and won’t get fooled again. Last night, although Gutiérrez decreed an end to the state of emergency, the demonstrations continued in Quito and in Guayaquil. In fact, this morning, it was announced that the protests will continue, with or without repression or human right violations. From Radio La Luna (a community radio station in the capital) calls began to be heard for civil disobedience and protests under the slogan “que se vayan todos”  (“out with all the politicians”), starting with Lucio Gutiérrez.

The Man in the Moon and the Frightened Ambassador

And speaking of the media and Radio La Luna, it would be a good idea to take a look at the role played by this Ecuadorian radio station. Authentic journalist and social activist Paco Velasco has spent years their opening the studio to the people. His role in the 2000 insurrection was decisive in the unmaking of corrupt former president Jamil Mahuad. Velasco, who together with Ataúlfo Tobar spent all day on the air defying Gutiérrez’s state of emergency, allowing the Ecuadorian people to express their discontent with the government. According to an article in the newspaper El Comercio, Velasco was heard yesterday speaking with a citizen who was identified by name and ID number. The journalist asked: “Who is behind all of this [the mobilization in Quito].” The man on the line responded, “the citizenry.” The people at La Luna have declared, together with the Ecuadorian masses, that they will work an “endless shift” until this is over.

But the common people are not the only ones worried. Chilean president Ricardo Lagos has canceled an official state visit to Ecuador, the U.N. has said the usual (“concerned about instability, etc., etc.,”)… and even Gutiérrez’s main partner, the United States, has had its say. This morning the U.S. embassy in Quito sent out a press release, signed by Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney, pressing the Gutiérrez administration to “show moderation and respect the civil rights of all citizens,” and, of course, asking Ecuadorians not to resort to acts of violence. (Could it be that the embassy is afraid of losing its best ally in one afternoon?)

Congress, just barely controlled by the opposition, has convened an extra-ordinary session today. Many hope that that the dissolution of the Supreme Court of Justice, something that the opposition wants as much as the ruling party does, is  legalized. Nevertheless, the protests continue. Gutiérrez could be on the verge of going the same route as several other bad Ecuadorian and Latin American governments… we’ll be be paying attention, kind readers, to events in Quito (in the streets and in Congress) to bring you this immediate history….