Ecuador and Politics, Outsider Looking In

I've been back from Ecuador for 14 days now, so I can't give a ground report on Quito at the moment; I will however try to explain an Ecuadorian view towards politics and politicians. Please, remember this is from a gringo outsider, so my interpretation will be colored by that fact.

Though, I can't comment directly on the Supreme Court issue, since I did not follow too much of the event when I was there. I was aware crowds where being tear gassed outside the court house, and when I left via Quito the court building was blocked off by the police and military. The Gutierrez's government has been in trouble ever since he broke with the Indigenous political block early after his election. His government also used tear gas to break up a demonstration of striking teacher's demanding back pay at the end of 2003 in Quito, according to a Peace Corp. volunteer I spoke with who witnessed the incident. I personally watched a different teacher's demonstration in Santa Domingo which ended peacefully, and with little police presence. Though soon after I left in Feb. 2004, Gutierrez's forces used tear gas, and bullets against supporters of CONAIE, and other Indigenous groups in Latacunga calling for his resignation  in  mid-Feb. of 2004. http://www.tulane.edu/~libweb/RESTRICTED/WEEKLY/20 04_0222.txt

 The Governor of Cotopaxi seated in the provincial capital city of Latacunga sums up the view of many of Ecuador's Indigenous and rural populations in this quote from Ecuador's Indymedia site basically saying that Lucio is incapable or governing the majority of people in the nation, because he's lair, and uses fascist forms of repression.

  " El movimiento indigena ratifico que Gutierrez debe renunciar. Cesar Umajinga fue mas enfatico: " El presidente es incapaz de gobernar para la mayoria de ecuatorianos, porque le ha mentido al pais y hoy arremete con represion, creando una situacion de neofascismo", dijo." http://ecuador.indymedia.org/en//2004/02/4736.shtml - Comenzaron las movilizaciones anunciadas - Agencia Plurinacional de Noticias del Ecuador 11.02.2004 04:0

So in some sense what we are seeing is not new for the current regime. I do believe if the situation worsens, the protesters in Quito and other cities will need the support of the Indigenous and rural populations, in order for change to happen on a national scale.

      I've found the general view towards politicians to be a very negative one; basically anyone involved in politics has automatically, yet honestly revealed them self as a corrupt liar and thief by entering the political arena. So, no one is ever surprised when a politician, lies, steals, or goes to great lengths to maintain power with total disregard for the rule of democratic law. This seems to be the primary view people hold of a career politician, particularly anyone with ties to the ruling oligarchy. CONAIE party members seemed to be trusted more by the indigenous and farm communities. The main reason being the party is an umbrella for hundreds of different political organizations, so any dishonesty or broken promises could  break apart the union within the party. Also, as a party built on alliances; they have the ability to shut down the nation rather quickly with a call for general strikes and road blocks; this fact strikes fear among the ruling class, and parts of the growing middle class, though the fragile and fairly new middle class appears to be very sympathetic to the rural and indigenous majority.  Yet, there are still many people who see the political mess and don't wish to be involved, but rather prefer to get on with their lives. This will remain so with many of these people until something effects them directly. Though their views our usually very cynical with regards to politics as well.

Ecuadorian society is very socially conservative, and the further one gets from the coast the more Conservative it becomes. Though this social conservatism is not what one would think of in terms of social conservatism in the United States.  One, it's a very caring society for it's more unfortunate; one will not see throngs of homeless or hungry people in the streets. People appear to have a strong sense of  duty and obligation to help the less fortunate, were in The United States these people are cast aside, incarcerated, or lost in useless social programs. Families and the church take care of these people, and some families even take on the duty of caring for someone without a family structure to fall back on. Violence is also frowned upon throughout the society as a whole. I have not seen a strong visual military presence or masses of heavily armed police on a daily basis, as I have seen other nations to the North in Central America; many of the police do not even carry guns. The society prides themselves on the tranquility of their nation. This is not to say that Ecuador is violence free, or the family structure solves all of it's social problems, of which it has many, but rather the society is more static and stable as regards to culture and values, unlike the moral relativism one finds in the U.S.

The reason I brought up Ecuador's social conservatism, is those who wish to change Ecuador's government into a less corrupt, and IMF independent nation have no desire to strip the rich of their property, and cause massive social upheaval. Those I spoke within the indigenous movement wish to preserve their culture, and have the freedom to make these decisions on their own, rather than having harmful polices imposed on them from the government which is seen in many ways, as a puppet of Washington.

This brings me to the conclusion that the majority of people in Ecuador want stability and a greater regard for the democratic process than is being displayed by the current administration. They are asking that their grievances and wants be addressed by those in power and not ignored after receiving their vote. They use a common term "Turno", meaning no matter who they elect it's just another clown from the political class who will be the same as the last clown they just threw out;  it's this very thing they wish to purge from their political system. They want real change through real democracy. Yet, those who want this change are very aware of the fact there are non-indigenous, non-rural, and those with greater wealth, who were also born in Ecuador, and should be treated fairly and justly as everyone else. The voice I hear for change is not for blood, but rather respect, and fairness for all.

I hope this is helpful, my insight into the culture, being a gringo, may be too candy coated. I have had no real contact with the ruling/owning class, so I can't give any insight into how they view the general population. I can only guess it's something akin to nobility and serfdom, since the society has a long history of a feudalistic style government.