Update: Since our March 16 analysis (below) of the revolution taking place in Ecuador, the Palacio regime has declared a state of emergency in 5 central provinces to try to subdue the massive indigenous protests. The indigenous people of Ecuador, joined by students and labor have taken as stand against President Palacio's negotiations with the U.S. government and the so-called "Free Trade Agreements". The Ecuadorans have strengthened their blockades in "at least" 8 highland regions. These blockades have paralyzed much of the country and thousands have marched on Quito, bringing the capital city to a standstill. These actions on the part of the Ecuadorans mirror the successful revolution in Bolivia last May, leading to the ousting of U.S.-backed President Mesa and newly elected Evo Morales - the first indigenous president ever in Bolivia. Axis of Logic will be keeping a close eye on developments in Ecuador and new uprisings against neo-liberal politics in other parts of Latin America, the latest occurring in Nicaragua. - Les Blough, Editor

Reuters news clip - Ecuador declared a state of emergency in five central provinces on Tuesday to try to control renewed protests by thousands of Indians demanding the government quit U.S. free-trade talks this week.

Interior Minister Felipe Vega announced the measure after Indian peasants intensified blockades on key roads in at least eight highland regions in protests that have cost Ecuador millions in lost commerce since they began last week.

Indigenous revolution in Ecuador?

It appears that Ecuadorians are about to explode again against their government’s renewed involvement in the U.S.-spawned, “Free Trade Agreement”. All of the central mountain chain running through Ecuador and all Ecuadorian Amazonia are paralyzed by the mobilizations of indigenous people against the Free Trade Agreement. The capital city of Quito has been brought to a standstill. The Interior Minister has already resigned in the face of social protest, destabilization and repression currently ruling throughout the country.

President Palacio wants to sign the Free Trade Agreement with the US instead of calling for a Constituent Assembly as he promised a year ago. The indigenous peoples have paralyzed 11 or 22 provinces and are marching on Quito. Teachers and public employees are on strike. They all want Occidental Petroleum (OXY) out of the country. The President of the Congress indicated that the government could fall, stating that the country is approaching a “true convulsion”. The powerful Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador, CONAIE is heading this movement, refusing to compromise on the government’s negotiations with the United States. President Alfredo Palacio has threatened to meet the protests with “maximum authority”

Rebelión  reports that new provinces and students added their weight to the indigenous protests with blockades of the highways. These same tactics were used to overthrow the government of Bolivia last summer, leading to the election of Evo Morales as the first indigenous president of that Latin American nation. Wilfrido Lucero, President of the Congress stated that the country is facing a 'true convulsion'. In the Amazon province of Pastaza, television news shows strong clashes between soldiers and demonstrators when they tried to block petroleum exploitation of the foreign company Agip Oil and occupy it by the force. The protest in Pastaza is primarily motivated by the demand for the government to deliver economic resources to the people.

Enrique Proaño, Secretary of Communication, reported that Palacio held a meeting with the Wilfrido Lucero, President of the Congress, and with the head of the Supreme Court, Jaime Velasco, asking them to report on these developments and the threat by CONAIE.

'The orders of the CONAIE to withdraw the negotiators from Free Trade Agreement and to expel Oxy Petroleum (Occidental Petroleum Company) are not worthy of consideration and appears to be in what is a pursuit of destabilization of democracy'.

'The country is in a true convulsion, in a very critical situation, we are on the road to the anarchy and probably to dissolution', declared the President of the Congress.

The paralysis of activities called for by the CONAIE has extended to 11 of the 22 provinces of the country, mostly the centers of agricultural production. 

The Pan American highway and other secondary routes are completely blocked at points with trucks, rocks, land and burned tires. 

In Quito scores of leaders and students of public establishments closed some streets in Quito, engaging in clashes with the police while trying to reach Government House. A group of CONAIE supporters has occupied the colonial cathedral in central Quito as a protest against the Free Trade Agreement with the US. 

The indigenous people remain, waiting for an answer from the government to their demands as presented to the Undersecretary of State, Felipe Vega, who met with the president of the CONAIE, Luis Macas into the early morning hours. 

Macas said that "... if Palacio did not have the will to talk to the people, if he is not prepared to consult them on the Free Trade Agreement, at best we are saying, as he has said, that he wants to go home, the let him leave, that if the best path to take". 

The CONAIE, now under the strong leadership of Macas, has re - emerged from disarray a year ago, after the landslide democratic victory of an indigenous president in Bolivia, Evo Morales. The “Morales” effect and the inspiration of the Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela appears to have revitalized the will and determination of the CONAIE after 5 centuries of oppression and exploitation by feudal and then capitalist economic systems. 

The protests also caused some shortages of basic foodstuffs and supplies in Quito and other cities due to the paralysis of commerce and transportation. 

The Minister of Defense has sent 3.000 troops to rescue 15 government soldiers held by demonstrators, announcing that “he will clean” the cut highways. Alexis Ponce, of the Permanent Assembly of Human Rights of Ecuador, has denounced the indigenous repression that already counts for scores of injured, included children as young as five years of age with symptoms of asphyxiation by tear gas. He also indicated that there is no light or water in Quito at this time. 

Thousands of indigenous people are expected to arrive in Quito today which would further immobilize the city.

References: 

1. http://www.rebelion.org/noticia.php?id=28367
2. Telephone conference with Axis of Logic’s news correspondent in Latin America
3. Ecuador calls emergency to quell Indian protest
   Carlos Andrade , -Reuters
   

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