Ecuador: rioting against free trade agreement with US escalates

[bemildred]

Tuesday, 21 March

Ecuador's main Indian federation claimed Monday that 30 peasants had been hospitalized and over 100 arrested during violent protests against a free trade pact with the United States scheduled to be signed in the coming days

Santiago de la Cruz, a leader from the Indian federation said that peasants clashed with police and soldiers in several parts of the country. Official reports indicate that the riots occurred in at least eight of the country’s twenty two provinces.

The indigenous protest, which began on March 13 but lost steam last week erupted again Monday with demonstrators demanding an immediate suspension of the free trade talks, the ousting from Ecuador of U.S. oil firm Occidental (Oxy) and the convening of a Constitutional Assembly.

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"The situation of some of our injured is very serious. The government has ordered full repression against demonstrators”, stressed the Indian leader who accused the President Palacio administration of curtailing “freedom of expression and the right to protest, which are safeguarded by the Constitution".

MercoPress

[David__77]

1. People voted against this in Ecuador.

They have to be more discerning in comparing the real versus the phony left.

[november3rd]

2. whaddayamean?

It seems like the real left is out there protesting the trade negotiations, aren't they? Are you saying that the negotiators for Ecuador don't really represent the people?

[David__77]

3. In the last elections, they voted for an anti-neoliberal government.

That does not appear to be what they are getting, if they are going to sign on to the US-led trade bloc.

[struggle4progress]

4. Ecuador declares emergency amid Indian protest

QUITO, Ecuador (Reuters) - Ecuador declared a state of emergency in five central provinces on Tuesday to control renewed protests by thousands of Indians who are demanding the government quit U.S. free-trade talks this week.

Interior Minister Felipe Vega announced the measure after Indian peasants renewed protests that have blocked key roads and trimmed commerce in at least eight highland provinces since last week.

The state of emergency forbids public gatherings, marches and sets curfews.

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-03-22T010151Z_01_N21339457_RTRUKOC_0_US-ECUADOR-PROTEST.xml

[bemildred]

5. Gee, they are trying to "silence the opposition" in Ecuador.

I look forward to all the reporting on the undemocratic government in Ecuador.