Ecuador Mobilizes Against Free Trade Agreement

On November 9, on the eve of the signing of the Andean Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the United States, Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru, the Federation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE in its Spanish initials) released a communiqué. Signing the FTA, said federation president Luis Macas, was equivalent to “allowing not just the goods but the life of present and future generations of Ecuadorians to be confiscated, as we will be submitted to the laws of transnational corporations and the geo-strategy of the United States.”

For that reason, as well as other demands (such as Occidental Petroleum’s exit from the country), Ecuador’s social organizations called for mobilization: “We call on the Ecuadorian people, on the social organizations, on the assemblies and all the popular sectors committed to profound change, to demand that the country rise to the task of QUE SE VAYAN TODOS” (“all of them must go,” meaning the political class).

And, logically, inside the circles of power, in the office of President Alfredo Palacio, no one paid attention to them. Because of that, since a little over 48 hours ago, Quito and a few Ecuadorian provinces have been living through some turbulent times.

Yesterday, for example, Macas and Blanca Chancoso, also from CONAIE, began leading a march that began in the historic town of Otavalo. “They are walking to Quito. It is a warning of what is coming if Palacio gives in to the minority, if he signs the FTA with Bush and hands our national sovereignty. Blanca Chancosa said that this symbolic occupation of Quito has the solidarity of all who dream of a new country, of a different country,” explains an article in Altercom.

Today (Wednesday), as yesterday, a huge march crossed the center of Quito… barrios, communities, and people representing no political party are in the streets in these days of resistance.

But in addition to reporting on this new earthquake of resistance, kind readers, we want to take advantage of the opportunity to show you a bit more about what these brave Ecuadorians do…

An “Escrache” to the Ambassador

Last night, the combative La Floresta neighborhood held one of its well known popular assemblies. The people of La Floresta decided to make “a peaceful march around the barrio, demonstrating its rejection of the signing of the Free Trade Agreement between Ecuador and the United States,” as they explain in their communiqué to the press.

Read More (with more photos):
http://narcosphere.narconews.com/story/2005/11/17/53351/297