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NEWS & LETTERS, MAY 2003
Meeting the new boss in Ecuador
Guayaquil, Ecuador--Unfortunately the news in Ecuador is
not good. Lucio Gutiérrez, who, during the election campaign, had already begun
to backtrack from his radical position, is looking more and more like just
another power-amassing CAUDILLO. His first act as president was to travel to the U.S. and
assure Bush that "Ecuador is your best friend." This was followed by
what he is putting forth as his first major achievement as president, an
agreement with the IMF for an additional $200 million, which brings with it the
usual "belt tightening" (read: it is to be paid for on the backs of
the poor). The state-controlled price of gasoline was raised by a
whopping 35%, which raised the cost of public transportation and utilities and
set off a new cycle of inflation. At the same time he froze public salaries and
made commitments to the IMF with respect to privatization and other government
"economies." This from a man who as candidate spoke of the primacy of
the "social debt" over that of the external debt. Adding insult to injury, in a recent speech to students,
he urged them to no longer take to the streets. His policies have sparked
strikes amongst teachers, health workers and civil servants. For the appointment
of his sister as Ambassador to Argentina and for other appointments, he has
already been accused of nepotism. Wherever he goes he troops along adoring followers of
his Patriotic Society Party. Recently, after joint military exercises with the
U.S., a "forgotten" hand grenade went off on the Isle of Puná (just
outside of Guayaquil), destroying homes and leaving five dead and numerous
injured. Gutiérrez arrived with his contingent and delivered 200 sacks of rice
stamped with his propaganda. Gutiérrez, we must remember, ascended to the presidency
based solely on his support of the indigenous uprising of January 2000, which
demanded a total restructuring of the political institutions of the country, a
freeze on paying the external debt, massive spending in health and education
(teachers only received their paltry February salaries toward the end of March),
and revoking the agreement that turned an air base in Manta over to the U.S.
military (already during the election campaign Gutiérrez had promised to
"honor all agreements with the U.S."). His overwhelming electoral victory was a result entirely
of the Ecuadorian masses' passion for fundamental change. To date this victory
seems to have had the effect of at least temporarily co-opting radical
indigenous organizations and stifling dissent. However, these passions are so
strong and deeply rooted in centuries of exploitation that they are certain to
erupt sooner or later, most likely with renewed vigor. --Roger |
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