www.newsandletters.org
|
|
NEWS & LETTERS, May-June 2005Our Life and Times by Kevin A. BerryMass protests oust Ecuador's presidentWeeks of massive demonstrations in Quito, in April, resulted in the ouster of President Lucio Gutiérrez, both hero of and subsequently traitor to the January 2000 near-revolution, where even greater popular forces had induced President Mahuad to flee the country and had gained temporary control of the Congress. Gutierrez’ improbable election to the presidency in 2002 reflected nothing less than the hunger of the Ecuadorian masses for fundamental change. His betrayal came quickly, taking the form of playing lapdog to the U.S. and the IMF by continuing the previous government’s neo-liberal crippling economic policies, working toward a free trade treaty and continuing its military alliance with the U.S. He ensured his own downfall last December by engineering a deal with the most corrupt elements of Congress that resulted in the unconstitutional replacement of the entire Supreme Court and the return to the country from exile of Abdalá Bucaram, the despised ex-President who was deposed in 1997. Upon Bucaram’s return, demonstrations began on a daily basis in Quito. Protests throughout the capital included many youth from the high schools and universities. Largely leaderless, they clanged pots and pans and honked horns in front of Gutiérrez’ home and the Supreme Court building, symbols of the government’s corruption. Mobilizations were organized with cell phones and use of the Internet. The protesters were given impetus by a popular radio station, La Luna, which reported critically on events, including police use of tear gas to intimidate the marchers (two deaths were reported, including a Chilean journalist). The station broadcast the government’s statements and then opened its microphones to demonstrators in the streets. When Gutiérrez characterized the protesters as "forajitos" (delinquents), everyone from high school students to nuns joined the "movimiento de forajitos." The two major political parties most threatened by Bucaram’s return (the centrist Izquierda Democrática and the far right Social Christians), jumped on the bandwagon, sponsoring demonstrations in Quito and Guayaquil. When the military withdrew its support of Gutiérrez on April 20, he abandoned his post. In defiance of the popular demand, "que se vayan todos" ( "out with them all," including Bucaram and the Congress), the Congress met and appointed Gutiérrez’ vice president, Alfredo Palacio, to the presidency. For the time being it appears that the established powers have the situation in hand, but the passion of the masses for a new society that reflects human values cannot be held in check indefinitely. --R.H. |
|
Home l News & Letters Newspaper l Back issues l News and Letters Committees l Dialogues l Raya Dunayevskaya l Contact us l Search Published by News and Letters Committees |
