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NEWS & LETTERS, November-December 2005Crisis in EcuadorA major problem that we have in Ecuador is the politicized judicial system. The current chapter of our eternal political crisis was sparked last December when now-deposed President Lucio Gutiérrez sacked the entire Supreme Court and appointed replacements to do his bidding. The crisis in Ecuador is once again starting to come to a head. "Que se vayan todos!" (Out with them all!) was the cry of the popular movement that ousted Gutiérrez last April. "All" refers to the vice president who replaced Gutiérrez, the entire Congress and the entire judicial system. It is clear to the rulers of the country that something has to be done to avoid a genuine revolution. So they are busy arguing about how to rearrange the furniture on the Titanic. The president and Congress cannot agree on whether there should be a popular referendum or a constitutional assembly or a constituent assembly. Whatever they come up with in the end, you can be sure that it won't allow for fundamental change. Any kind of "popular" assembly will likely be stacked with political party hacks; and just in case somehow the voice of the people accidentally sneaks through, its powers will be limited to making cosmetic changes. Sinking the free trade talks, defying the IMF, and breaking the military treaty with the U.S., which allows a U.S. air base in the Ecuadorian port at Manta, are highly popular demands that are definitely off the table, as far as the government is concerned. I guess it is too much to expect the president and the Congress to write their own epitaphs. Over the past 10 years Ecuador has been playing the game of musical presidents (three coup d'etats, eight different presidents), and absolutely nothing has changed. The leaders of all the popular grassroots movements are once again calling for mass demonstrations. A new uprising is almost inevitable. The question is whether it will once again be betrayed by the cunning of the military (backed by the political and economic elites, who in turn are backed by the U.S. government) or the lack of revolutionary vision on the part of the leadership. --Supporter in Ecuador |
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