Behind the coup in Ecuador – The attack on ALBA
Eva Golinger | 03.10.2010 07:53 | Anti-militarism | Repression | Social Struggles | World
The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) members (2009)
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Behind the coup in Ecuador – The attack on ALBA
Eva Golinger, 1 October 2010
(translation: Machetera)
The latest coup attempt against one of the countries in the Bolivarian Alliance For The People of Our America (ALBA) is attempt to impede Latin American integration and the advance of revolutionary democratic processes. The rightwing is on the attack in Latin America. Its success in 2009 in Honduras against the government of Manuel Zelaya energized it and gave it the strength and confidence to strike again against the people and revolutionary governments in Latin America.
The elections of Sunday, September 26th in Venezuela, while victorious for the Venezuelan United Socialist Party (PSUV), also ceded space to the most reactionary and dangerous destabilizing forces at the service of imperial interests. The United States managed to situate key elements in the Venezuelan National Assembly, giving them a platform to move forward with their conspiratorial schemes to undermine Venezuelan democracy.
The day after the elections in Venezuela, the main advocate for peace in Colombia, Piedad Córdoba, was dismissed as a Senator in the Republic of Colombia, by Colombia’s Inspector General, on the basis of falsified evidence and accusations. But the attack against Senator Córdoba is a symbol of the attack against progressive forces in Colombia who seek true and peaceful solutions to the war in which they have been living for more than 60 years.
And now, Thursday, September 30th, was the dawn of a coup d’etat in Ecuador. Insubordinate police took over a number of facilities in the capital of Quito, creating chaos and panic in the country. Supposedly, they were protesting against a new law approved by the National Assembly on Wednesday, which according to them reduced labor benefits.
In an attempt to resolve the situation, President Rafael Correa went to meet with the rebellious police but was attacked with heavy objects and teargas, causing a wound on his leg and teargas asphyxiation. He was taken to a military hospital in Quito, where he was later kidnapped and held against his will, prevented from leaving.
Meanwhile, popular movements took to the streets of Quito, demanding the liberation of their President, democratically re-elected the previous year by a huge majority. Thousands of Ecuadorans raised their voices in support of President Correa, trying to rescue their democracy from the hands of coup-plotters who were looking to provoke the forced resignation of the national government.
In a dramatic development, President Correa was rescued in an operation by Special Forces from the Ecuadoran military in the late evening hours. Correa denounced his kidnapping by the coup-plotting police and laid responsibility for the coup d’etat directly upon former President, Lucio Gutiérrez. Gutiérrez was a presidential candidate in 2009 against President Correa, and lost in a landslide when more than 55% voted for Correa.
During today’s events, Lucio Gutiérrez declared in an interview, “The end of Correa’s tyranny is at hand,” also asking for the “dissolution of Parliament and a call for early presidential elections.”
But beyond the key role played by Gutiérrez, there are external factors involved in this attempted coup d’etat that are moving their pieces once again.
Infiltration of the Police
According to journalist Jean-Guy Allard, an official report from Ecuador’s Defense Minister, Javier Ponce, distributed in October of 2008 revealed “how US diplomats dedicated themselves to corrupting the police and the Armed Forces.”
The report confirmed that police units “maintain an informal economic dependence on the United States, for the payment of informants, training, equipment and operations.”
In response to the report, US Ambassador in Ecuador, Heather Hodges, justified the collaboration, saying “We work with the government of Ecuador, with the military and with the police, on objectives that are very important for security.” According to Hodges, the work with Ecuador’s security forces is related to the “fight against drug trafficking.”
The Ambassador
Ambassador Hodges was sent to Ecuador in 2008 by then President George W. Bush. Previously she successfully headed up the embassy in Moldova, a socialist country formerly part of the Soviet Union. She left Moldova sowing the seeds for a “colored revolution” that took place, unsuccessfully, in April of 2009 against the majority communist party elected to parliament.
Hodges headed the Office of Cuban Affairs within the US State Department in 1991, as its Deputy Director. The department was dedicated to the promotion of destabilization in Cuba. Two years later she was sent to Nicaragua in order to consolidate the administration of Violeta Chamorro, the president selected by the United States following the dirty war against the Sandinista government, which led to its exit from power in 1989.
When Bush sent her to Ecuador, it was with the intention of sowing destabilization against Correa, in case the Ecuadoran president refused to subordinate himself to Washington’s agenda. Hodges managed to increase the budget for USAID and the NED [National Endowment for Democracy] directed toward social organizations and political groups that promote US interests, including within the indigenous sector.
In the face of President Correa’s re-election in 2009, based on a new constitution approved in 2008 by a resounding majority of men and women in Ecuador, the Ambassador began to foment destabilization.
USAID
Certain progressive social groups have expressed their discontent with the policies of the Correa government. There is no doubt that legitimate complaints and grievances against his government exist. Not all groups and organizations in opposition to Correa’s policies are imperial agents. But a sector among them does exist which receives financing and guidelines in order to provoke destabilizing situations in the country that go beyond the natural expressions of criticism and opposition to a government.
In 2010, the State Department increased USAID’s budget in Ecuador to more than $38 million dollars. In the most recent years, a total of $5,640,000 in funds were invested in the work of “decentralization” in the country. One of the main executors of USAID’s programs in Ecuador is the same enterprise that operates with the rightwing in Bolivia: Chemonics, Inc. At the same time, NED issued a grant of $125,806 to the Center for Private Enterprise (CIPE) to promote free trade treaties, globalization, and regional autonomy through Ecuadoran radio, television and newspapers, along with the Ecuadoran Institute of Economic Policy.
Organizations in Ecuador such as Participación Ciudadana and Pro-justicia [Citizen Participation and Pro-Justice], as well as members and sectors of CODEMPE, Pachakutik, CONAIE, the Corporación Empresarial Indígena del Ecuador [Indigenous Enterprise Corporation of Ecuador] and Fundación Qellkaj [Qellkaj Foundation] have had USAID and NED funds at their disposal.
During the events of September 30 in Ecuador, one of the groups receiving USAID and NED financing, Pachakutik, sent out a press release backing the coup-plotting police and demanding the resignation of President Correa, holding him responsible for what was taking place. The group even went so far as to accuse him of a “dictatorial attitude.” Pachakutik entered into a political alliance with Lucio Gutiérrez in 2002 and its links with the former president are well known:
“PACHAKUTIK ASKS PRESIDENT CORREA TO RESIGN AND CALLS FOR THE FORMING OF A SINGLE NATIONAL FRONT
Press Release 141
In the face of the serious political turmoil and internal crisis generated by the dictatorial attitude of President Rafael Correa, who has violated the rights of public servants as well as society, the head of the Pachakutik Movement, Cléver Jiménez, called on the indigenous movement, social movements and democratic political organizations to form a single national front to demand the exit of President Correa, under the guidelines established by Article 130, Number 2 of the Constitution, which says: “The National Assembly will dismiss the President of the Republic in the following cases: 2) For serious political crisis and domestic turmoil.”
Jiménez backed the struggle of the country’s public servants, including the police troops who have mobilized against the regime’s authoritarian policies which are an attempt to eliminate acquired labor rights. The situation of the police and members of the Armed Forces should be understood as a just action by public servants, whose rights have been made vulnerable.
This afternoon, Pachakutik is calling on all organizations within the indigenous movement, workers, democratic men and women to build unity and prepare new actions to reject Correa’s authoritarianism, in defense of the rights and guarantees of all Ecuadorans.
Press Secretary
PACHAKUTIK BLOQUE”
The script used in Venezuela and Honduras repeats itself. They try to hold the President and the government responsible for the “coup,” later forcing their exit from power. The coup against Ecuador is the next phase in the permanent aggression against ALBA and revolutionary movements in the region.
The Ecuadoran people remain mobilized in their rejection of the coup attempt, while progressive forces in the region have come together to express their solidarity and support of President Correa and his government.
Eva Golinger
e-mail:
evagolinger@gmail.com
Homepage:
http://machetera.wordpress.com/2010/10/01/behind-the-coup-in-ecuador/
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5 Latin American countries condemn US & allies for the militaristic aspirations
03.10.2010 08:10
Ambassadors of five ALBA member states met in Tehran on July 14, 2010
Five Latin American countries condemn the U.S. and its allies for their militaristic aspirations against Iran
Editorial note:
At a time of increased U.S.-lead of sanctions and threats of military attacks against the people of Iran, diplomatic representatives of five member states of the Bolivarian Alliance of the People of Our America (ALBA) in Tehran have condemned these measures and reaffirmed their support for Iran's right to develop the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
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http://www.campaigniran.org/casmii/index.php?q=node/10551
Five Latin American countries condemn the U.S. and its allies for their militaristic aspirations against Iran
by Hamid Golpira and Amir Mirzaattari, 14 July 2010
The countries of the ALBA alliance have expressed their support for Iran’s right to use nuclear energy meant for peaceful purposes and have condemned the imposition of sanctions on the country.
Ambassadors and heads of missions of five member states of the Bolivarian Alliance of the People of Our America (ALBA) signed a declaration in Tehran on Wednesday expressing support for Iran’s right to continue its peaceful nuclear activities.
The signing of the declaration was announced during a press conference held at the Venezuelan Embassy in Tehran on Wednesday July 14.
Jorge Miranda, the ambassador of the Multinational State of Bolivia, William Carbo Ricardo, the ambassador of the Republic of Cuba, Daniel Alvarez, the charge d’affaires of the Republic of Ecuador, Mario Barquero, the ambassador of the Republic of Nicaragua, and David Velasquez, the ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, attended the press conference.
Following is the full text of the declaration:
Combined Declaration of the Ambassadors and Heads of Missions of the Member States of ALBA accredited to the Islamic Republic of Iran
We, Ambassadors and Heads of Mission of the Member States of the Bolivarian Alliance of the people of our America -– ALBA -- in the Islamic Republic of Iran condemn the destabilizing and militaristic aspirations of the United States’ Government and its allies, specially the Zionist government of Israel, whose acts lead to a conflict scene against Iran which will be extended to all the Middle East.
We ratify the support of our governments to the sovereign right of the Islamic Republic of Iran to generate atomic energy and use it with peaceful aims, the right of all the nations laid down in the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty).
The civilized way of dialogue for giving solution to controversies never should be stopped because it is the main form of the relations between sovereign nations in the 21st century. A military aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran will just bring dreadful consequences to all of humanity.
All the people and governments of the Bolivarian Alliance of the People of Our America -- ALBA -- believe that frank dialogue for finding solutions and agreement should prevail over roaring cannons.
During the press conference, Ambassador Barquero said, “We have gathered to condemn imperialism… express our opposition to this (the Zionist) regime’s acts and highlight the (need for) peace and peaceful concord.”
The Cuban ambassador noted, “We have always said that threatening Iran should be condemned, and we have expressed our readiness to support Iran at this point in time, and we believe that the Iranian nation can give a crushing response to the threats.”
Velasquez said, “We have gathered to express the common concerns of Latin American countries about any measures taken against Iran and to warn against hostile acts toward Iran.”
He added that Iran and Venezuela have signed agreements on gasoline and petrochemicals, which are also subject to sanctions, but explained that Venezuela will continue its cooperation with Iran in this area.
Ambassador Miranda said that Bolivian President Evo Morales will pay an official visit to Iran after the month of Ramadan, which occurs from approximately August 12 to September 11 this year, depending on the sighting of the new moon.
The ambassadors also said that ALBA member states will continue their economic cooperation with Iran despite the economic sanctions imposed on the country.
Commenting on the efforts to increase the economic integration of ALBA, Ambassador Barquero said ALBA members have agreed to adopt a single currency called the sucre, and stated that Ecuador, Venezuela, and Cuba use this currency in their trade exchanges.
Ambassador Miranda explained that the sucre is still at a point somewhat similar to the stage when the euro was still the European Currency Unit, but added that one day it may enter circulation.
Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are the members of ALBA.
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from the archives:
Fidel Castro: An incident could set in motion an all-out nuclear war against Iran
by Fidel Castro Ruz, CASMII, 16 July 2010
http://www.campaigniran.org/casmii/index.php?q=node/10549
Brazil slams UN Security Council Sanctions Resolution against Iran
CASMII, 9 June 2010
http://www.campaigniran.org/casmii/index.php?q=node/10314
Clinton: Latin American countries should think twice about establishing links with Iran
Dandelion Salad, 12 December 2009
http://dandelionsalad.wordpress.com/2009/12/12/clinton-latin-american-countries-should-think-twice-about-establishing-links-with-iran/
US Escalates War Plans In Latin America
by Rick Rozoff, Global Research, 23 July 2009
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=14503
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dandelion salad
Flashback: ALBA backs struggle for Honduran democracy on anniversary of coup
03.10.2010 08:18
Honduran people protest against the military coup, Tegucigalpa, June 2009
from the archives:
ALBA Backs Struggle for Honduran Democracy on Anniversary of Coup
by Steven Mather, 29 June 2010
The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) released a statement yesterday reaffirming its commitment to the Honduran people’s struggle for a return to democracy one year after the coup that overthrew President Manuel Zelaya.
The ALBA reiterated its “solidarity with the Honduran people and its denunciations of massive human rights violations” committed by the coup regime.
“The member states of the ALBA demand respect and guarantees for the democratic struggle of the Honduran people and that the repression and political assassinations cease,” the ALBA stated.
The Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed its backing of the statement.
In the early hours of the morning of June 28 2009, Zelaya was arrested by the army, thrown out of his country and exiled to neighbouring Costa Rica.
The coup plotters, led by politician Roberto Micheletti, accused Zelaya of acting unconstitutionally by scheduling a referendum on the reform of the constitution so he could serve two consecutive presidential terms.
Zelaya and a majority of Hondurans disagreed as did most countries in the region.
While the Obama administration in the US spoke out against Zelaya’s expulsion, it has done nothing to bring about a return to democracy and there are suspicions in progressive governments across Latin America that the US supported the coup.
Yesterday, Zelaya accused the US government of being behind the coup outright.
Speaking from exile in the Dominican Republic, he said: “Today we know that what we suspected at the time has been confirmed. The United States was behind the coup de etat.”
Zelaya added that “everything points to the fact that the coup was planned from the Palmerola military base.” The base is a US installation established in 1984, 50 miles north of the capital Tegucigalpa.
Zelaya also said that it was the progressive changes he had made during his time as president from the beginning of 2006, such as the plan to “recover the Palmerola military base and convert it to a civil-military airport,” and “the signing of the ALBA,” and the fact that “in the Organisation for the American States assembly in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, we managed to revoke the expulsion of Cuba [from the OAS], that occurred in 1962.”
The regime held elections on November 29 2009 and Porfirio Lobo was elected “president.”
Lobo has refused to recognise the ALBA, so Hondurans no can no longer take advantage of cheap oil, low-interest credits, eye operations from the Cuban-led Mision Milagro, a national literacy campaign and many social and economic development programmes.
Speaking of the possibility of Zelaya returning to his country, Micheletti said: “If Zelaya returns, the tribunals will be waiting for him, in order to take him to trial for the crimes he committed during his government.”
Steven Mather
Homepage: http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/5463
Latin American Revolution is shaking off the US Empire:Cuba,Nicaragua,El Salvado
03.10.2010 09:31
The US waged bloody wars in the 1970s and 80s to confine Nicaragua and El Salvador to its colonial "back yard." Although the victories of popular revolutions were partially rolled back, new governments with deep ties to popular forces have allied themselves with Cuba, which extricated itself from US empire half a century ago. In the third installment of this series by the producers of the groundbreaking "Ravaging of Africa" Asad Ismi and Kristin Schwartz bring us voices from Cuba and Central America as they endeavor to build new relationships that will enable them to prosper despite the unremitting hostility of the US to their aspirations.
link to the video:
http://www.radio4all.net/responder.php/download/44056/49705/65233/?url=http://www.radio4all.net/files/ kschwartz.toronto@gmail.com/3141-3-LAR3_Cuba_Nicaragua_ElSalvador_128kbps.mp3
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Links:
[1] http://blackagendareport.com/?q=category/americas/cuba
[2] http://blackagendareport.com/?q=category/americas/el-salvador
[3] http://blackagendareport.com/?q=category/americas/nicaragua
[4] http://www.addtoany.com/share_save?linkurl=http%3A%2F%2Fblackagendareport.com%2F%3Fq%3Dcontent%2Flatin-american-revolution-part-3-4-cuba-nicaragua-el-salvador-shaking-us-empire&linkname=The%20Latin%20American%20Revolution%2C%20Part%203%20of%204%3A%20%20Cuba%2C%20Nicaragua%2C%20El%20Salvador%20--%20Shaking%20Off%20The%20U.S.%20Empire
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Asad Ismi and Kristin Schwartz
Homepage: http://Source URL: http://blackagendareport.com/?q=content/latin-american-revolution-part-3-4-cuba-nicaragua-el-salvador-shaking-us-empire
Ecuador: Citizens' Revolution defeats coup attempt
03.10.2010 16:11
Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!