Ecuador-Nationwide Protests Against Rafael Correa's Neoliberal Policies

Good Morning!

 
Pictures follow test- including NYC pictures
 
Mass protests in Ecuador Thursday March 8, 2012
 
Led by various indigenous organizations including the country's largest, the Confederación de Nacionalidades Indígenas del Ecuador, the indigenous party Pachakutik, the Marxist Democratic Popular Movement, labor unions, environmental activists and studentorganizations, thousands of people across Ecuador said "NO" to president Rafael Correa's pro big business policies and gentrification on a scale which makes New York City's racist gentrification small!

Today was just the start of a long march!

Marches have been started across the country and they are heading towards Quito, scheduled to arrive the 22 of march. 

In New York city, Ecuadoreans and allies held a protest in front of the consulate in Queens.
The Ecuadorean consulate mobilized some 100 employees from around the city who faithfully chanted in favor of Correa.

Interestingly, the people protesting Correa in Queens are the same who for years have organized countless rallies for immigrant rights, labor rights, against the US imperialist wars and have marched in Queens and Brooklyn demanding the police stop harrasing vendors, day laborers and end 'Stop and Frisk".

While almost none of the people supporting Correa in front of the consulate have ever participated in these demonstrations.
Correa has fired tens of thousands of permanent workers and then proceeded to hire thousands, but with no union protection or labor benefits.

Unlike Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, he has persued a policy of privatization. For example, recently he renewed the telephone company contract with Carlos Slim, the Mexican who competes with Bill Gates for Earth's title of richest person.

He has tried to destroy the public sector unions saying they get in the way of his labor reform laws. For example, he eliminated dues check-off to most public sector unions.

He has pushed through contracts with foreign mine exploiting companies. This week he signed an contract with a Chinese company which agreed to pay him an advance of $100 million for his reelection campaign, even before they start digging. this contract has met widespread opposition since it will threaten thousands of acres and water resources. Pictures of nasty police arrests of protestors against this contract are below. There are currently negotiations with the Canadian IAMGOLD mining company which plans a gold mine near Cuenca. A friend recently returned from Cuenca, her home town, and she says the people are all furious and reject the proposed mine since it wil poison their water supplies and lands.

The protests were spearheaded by the very same organizations which were his main supporters when he ran for president proclaiming to be a "21 Century Socialist".

But this was empty rethoric, and since, he has repeatedly blasted workers and peasant ownership of the means of production.

In a desperate propoganda move, Correa mobilized government employees and students were bused in to Quito for a large progovernent rally.

At the same time, the government denied buses transporting protestors the right to move about freely throughout the country.
 
Quito
Parque El Ejido
 

 
 
 
IBARRA

 
Gran acogida en Ibarra

Contra todo pronóstico, ‘la marcha por el agua y la vida’, convocó a cerca de 1.000 personas de organizaciones indígenas, sociales, gremiales, sindicales y de estudiantes, quienes salieron a las calles de Ibarra para protestar contra el Gobierno de Rafael Correa.

Alrededor de las 16:00 partieron desde el Obelisco, recorrieron las principales calles de la ciudad y se concentraron en el parque Pedro Moncayo, frente a la Gobernación de Imbabura. Marco Guatemal, presidente de la Federación Indígena y Campesina de Imbabura, presidió los discursos.
 

 
 
 
Guayaquil
 

 
 
 
Cantón El Pangui
 
Les Fueron negadas buses
 
La ceremonia se desarrolló a orillas del río Chuchumblaza, en la parroquia Wismi, cantón El Pangui. Según el prefecto de Zamora Chinchipe, Salvador Quishpe, la zona es parte del proyecto de explotación minera a gran escala que el Estado firmó con una empresa china.

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Recent protest against mining companies
 

 
 
New York City- Queens