----- Original Message -----
From: info <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>;
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, February 05, 2001 8:14 PM
Subject: [mobilize-globally] UPDATE Ecuador: Nation Under State of Emergency, HELP !
Subject:
[a16-international-planning] UPDATE Ecuador: Nation
Under State of Emergency, Indigenous
Activists Begin Hunger Strike
Date:
Sun, 04 Feb 2001 16:27:50 -0800
From:
Carwil James <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Organization:
Project Underground
To:
"[EMAIL PROTECTED]"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, [EMAIL PROTECTED],
[EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED],
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
ECUADOR WAKES UP UNDER A STATE OF EMERGENCY
This morning, February 3, 2001, Ecuador woke up under a State of
Emergency. Under this arrangement, freedom of association has been
suspended, private homes can be invaded, and citizens can be detained
without warning. In short, the Ecuadorian people have lost their
constitutional rights.
The State of Emergency, under the Law of National Security, declared
Friday night by the government of Gustavo Noboa, is the latest step in
a
series of acts of violence and repression undertaken over the past
week.
The State of Emergency in Ecuador is reminiscent of the methods
implemented by various dictatorships during tragic moments in the
history of Latin America.
This latest step by the government is clearly aimed at punishing the
indigenous people, who have demanded an end to the violence and a
repeal
of economic policies which have brought the country to the brink of
destruction. The economic policies include, among other things, the
construction of a new oil pipeline, the spurring along of the mining
industry, privatization of the water supply, an increase in taxes, the
return of kerosene as a fuel for home use, and an increase in the bus
fares. The new indigenous uprising, which began last week, has
included
the blockading of the nations highways and a march of 10,000
indigenous
people from the countryside in the Capital of Quito. Currently, 6,000
indigenous activists are concentrated inside the Universidad
Politecnica
Salesiana, surrounded and constantly attacked by the police every time
they try to march from the university campus. In the face of this
situation, and the refusal of the government to enter into a dialogue,
50 activists from the indigenous and peasant communities, who grow and
provide the countrys food, have decided to launch a hunger strike, as
a
way of being heard. Every hour, 50 more indigenous people will join
the
hunger strike.
Ironically, the business sector of the country, such as the flower
cultivators, have supported the violence and hard repression out of
fear that they will lose export business for the 14th of February ?
Valentines Day. Paradoxically, a new delegation of the International
Monetary Fund are in the country ? how shameful! ? having to evaluate
another failure of their economic policies.
In Ecuador, we need your help ? letters, telephone calls, public
declarations and any other type of actions which let the government
know
that the world is watching. These acts of international solidarity are
a
way of preventing even worse abuses and violations of the fundamental
rights of the Ecuadorian people, and a protest against
institutionalized
racism against indigenous people.
Please distribute this appeal widely.
ACCION ECOLOGICA - ECUADOR
Letters should be sent to:
Doctor Gustavo Noboa
PRESIDENTE DEL ECUADOR
Fax No.: (593 2) 580 735
Senor Jorge Manrique
MINISTERIO DE GOBIERNO
Fax No. (593 2) 580 067
Senores
EMBASSY OF ECUADOR IN YOUR COUNTRY
[Ambassador Ivonne A-BAKI
2535 15th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-7200
FAX: [1] (202) 667-3482]
Please send us a copy at: (593 2) 529287 / 527583
Or to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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