X-Apparently-From: <ivito99 at yahoo.com> From: Ivonne Yánez <ivito99 at yahoo.com> Subject: ECUADOR WAKES UP UNDER A STATE OF EMERGENCY Date: Sat, 3 Feb 2001 12:43:15 -0500 X-Priority: 1 X-MSMail-Priority: High X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.00.2615.200 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.00.2615.200
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 nation's 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 country's 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 - Valentine's 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:
Señor Doctor
Gustavo Noboa
PRESIDENTE DEL ECUADOR
Fax No.: (593 2) 580 735
Señor
Jorge Manrique
MINISTERIO DE GOBIERNO
Fax No. (593 2) 580 067
Señores
EMBASSY OF ECUADOR IN YOUR COUNTRY
Please send us a copy at: (593 2) 529287 / 527583
Or to verde at hoy.net
----- End forwarded message -----
-- _______________/\/eGenetics.com\/\_____________________________________ Peter van Heusden 1024D/0517502B pvh at egenetics.com Electric Genetics DE5B 6EAA 28AC 57F7 58EF 9295 6A26 6A92 0517 502B