ECUADOR: Mining in the spotlight

Posted on | maart 24, 2012 | No Comments

Like a river in flood, on March 22nd, thousands of protesters, led by CONAIE, Ecuador’s most powerful indigenous organization, descended on Quito from all over the country. They were protesting the opening up of the country to large-scale mining, the need for urgent land reform, and 17 other points that brought together a veritable rainbow coalition of activists and organizations that supported CONAIE’s and their protest.

In spite of the childish claim by government officials (including President Correa) that the march was a total failure; in spite of countless obstacles the marchers had to overcome to reach Quito, including police checks and constant rains since the start of the March two weeks ago, as well as ridiculous accusations of intent to destabilize the government, thousands of marchers opposed to the Correa regime’s policies arrived safely in Quito, and were joined by countless thousands of Quito residents who enthusiastically supported the marchers.

In the late afternoon hours of the 22nd, the marchers presented a 19-point petition to the National Assembly for the government to act to resolve the issues that sparked the march (see below). Mining, as you can see, continues to be a main factor in the march. However, it is not at all likely that Correa will change course regarding mining. Earlier in the day, he again- and vociferously- defended mining in front of his supporters, claiming, that mining will not contaminate water resources.

The strength of the march took Ecuador by surprise. Correa on the 8th of March said that if the marchers came with 500, he and his followers would be 50,000. Seems he got the numbers backwards, though thousands did come to cheer the president, but many were paid bureaucrats who were pressured into showing their spontaneous support for the president.

Given the dangerous polarization created by Correa’s style of government, the chances of a major confrontation between the two groups were very high, but it was confined to only one incident near the National Assembly where four police were hurt.

Even if the government makes light of the 19-points presented in the petition (which is highly likely) the outcome of the march will not be felt for a while yet. One thing the march did was to bring together the many groups that are opposed to not only Correa’s policies, but his style of government, which is seen by many to be autocratic, arrogant, confrontational, exceptionally intolerant, at times racist, and polarizing. His abuse of power used to intimidate the press and to insult his opponents in public, also were instrumental in getting people out in the streets.

One very notable success of the march is that it gave the country the opportunity to see just how widespread the opposition is to this regime. I have no doubt that many eyes were opened. Importantly, the march also brought out into the open the scale of the opposition to large-scale mining in Ecuador. In this context, it is very revealing what happened in Cuenca, the third most populated city in Ecuador in the south of the country. Cuenca’s drinking water is threatened by a gold mining project and the anti-mining sentiment runs high. This is also where the regime did not spend very much taxpayer money to mobilize its followers and, as a consequence, the result was that the anti-mining protesters outnumbered the government supporters by a much wider margin.

How will the government process the rejection to its government and 19 points, and what will the opposition do now that the march ended?

One thing is clear: the opposition was empowered by the march. Before it begun on the 8th of March, the leaders said that on the 22nd would only be the beginning, and that it was essential to consolidate and orient the opposition to Correa after the 22nd. Today it knows the opposition is much larger, stronger and more unified than even they suspected. The support it received from the citizens of Quito let it realize that it has the backing of a large segment of the general public. Thus, it is very likely that the opposition will play a key role in creating a political platform to challenge Correa in the next elections, which are due in about a year.

Correa’s actions on the day of the march gives us some leads as to how the government will process the march. On a speech before his followers he downplayed the importance of the march and insisted on defaming the marchers by accusing them of being manipulated by groups interested in overthrowing the government. As in previous charges of this sort, no proofs were presented. He also defended mining by claiming it would not contaminate water resources. In other words, stay the course, never mind the iceberg ahead!

Regardless of the outcome of the march, what is certain is that the polarization affecting Ecuadorian society ever since Correa came into power will grow. The outcome of that polarization does not bode well for the country.

These 19 points that presented to legislators are:

We demand full respect for the Constitution and the repeal of unconstitutional laws and regulations.
No to large-scale mining. Repeal of the mining law as unconstitutional, and the signing of the contract with the mining company ECSA, on March 5.
Not to the extension of the petroleum fronteir. Respect the right to self-determination of indigenous peoples.
Suspension of operations in bloque 31.**
No mega hydroelectric works that generate social and environmental impacts.
Approval of the Water Act for the “good life” (Sumak Kawsay) that includes respect for, and guarantee the right to water.
Approval of the Lands and Territories Act providing for an agricultural model that ensures food security.
No to the signing of the free trade agreement with the European Union.
Effective protection against taxes of popular and campesino economies.
Recognition of community transport, reform of the Land Transport Traffic and Road Safety law. Strengthening of the IESS and require the State to pay back the debt that it has with this entity, as well as equip hospitals.
Respect for labor rights; respect the guarantee of job security and union rights.
Respect and guarantee of the right to education.
Repeal of the Unified General Baccalaureate and the National System of Equalization and Admission.
Respect for sexual and reproductive rights. Equality between women and men.
Real democratization of information and respect for the professional practice of journalism.
No criminalization of the social protest, elimination of the court cases against leaders.
Fulfill the right to prior consultation of Ecuador’s communities.
Respect for the judicial functions of the administration of indigenous justice, and respect for community governments. Respect for the autonomy of (indigenous) nations and nationalities.
No verbal aggression against (indigenous) nations, nationalities and social organizations