Eva Golinger reports:
Coup Attempt in Ecuador
2pm EST
A coup attempt is underway against the government of President Rafael Correa. On Thursday morning, groups of police forces rebelled and took over key strategic sites in Quito, Ecuador’s capital. President Correa immediately went to the military base occupied by the police leading the protest to work out a solution to the situation. The police protesting claimed a new law passed on Wednesday regarding public officials would reduce their benefits.
Nonetheless, President Correa affirmed that his government has actually doubled police wages over the past four years. The law would not cut benefits but rather restructure them.
The law was used as an excuse to justify the police protest. But other forces are behind the chaos, attempting to provoke a coup led by former president Lucio Guitierrez, who was impeached by popular revolt in Ecuador in 2005.
“This is a coup attempt led by Lucio Guitierrez”, denounced Correa on Thursday afternoon via telephone. Correa was attacked by the police forces with tear gas. “Kill me if you need to. There will be other Correa’s”, said the President, addressing the police rebellion. He was hospitalized shortly after at a military hospital, which has now been taking over by coup forces. As of 1pm Thursday, police forces were attempting to access his hospital room to possibly assassinate him.
Foreign Minister Ricardo Patiño called on supporters to go to the hospital to defend Correa and prevent his assassination. Military forces took over an air base in Quito to prevent air transit and took over nearby streets to prevent Correa’s supporters from mobilizing towards the hospital. Other security forces took over the parliament, preventing legislators from accessing the state institution and causing severe chaos and violence.
Thousands of supporters filled Quito’s streets, gathering around the presidential palace, backing Correa and rejecting the coup attempt.
At 2pm EST, the Ecuadorian government declared an emergency state.
Countries throughout the region expressed support for Correa and condemned the destabilization. The Organization of American States in Washington called an emergency meeting at 2:30pm EST. ALBA nations and UNASUR are also convening.
Ecuador is a member of the Bolivarian Alliance of the Americas (ALBA) and a close ally of Venezuela. Last June, Honduras, a prior ALBA member, was victim of a coup d’etat that forced President Manuel Zelaya from power. The coup was backed by Washington. In 2002, Venezuela was also subject to a Washington-backed coup d’etat that briefly ousted President Chavez from power. He was returned to office within 48 hours after millions of Venezuelans protested and defeated the US-backed coup leaders.
Ecuador is the newest victim of destabilization in South America.
USAID channels millions annually into political groups against Correa that could be behind the coup attempt.
According to the Ecuadorian ambassador in Argentina, the situation is already under control, president Correa has the support of the people and most of the military. Also according to him, 800 policemen rebelled, among a total of 41,000 men in the force.
http://www.clarin.com/mundo/Adelanto-Clarin-Correa-Ejercito-controlada_0_344965727.html
(in Spanish)
But so far, Telesur is not reporting that Correa retook control, and the last news says that he is being held in a military hospital.
@Carlo: the last news says that he is being held in a military hospital
Held as in “arrested” or held as “treated”?
May God prevent another coup in Latin America!
According to Chavez, held as a hostage:
“Chávez denuncia que presidente de Ecuador está secuestrado y en peligro de muerte “
http://www.telesurtv.net/solotexto/nota/index.php?ckl=79200
Demonstrations in defence of democracy and President Correa
http://www.socialistunity.com/?p=6819
robert
Correa, who is “trapped” in the Police Hospital in Quito repudiated these acts of “our national police, which have helped as he has throughout the country,” he said.
Correa explained that the police hospital where he is, is treated to have hurt his leg, and is surrounded by demonstrators from leaving him.
“I say they have fenced around,” said Correa himself Public Radio.
The hospital is surrounded by policemen protesting against a reduction in wages and benefits has been faced with the presidential guard arrived to remove the president of the hospital.
This nursing home is adjacent to Quito Regiment, to which Correa came earlier to try to calm the soldiers and agree to lay down the middle, attempt was unsuccessful.
There he addressed them, but when the crowd wanted to go pressed his escort around him. “In the tumult, I twisted the leg,” said Correa, who has just been operated on his right knee.
“I had to enter hospital … I’m with a serum treatment and pain in the leg,” he added.
“We fired tear gas, the president of the republic,” he said indignantly and told that one of them exploded a short distance away