Social discontent increasing
19/06/2003
- Opinión
President Lucio Gutiérrez's regime began its sixth month in
office in an atmosphere characterized by social protests.
Since the signing of the Letter of Intent with the
International Monetary Fund (IMF), during the first weeks
of government, social discontent has been increasing with
growing force, as the above agreement includes measures of
fiscal austerity, which, among other consequences, leads to
a decrease in public spending, as well as the privatization
of public resources, a matter which lies in the hands of
the State. Since the middle of May, the country has been
the scene of a teachers' general strike, protests by oil
workers and other sectors, a reshuffle of the leadership of
the armed forces and political leadership and a new a
division of functions in the government. Meanwhile, the
Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador
(CONAIE) delivered a mandate to the President containing
the people's demands and the promises that were made during
the election campaign.
Lucio Gutiérrez got into power as a result of the alliance
between his own party, Sociedad Patriótica (SP), the
Movimiento Pluricultural Pachakutik (PK) and the Movimiento
Popular Democrático (MPD). During his campaign for
presidency, Gutiérrez promised Ecuadorians a change in the
structure of the State, reform of legislative and judicial
powers, and fair social and economic policy for the
inhabitants of this country. One of the reasons for the
credibility of his promises was his own participation in
the social movement of 21 January, 2000, led by indigenous
peoples and the armed forces, who overthrew President Jamil
Mahuad, who was accused of serious acts of corruption.
On arrival in government, putting his electoral promises to
one sidene of the reasons that his one of the reason s ,
the new head of state adopted the objectives outlined by
the IMF, which lay down strict measures of adjustment, the
scrupulous repayment of foreign debt, resulting in
shortages in funds for education and health. It is for this
reason that reactions against him have not taken long to
materialize. In the middle of May the National Teachers
Union (UNE) initiated a protest demanding funding for the
forecasted budget for education and a pay increase for
teachers. The protests, which included a hunger strike that
ended on 13 June, came about in the wake of intense
negotiations that were prolonged because of Minister of
Finance Mauricio Pozo's reluctance to negotiate outside the
confines of the writings of the IMF.
During the period in which the UNE finalized negotiations
with the regime, a new conflict began when the workers of
the state oil company (Petroecuador) initiated a strike
with the aim of curbing the Minister of Energy's, Crnl. (r)
Carlos Arboleda (SP), intention to accelerate the
privatization process of the four most productive oil
wells, by establishing joint ventures that would favor
multinational companies, damaging the country's economy. In
contrast to the conflict over education, where the minister
involved, Rosa Ma. Torres (PK), favored talks in order to
reach an understanding, in the energy sector minister
Arboleda was more inclined towards the use of force to
quash the strike, leaving the labor union without a leader.
The regime, backed by the employment sector and the media,
has wasted no opportunities in capitalizing on the
discontent in various segments of the population caused by
the shortage of fuel supplies resulting from the strikes,
by mounting an intense campaign against the oil workers
unions, claiming that the unions are attempting to
negotiate labor contracts with disproportionate financial
benefits; a campaign which has been extended to public
unions. As a consequence, various segments (health workers,
electrical, legal, etc.) have, during this period, been
involved in acts of protest and temporary stoppages, which
are threatening to become more widespread.
In this context, 16 June saw the first Summit of the
Nation, People and Alternative Authorities in collaboration
with CONAIE, which ended with a "Mandate" that was
delivered the following day to President Gutiérrez. In this
document, the indigenous movement demand the reorientation
of the country's economic policy; a reform of legal powers;
greater political participation for civil society; funding
of agricultural policy as planned by the Ministry of
Agriculture; nonintervention in Plan Colombia; the
implementation of a referendum as regards the FTAA; the
revision of the Manta base agreement; the moratorium of
foreign debt; the execution of legitimate and comprehensive
projects for social development and the implementation of
political agreements to meet the needs of the people and
the indigenous population. In addition, they are demanding
the removal of those responsible for the Economic Front and
of the Minister of Energy. The possibility of an indigenous
uprising has not been ruled out.
However, while the social foundation of electoral support
is distancing itself, President Gutiérrez has strengthened
the military and political front. On 17 June, General
Oswaldo Jarrín resigned from his post as head of the Joint
Command of the Armed Forces, after refusing to involve the
Armed Forces in the eviction and arrest of the leaders of
the oil union, outside legal proceedings, encouraged by the
Minster of Energy. This resignation has proved advantageous
for Gutiérrez in the removal the leadership of the Armed
Forces as well as the leadership of the Police and
replacing them with officials with more similar opinions to
his own. At the same time, the mandate proposes lifting the
sanctions against the military, which participated –
alongside Gutiérrez – in overthrowing President Mahuad. The
adverse reactions from the military ranks were immediate;
there is an opinion that this will make way for a political
management of the Armed Forces, which could precipitate
instability.
Even now there is a new wave of tension, taking shape
inside the government, between members of the Pachakutik –
Sociedad Patriótica alliance. On 13 June, Virgilio
Hernández (Pachakutik) resigned from his position as vice
secretary of the Home Office, revealing that there is a
"dark circle" around the President of Ecuador comprised of
a group of close family and leaders of the SP, led by Crnl.
(r) Patricio Acosta, Secretary of the Administration, who
is, in addition, armed with a special security and
surveillance group.
In the meantime, the opinion of civil society criticizes
Gutiérrez's government for the obvious instances of
nepotism, poor credibility due to sudden changes of opinion
and inconsistencies in statements, distancing of those
social sectors that put him into power, a weak front of
close colleagues, an increase in military expenditure,
international declarations in favor of Bush and Plan
Colombia, and excessive compliance with the terms of the
IMF and the payment of foreign debt, which are detrimental
to the budget allocated for social areas and the economy of
the main people's groups in the country. (Translation by
ALAI)
https://www.alainet.org/es/node/107770?language=es
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