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Ecuador leader blames opposition for violent demonstration
By Alejandro Martinez
AFP
QUITO
Petroleumworld.com 01 31 06
Five thousand backers of President Rafael Correa stormed into Congress, chasing out opposition legislators they claim are blocking reform of Ecuador's constitution.
"From now on, we will protest until Congress respects the Ecuadoran people's demand for change," Alianza Pais leader Cesar Rodriguez told AFP.
Two civilians, including a photographer, and a police officer were injured in the melee, according to the Red Cross, as police used tear gas to disperse the unruly crowd.
The protesters want the majority opposition lawmakers to allow a referendum on a constitutional assembly, which Correa needs to rewrite the constitution to facilitate the "radical" political and social reforms he promised when campaigning.
Correa was sworn in as president January 15 to a five-year term saying he would reverse free-market measures, renegotiate foreign oil contracts, pay off Ecuador's foreign debt and cease doing business with the International Monetary Fund, which imposes monetary policy in exchange for loans.
Headed by Alianza, which was instrumental in Correa's electoral win in November, the demonstration gathered leftist political organizations, student groups and labor unions.
Trouble began when counter-demonstrators supporting opposition leader and former president Lucio Gutierrez clashed with pro-Correa protesters.
Correa condemned the violence, but blamed the opposition lawmakers blocking a vote on the plebiscite.
"The ultimate responsibility for this situation falls on them, for taking action against the people's will," Correa, 43, said in a statement.
Opposition lawmakers blamed Correa for the unrest, with some branding him a "dictator" seeking to copy the authoritarian model of government of leftist Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
"It was a terrible violation, we're living under a dictatorship," said Luis Tapia, who heads the opposition Patriotic Society Party. "Correa wants to imitate in every detail Chavez, replicate his authoritarian structure," he added.
Correa, an economist, promised "a economic model fit for socialism of the 21st century," echoing the programs set forth by Chavez, who is a close friend of Cuban leader Fidel Castro and Bolivian President Evo Morales, much to the dismay of the United States.
AFP 31 0317 GMT 01 07
Copyright© 1999 AFP. All Rights Reserved.
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