Cops strike in Ecuador menacing Rafael Correa [Archive]

Kiev Communard

30th September 2010, 18:32

The police took a quarter/barracks making Correa to take measures for preserving his personal safety.

Hear it live in Spanish at http://www.laradiodelsur.com/modules/popup_live.php

Here is what BBC reporting:

About 150 members of the security forces in Ecuador have taken over the runway at the airport in the capital, Quito, forcing it to shut down.

It comes as police and troops in the country stage protests over government plans to cut their benefits.

President Rafael Correa has appeared before protesters at a barracks in Quito to appeal for calm.

The head of the Ecuadorean army, General Ernesto Gonzalez, has said he remains loyal to Mr Correa.

Mr Correa told protesters in Quito: "If you want to kill your president, here he is.

"If you want to seize the barracks, if you want to leave citizens undefended, if you want to betray the mission of the police force, go ahead. But this government will do what has to be done."

The troops and police are protesting against austerity cuts which would reduce their bonuses.

A bridge and main access road into the capital are reported to have been blocked by protesters.

Television stations showed images of police setting tyres on fire in the streets of Quito, Guayaquil and other cities. But regular programming later appeared to be off air and replaced with cartoons.

The mayor of Quito, Augusto Barrera, said all flights were suspended from the Mariscal Sucre International Airport.

"Unfortunately a group of people have occupied the runway," the EFE news agency quoted him as saying.

Gen Gonzalez said he still supported Mr Correa and that the military would take "whatever appropriate action the government decides on".

"We live in a state which is governed by laws, and we are subordinate to the highest authority which is the president of the republic," he told a news conference.

The unrest came as it emerged that Mr Correa was considering dissolving the national assembly after failing to pass economic reforms. He would then rule by decree until elections could be held.

The move would have to be approved by the country's Constitutional Court.

Policy Minister Doris Solis said it was "a scenario that nobody would want but it is a possibility when the conditions for change do not exist".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11447519

Evidently Correa made a blunder with his "austerity measures", alienating the bulk of the ranks of police and military with cutting their salaries. Let us hope that he will find some way to deal with them, before the Right will have exploited their grievances.