Politics and victory in the referendum

On May 7, 2011 the President of Ecuador called for a plebiscite and a referendum in the country. The 10 questions were about safety issues, the creation of a Council for the Regulation of the media, mandatory Social Security membership and prohibitions on killing animals in public entertainment and gaming casinos.

The government put its full potential to create propaganda for the Yes option in the referendum. In the No campaign there were political parties of the center, right and the dissidents of the regime such as Ruptura de los 25 movement, Alberto Acosta, Betty Amores, Gustavo Larrea, MPD, Pachakutic.

The counting of the votes was complex and disputed. Finally Correa’s referendum won.

30S Trials

September 30, 2010 (30S) was one of the most confusing chapters in the history of Ecuador. For the regime, that day there was an attempted coup. Some 1200 police members were involved in an insubordination act held on 30S. Not all of them were prosecuted.

Cesar Carrion (Director of the Police Hospital where he was allegedly kidnapped President Correa 30S) and Rolando Tapia (chief legislative Escort who was sentenced to 3 years in prison for threatening the security of the State) were taken by the Ecuadorian government to court during 2011.

The media and the regime – the regime and the media

Correa and the media

Since January 2008, the organization Fundamedios has registered in the country 400 attacks on journalists and 18 legal process, the most visible results of this year are El Univeso Newspaper case and The Big Brother Book.

In 2011 the government also sued Hoy newspaper, Vistazo magazine and closed a radio station in the province of Morona Santiago.

Emergency in the Health Sector

Presidential decree forces resignation

“Corrupt, mediocre, they used to work two hours a day.” Their dishonesty was detected by intelligence services. All these arguments were used by the regime to justify the departure of 2700 officials from 11 entities, under the guise of compulsory purchase of resignations.

A specific reason for their departure was never given to them. They were asked to sign a document in which decree 813 was applied. A decree that bypasses an unconstitutional claim, it violates the applicable law and the Constitution that guarantees the right to work.

Wikileaks effect in Ecuador

Jaime Hurtado

Wikileaks diplomatic cables began to filter in 2010. In Ecuador, the issue became news in Ecuador when El Pais newspaper of Spain issued a cable that stated “there is a widespread corruption in the ranks of the National Police of Ecuador” and linked the former commander Jaime Hurtado with extortion and illicit enrichment.

The assertion that displeased the regime was: “Some officials (of the U.S. Embassy) believe that President Correa must have been aware (of complaints) when he hired him … They believe that Correa may have wanted to have a police chief to manipulate.” As consequence U.S. ambassador, Heather Hodges was declared unwelcome person in Ecuador and trade relations with the United States began to falter. (AV)