[Marxism] Palacios will not yield so indigenous movement considers assuming power itself

["Fred Feldman" <ffeldman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Well, the indigenous movement gave President Palacios a chance to back
off from his drive toward surrender to the FTA (and to the US and its
threatening thug the rightist paramilitary government of Colombia.  But
he hasn't taken it.  So now they are talking openly about the need to
replace him and "assume power itself." The situation is becoming more
insurrectionary than either Venezuela or Bolivia were before the taking
of the presidency occurred.

An indication that the pause in the intensity of protests that the Times
reported was more like a decision to meet to reconsider strategy.

Fred Feldman



GRANMA INTERNATIONAL

Havana. March 24, 2006

Indigenous movement proposes to assume its own power

QUITO, March 24 (PL).-Given the rejection by Ecuadorian president
Alfredo Palacio of the demands made by the popular sector, the
indigenous movement is today to assume power itself and convene a
popular consultation on the Free Trade Agreement.

Students protesting against the FTA. Students protesting against the
FTA.

Santiago de la Cruz, vice president of the Federation of Indigenous
Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE), emphasized last night that "the
people need to be consulted," to which end his organization will carry
out its own consultation process.

He stated that that decision had been taken on account of the
dictatorial attitude of the president, who has not allowed the channels
for dialogue that would facilitate a referendum on the FTA being
negotiated with the United States.

For that reason, Luis Macas, CONAIE's maximum leader, is not recognizing
the leader of the present governor and is calling on Ecuadorians to
decide their own future.

De la Cruz emphasized that from now they are going to exercise power as
an indigenous people utilizing the movement's channels and nationalities
to convene a plebiscite from the communities and in community and
popular assemblies.

He affirmed that there would be a withdrawal to redefine strategies and
radicalize the mobilizations after the national assembly CONAIE is
organizing in Riobamba, Chimborazo province.

Firstly, he said, there will be meetings within the communities and in
the provinces, with a view to reprogramming actions and once again
taking up protests on the fixed date of March 31.

The CONAIE vice president ratified that they no longer need a response
from the head of state, who, he emphasized, "is not going to sign that
treaty, we are sure of that, because he recognizes the fragility of his
government and the instability reigning in that territory.

The indigenous protests exceeded expectations due to the fact that the
people are now interested in the effects and damage of the FTA and are
prepared to march to demonstrate their rejection of that pact, he
stated.

He added that the CONAIE is continuing its work in defense of the
population and has the backing of the popular, social, labor and student
movements.





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