ECUADOR: Alcaldes Hablan Sobre la Participación Ciudadana

Los alcaldes hablan sobre la participación ciudadana

Alcaldes nacionales y extranjeros discutieron ayer, en Guayaquil, sus experiencias locales.

Fuente: http://www.elcomercio.com/noticiaEC.asp?id_noticia=238768&id_seccion=10

La participación de la ciudadanía en la gestión pública local fue la fórmula que presentaron ayer los panelistas. Lo hicieron durante la sesión de trabajo, en el IX Encuentro Iberoamericano de la Sociedad Civil, en Guayaquil.

Isabel Noboa, presidenta del Encuentro, dio la bienvenida a más de 300 participantes, de los cuales, 150 son extranjeros.

Ahí mencionó la importancia de promover alianzas entre las entidades públicas, las organizaciones de participación ciudadana y los propios empresarios, con miras a combatir la pobreza.

Jaime Nebot, alcalde de Guayaquil, indicó que para lograr una comunidad sana y segura, la administración local debe generar, junto con los empresarios, grandes obras y fomentar el empleo.

Aprovechó para defender las fundaciones municipales y criticó la Ley de Transparencia de Contratación Pública. “Suprimen los dictámenes de la Contraloría General del Estado y permiten contratar a compañías extranjeras sin domiciliarse en el país y entregar anticipos sin garantía”.

También señaló que este año se incrementará un 15% los sueldos del Cabildo y eso incidirá en la distribución del presupuesto para el 2009. El gasto público subirá del 11% al 13%.

Auki Tituaña, alcalde de Cotacachi, explicó su modelo de democracia participativa. Y mencionó la intención de lanzarse a una nueva candidatura, con el auspicio del partido Pachakutik.

Antanas Mockus, ex alcalde Mayor de Bogotá (Colombia), explicó cómo, a través de la cultura ciudadana, disminuyeron la criminalidad y los accidentes de tránsito y aumentó la tributación.

Antonio Sánchez Díaz de Rivera, diputado federal de México, propuso que partiendo de lo local se creen vínculos entre la sociedad y el manejo público.

ECUADOR: La participación del pueblo rige en la nueva Constitución

La participación del pueblo rige en la nueva Constitución

En el proyecto de nueva Constitución el pueblo ecuatoriano participará en la toma de decisiones públicas y privadas. El pueblo actuará en todos los niveles de gobierno.

Edison Solis Quito- Ecuador 5-9-2008 67 lecturas

Fuente: www.kaosenlared.net/noticia/participacion-pueblo-rige-nueva-constitucion

En el proyecto de nueva Constitución, que entrará a referéndum el próximo 28 de septiembre, existen varios artículos que permiten al pueblo ecuatoriano, a través de representantes de organizaciones populares, a formar parte de la toma de decisiones, planificación y gestión de los asuntos públicos.

El título cuarto, que se refiere a la Participación y Organización del Poder, establece claramente, en la mayoría de articulados, que este derecho, que ha sido pisoteado por los gobiernos neoliberales, se cumpla en esta nueva Constitución. Algo que a decir de varios analistas, asesores y dirigentes populares, es un proyecto Constitucional donde ha participado el pueblo ecuatoriano.

Así lo confirma Patricio Torres, asesor del asambleísta por el Movimiento Popular Democrático (MPD), Jorge Escala, quien indica que, entre otros artículos, el 95 define la participación de forma individual y colectiva en la toma de decisiones de los asuntos públicos. Agrega que, además de éste importante derecho, se establece un control de las instituciones del Estado, de la sociedad y de sus representantes. El letrado indica que se reconoce todo forma de organización y control como expresión de la soberanía popular.

“Entre aspectos más relevantes se encuentra el artículo 98 donde los individuos y los colectivos podrán ejercer el derecho a la resistencia frente a acciones u omisiones del poder público y demandar el reconocimiento de nuevos derechos. Además, se establece que todos los niveles de gobierno estarán integrados por instancias de participación ciudadana de elección popular” indica Torres.

Uno de los artículos que con mayor énfasis es reconocido por este asesor es el 119 donde se reconoce que para ser asambleísta se requerirá tener nacionalidad ecuatoriana, gozar de los derechos ciudadanos, y especialmente, tener 18 años. Según Torres, a esto se suma el voto optativo para los jóvenes que tengas 16 años y es proceso histórico en Ecuador y el Mundo. Indica que en esta constitución se reconoce el papel de las luchas populares y académicas para forjar un pensamiento que plantee la transformación de este sistema.

En cuanto a las formas de democracia directa, específicamente a la consulta popular, permite que ésta se realice a petición de la ciudadanía sin reforma constitucional cuando se haya logrado la adhesión del ocho por ciento del padrón electoral. Por lo tanto, la consulta popular será un mecanismo para que el pueblo se pronuncie para realizar reformas Constitucionales o aspectos locales. Entre varios de los artículos que toman en cuenta al poder del pueblo como mandante y primer fiscalizador se encuentran los artículos 96, 100,101, 108,111, 120, 204, 208.

Para el Presidente de la Federación Única Nacional del Seguro Social Campesino (Feunassc), Byron Garcés, el proyecto de Constitución es democrático y participativo porque recogió las propuestas de todos los sectores, especialmente, de los campesinos. Asegura que siempre han luchado de hecho para que el movimiento campesino participe en la toma de decisiones fundamentales para su organización, sin embargo, afirma que ahora en el nuevo proyecto de Constitución se reconoce a su lucha no solo de hecho sino también de derecho. Agrega que antes las comunidades campesinas que no tienen acceso a las tierras para que los organismos correspondientes puedan atender sus pedidos, pero que ahora, además de vigilar la gestión de las instituciones públicas, exigirán que luchen por adquirir nuevos derechos y se cumplan con sus nuevas exigencias.

“Me parece muy oportuno que ahora los sectores populares podamos realizar veedurías directas de la cosa pública. Es positivo además que se reconozca a la organización colectiva de la sociedad porque antes solo eran tomadas en cuenta aquellas que funcionaban con el carácter de derecho, ahora pueden funcionar también las de hecho. Sin embargo, la base social será aquella que reconozca la labor de sus dirigentes” manifestó el titular de la Feunassc.

Agrega que existirá el Consejo de Participación Ciudadana y Control Social donde deberá estar integrada por las personas y organizaciones más probas y de aquellas que han mantenido una lucha histórica. Asegura que no estarían de acuerdo que formen parte de este Consejo algunos representantes ONG’s cuestionados por la opinión pública.

ECUADOR: New Constitution Approved Overwhelmingly by Referendum

Ecuador's new constitution was approved overwhelmingly by popular referendum yesterday. The new constitution promises to expand participatory democracy as discussed in our previous posts. See the following two articles for more details. - Editor

New Ecuadorian Constitution Approved by Strong Majority, President Correa Claims “Historic Victory”

Written by Daniel Denvir
Monday, 29 September 2008
Source: http://upsidedownworld.org/main/content/view/1499/1/

Quito, Ecuador—According to exit polls, between 63-70% of Ecuadorians voted to approve a new constitution on Sunday, scoring a major victory for President Rafael Correa. Correa hailed the results, saying that “today Ecuador has decided on a new country.” Constitutional provisions expand access to healthcare, social security and education while increasing state control over the economy.

Nearly 10 million Ecuadorians came out to vote—voting is obligatory—and the atmosphere was tranquil. Families quietly walked into polling places and quickly walked out. The only lines in Quito were at the ubiquitous food stands selling roasted pork or sugar cane juice.

The vote on the constitution was also very much a referendum on Correa’s presidency. Correa has maintained high approval ratings by seizing the property of elites responsible for a severe 1999 banking crisis, increasing public assistance funding, and terminating the U.S. lease on the coastal military base in Manta. Staying in office is no small feat in a country where popular mobilizations, fueled by opposition to Washington-backed free market economic policies, have overthrown three presidents since 1997.

The vote was a major blow to an already fragmented opposition. The Catholic Church and evangelicals bolstered the weakened traditional political parties’ “no” campaign, charging that the constitution would legalize abortion and gay marriage. While the new constitution does legalize same sex civil unions, there is no indication that it will allow for restrictions on abortion to be relaxed. Conservative bishops allied with Opus Dei, led by Archbishop Antonio Arregui, control the Church hierarchy. But the leadership’s position provoked widespread resistance among progressive lay activists and clergy who are powerful in many parts of the heavily Catholic country.

Business leaders also criticized the constitution, saying that it would give the state excessive control over the economy and endow the president with authoritarian powers.

In a serious upset, nearly 50% of the residents in the port city of Guayaquil appear to have supported the constitution. The metropolis is an opposition stronghold and, like much of the coast, has long been controlled by the owners of wealthy export businesses. Mayor Jaime Nebot, allied with the conservative Social Christian Party (PSC), has been Correa’s most high-profile opponent. Nebot had threatened to resign if the “yes” vote won in Guayaquil, urging his supporters to reject the proposal. It is not yet clear if he will follow through on his threat, but it seems doubtful, as he continues to enjoy high approval ratings. In his victory speech, Correa called for national unity and said that he was open to a dialogue with Nebot.

Most social movements supported the constitution, pointing to expanded indigenous rights, social welfare policies and environmental protections. But Correa has also come into increasing conflict with the country’s Left, who charge that his radical discourse is mere window dressing. Led by the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE), Leftists are unhappy with Correa’s support for large-scale mining and other policies that they see as too friendly to big business and foreign investors.

The conflict recently intensified when former Assembly Member Monica Chuji disaffiliated from Correa’s Alianza País party. Chuji is an indigenous activist and was Correa’s spokeswoman before her election to the Constituent Assembly, the body that drafted the constitution. And just last week, CONAIE President Marlon Santi warned of an indigenous uprising against mining activities. He stated that indigenous and anti-mining organizations will meet in the Southern Highlands city of Cuenca on October 13th to discuss potential actions.

And in a surprise move, Correa on Sunday publicly appeared with former President of the Constituent Assembly and long time social movement ally Alberto Acosta. Acosta and Correa had a falling out in June over procedural matters and substantial political differences. But with Correa empowered and the traditional Right weakened, it is unclear whether social movements will be successful in reasserting an independent political project.

Daniel Denvir is an independent journalist in Quito, Ecuador, and a 2008 recipient of the North American Congress on Latin America's Samuel Chavkin Investigative Journalism Grant. He is the editor in chief of caterwaulquarterly.com.

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Correa exposes Ecuadorian oligarchy

• More than nine million Ecuadorians to vote on a new Constitution on Sunday

Source: http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2008/septiembre/mar23/correa.html

QUITO, September 22.–– President Rafael Correa of Ecuador affirmed today that oligarchic groups are opposed to the new Constitution because it would take away all of their current and illegitimate powers.

The oligarchy wishes to maintain the status quo to the detriment of the majority of people in this nation and to the benefit of a minority that has always held power, Correa told reporters.

He warned that this group, concentrated in Guayaquil, is seeking to initiate a process of destabilization and that the "mass media, in its great majority — above all the national media — is acting as the mouthpiece for that power group to defend the status quo and keep everything the same."

Correa noted that the citizen’s revolution begun in 2007, which will be deepened with the new legislation, is seeking radical change in Ecuador’s economic, social and political structures.

The head of state said he wanted to achieve a more participatory democracy in the political, social and economic context, "where fundamental rights are not converted into commodities as was the case with the current Constitution, when health and education were privatized." According to Prensa Latina, a little more than nine million Ecuadorians are to cast their votes this coming Sunday, to decide "Yes" or "No" on a new Constitution, which will be key to the country’s future.

Translated by Granma International •

ECUADOR: Video y Poesia Enviado por la Asamblea Constituyente

Video Enviado por la Asamblea Constituyente de Ecuador

La asamblea constituyente de Ecuador que ahorita está en el proceso de elaborar la nueva constitución del país segun un modelo participativo nos mandó este video. Visita la pagina web de la asamblea para leer más.- Editor

Te invitamos a mirar este excelente video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qccKqH9pMQ



Que venga la esperanza
Que venga la igualdad
Que venga la rabia
Las ganas de luchar

Que venga la justicia
Que no se deja comprar
La que no se vende
Que busca la verdad

Que venga el trabajo
Que se levanta como himno
Que satisface
El trabajo digno

Que no vuelva la avaricia
Que no vuelva el abuso
La calumnia
El cuento la falacia

Que vengan las mujeres
Y los hombres nuevos
Que venga la educación
Y los jóvenes que sueñan que viene algo mejor

Que venga la libertad
Que venga la dignidad
Que vengan los desplazados
Porque ahora tienen lugar

Que no vuelva la pobreza
Que no vuelva el hambre
El llanto, que no vuelva aquel espanto
Que no vuelvan nunca más

El desprecio el asco la desgracia
La avaricia la codicia
El egoísmo
Que no vuelvan a rondar

Que venga la salud
Que venga el bienestar
Que venga el cambio
Que venga la felicidad

Que vengan los ciegos
Porque saben escuchar
Que vengan los indios, los montubios, los negros
Que vengan que se unan que ahora somos más

Que vengan los que creen
Que vengan los que luchan
Que vengan los hermanos
Que vengan los que amamos

Que vengan los que amamos
Ser ecuatorianos
CONSTITUCIÓN 2008
Dejemos el pasado atrás


Más información en:
http://www.asambleaconstituyente.gov.ec/

ECUADOR: New Constitution Shifts to Participatory Democracy

In the following article, the vice president of the constituent assembly charged with drafting Ecador's new constitution describes how the document will provide for a major shift from the neoliberal and representative democracy to people power and participatory democracy. This appears to be in line with the example set by Venezuela and reflects the current trend throughout Latin America, the rise of left of center and populist democratically elected governments fueling a major transition towards grassroots empowerment in the region. We the editors view this regional phenomenon as a major improvement, one that is making Latin America one of the most inspiring places in the world for advocates of participatory democracy. - Editor

Ecuador: New Constitution Paradigmatic, Democratic

July 21, 2008
Source: http://www.escambray.cu/Eng/news/Wecuador080721209.htm

Quito, Jul 21 (PL) - The new Ecuadorean Constitution is revolutionary, paradigmatic and democratic, because it guarantees the rights of citizens and nature, according to Constituent Assembly Vice President Aminta Buenaño.

That Constitution, approved by the Constituent Assembly, marks a before and after, because if it is ratified in September referendum, it will establish the end of the neoliberal model and the beginning of a social and solidarity system, Buenaño pointed out.

It is a deep change for society, because it goes from representative democracy to participatory democracy, in which the core of everything is the citizen, she stressed.

That is why a new power is created, social and transparent control, in which individuals make decisions and public powers are supervised, she told Ecuadorean television.

Another new element, absent in several constitutions, is that it includes nature's rights, so it contains the concept of the Defender of the environment, who will oversee environmental protection, Buenaño said.

Regarding polemic issues, she denied that the Constitution will decriminalize abortions, and recalled that the State guarantees and respects life from the moment of conception.

She added that marriage could only take place between men and women, according to the final document approved by the Constituent Assembly.

The official also denied that the new Constitution hinders freedom of expression in the country, which is guaranteed, providing that citizens' rights be respected.

Buenaño warned against the opposition's disagreement with change and the new Constitution, which it is trying to distort to influence the people negatively.

Therefore, she added, a great campaign will be launched to publicize the content of the Constitution, which will meet the demands from most Ecuadoreans.

ECUADOR: Poder Popular y la Nueva Constitución

El pueblo Ecuadoreño esta experimentando un alto nivel de participación civil en el proceso democrático desde la elección del Presidente Rafael Correa, pero es la responsibilidad de la asamblea constituyente que está haciendo la nueva constitución asegurar que esa participación sea legalmente y permanentamente parte de la escena politica del pais. Eso significa la creación de una estructura de poder popular que incluye consejos comunales y presupuestos participativos. Acá presentamos un comentario hecho por un miembro de la asamblea costituyente que apoya esta iniciativa. - Editor


Poder para el pueblo organizado y movilizado!!!

Enero 28, 2008 Por: Eduardo Zambrano

Source: http://asambleaconstituyente.gov.ec/blogs/eduardo_zambrano/2008/01/28/poder-para-el-pueblo-organizado-y-movilizado/

La Revolución Ciudadana ha descubierto una serie de potencialidades y capacidades del pueblo ecuatoriano para el ejercicio democrático. Visto desde la oposición o desde el Acuerdo PAIS, el pueblo decidió participar. Son parte de nuestra cotidianidad hechos formidables y excepcionales como marchas de miles de personas.

Existe una voluntad de participación masiva en procesos de consulta y elecciones (Elecciones presidenciales 2006, consulta popular convocatoria Asamblea Constituyente abril 2007, elecciones de asambleístas septiembre 2007), la participación popular avanza. Esta participación masiva instituye necesariamente el germen de más y mejores prácticas democráticas.

Se ha venido afirmando la vocación democrática de la mayoría de ciudadanos y ciudadanas. Desafortunadamente la violencia mediática, la falta de balance de casi todos los medios y la corrupción parecieran ser los males antidemocráticos más difíciles de erradicar.

Se incrementa la participación de los jóvenes, de las mujeres, de las y los discapacitados, de los migrantes, la participación en cooperativas, medios comunitarios, comunidades organizadas autogestionadas, comités de tierras urbanas y rurales, movimientos sociales, entre otras formas organizativas de participación.

En Ecuador el pueblo insurgió para dejar de ser espectador, conciente de que no basta con delegar su poder soberano, se dio a sí mismo una Asamblea Constituyente de Plenos Poderes para hacer una Nueva Constitución que consagre el derecho de los ciudadanos y ciudadanas a participar en los asuntos públicos, no sólo a través de representantes elegidos, sino directamente. Me refiero a la democracia participativa y protagónica en la que las comunidades, conjuntamente con las autoridades locales, tienen el derecho y el deber de formular, ejecutar, controlar y efectuar seguimiento a las políticas públicas.

Ya no se trata solamente de ir a votar, se trata de ejercer una actividad permanente de construcción social que exige formación, proactividad, capacidad de negociación, consulta de la gente, participación y seguimiento por parte de los ciudadanos y ciudadanas. La democracia participativa implica un cambio de cultura en la conciencia del pueblo. Este cambio tiene que representar un salto cualitativo para la vida social y política del país. No se trata de un simple cambio operacional sino de instaurar en la práctica una nueva visión del poder popular en los niveles local, regional, nacional.

Para desarrollar este paradigma revolucionario de la democracia participativa y protagónica, se tiene que generar articulado constitucional y una ley donde se plantea la instauración de una nueva institucionalidad o consejos locales que superen la planificación como actividad de expertos, estableciendo que es el pueblo organizado el que debe decidir y direccionar, conjuntamente con los representantes elegidos y funcionarios públicos, en qué se invertirán los recursos, así como el cómo, el dónde, el cuánto y el cuándo debe hacerse.

El plan de gobierno local debe responder a las necesidades reales de las poblaciones locales; si el pueblo se organiza, si el pueblo se moviliza, los alcaldes ya no pueden decidir invertir unilateralmente los dineros públicos en aceras, brocales y cloacas cuando la comunidad organizada exige salud y escuelas. El presupuesto (participativo) debe ser el plan de gobierno local en números y no un ejercicio de los técnicos y expertos financieros que guarda insuficiente relación con las demandas de las comunidades o lo que se tiene planificado hacer.

Paralelamente, el pueblo organizado no debe olvidar que existe el riesgo de que el ultrademocratismo paralice la acción, que el arte de gobernar implica generar sinergias, aprender a ordenar las prioridades, diagnosticar, consultar, sistematizar proyectos y ejecutar. De manera análoga los representantes elegidos (alcaldes, prefectos o gobernadores) deben desaprender la cultura de la democracia representativa y facilitar este ejercicio de soberanía, promover realmente la corresponsabilidad en el proceso de toma de decisiones.

La participación del pueblo en los asuntos públicos, me refiero a una participación cooperativa, empoderada de herramientas técnicas, conocimiento del presupuesto y ejercicio permanente del control social, donde los alcaldes, prefectos y gobernadores sean líderes-facilitadores del ejercicio soberano del poder popular en la concepción de los planes, en la ejecución con participación de las instituciones del poder organizado (cooperativas, microempresas, etc.) es la única garantía de superación del problema de la corrupción.

Durante los últimos tiempos el pueblo ecuatoriano ha demostrado una gran madurez y visión política ante golpes de estado, destituciones de tres presidentes elegidos en las urnas, la estafa bancaria, crisis política, social y económica, guerra mediática y otras difíciles pruebas. Por ahora el mayor reto del pueblo ecuatoriano radica en la organización. Estos tiempos de revolución no son solo para agotarse en marchas y contramarchas, la plataforma de los Consejos Locales de Planificación Pública nos ofrece la oportunidad de avanzar hacia formas superiores de organización social.

Enfatizamos que hay que avanzar en lo organizativo hacia un verdadero protagonismo del pueblo en la toma de decisiones soberanas. La democracia participativa y protagónica alude a la necesaria vinculación del pueblo organizado y movilizado entorno a lo social, lo político, cultural y lo económico y productivo.

ECUADOR: Indigenous Movements Press Correa on Cultural Rights and Control of Resources

Ecuador's long running clash between exploiters of natural resources and defenders of indigenous cultural rights is yet again coming to a head as CONAIE (the country's main indigenous organization) released a rejection of President Correa's proposed exploitation of land and resources. The indigenous voice must be recognized in the country's new constitution or Correa will face mass revolt by the people who have always been excluded from political processes. Symbolic gestures will not be tolerated because these people want to make their own decisions about how their land and their country will "develop". The article below outlines the demands of CONAIE and the government's oppositional actions. -Editor


Ecuador: CONAIE Indigenous Movement Condemns President Correa

Source: http://upsidedownworld.org/main/content/view/1288/49/

Written by Daniel Denvir and Thea Riofrancos
Friday, 16 May 2008

The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) declared itself in opposition to the government of Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa on May 12. The CONAIE accused the president of continuing right-wing neoliberal economic and racist social policies. The harsh condemnation focused on Correa´s opposition to two key demands: the recognition of Ecuador as a plurinational state in the new constitution and the requirement that communities must offer prior consent before large-scale mining and other major extractive projects take place.

Ecuador is currently governed by a Constituent Assembly, which is writing a new Ecuadorian constitution as well as performing all legislative functions. The Assembly was convened after voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional referendum in April 2007. Members of Correa´s Alianza Pais party won 74 of the 130 seats. Patchakutik, the CONAIE's electoral arm, has four representatives in the Assembly.

While the CONAIE has supported a number of Correa`s programs, most social movement activists in Ecuador say that this conflict was foreseeable. Correa`s support for large scale mining and his opposition to plurinationality run up against the indigenous movement's top political priorities.

Plurinationality is a broad framework that encompasses a number of key indigenous movement demands, including cultural rights—such as bilingual education and culturally appropriate healthcare—and collective economic rights such as the requirement of affected communities' consent before any exploration or extraction of non-renewable resources, whether by State or multinational corporations.

The CONAIE's strong position against large-scale mining and for prior consent is a boon to Ecuador`s anti-mining movement, led by the National Coordinator in Defense of Life and Sovereignty. Over the past several months, the Coordinator has organized massive road blockades in Southern Ecuador, sparking government condemnation and repression. In response, a large pro-mining march took place in Quito in early May, apparently organized by government and industry forces.

The environment is a central issue for the Ecuadorian indigenous movement, as they see cultural rights as closely tied to territorial rights and the preservation of biodiversity. The CONAIE's environmental demands extend beyond the indigenous movement and involve close collaboration with local and international environmental organizations. The CONAIE, along with a wide range of regional social movements, rejects the South American regional integration plan known as the Initiative for the Integration of Regional Infrastructure in South America (IIRSA). The development program, funded by the Inter-American Development Bank and other regional financial institutions, such as the Brazilian Development Bank and the Andean Development Corporation, consists of mega-development projects such as dams and hydroelectric plants. According to the Bank Information Center, the IIRSA "poses one of the greatest challenges to environmental sustainability and social justice today." In Ecuador, the main IIRSA project is the Manta-Manaos multimodal transportation axis between Ecuador and Brazil, which includes building a port and the construction of several new roads leading to and from the coast. In the words of the Ecuadorian government, this transportation project will achieve the "dream of joining the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through a terrestrial-river route," and will facilitate the creation of a new East-West trade axis.

The CONAIE also strongly criticized the negotiations for a Free Trade Deal (misleadingly called "Association Agreement") between the European Union and the Andean Community, which took place three weeks ago.

The CONAIE's leadership is now visiting and holding consultations with its constituent base communities throughout Ecuador. The leadership will reconvene at the end of the month to make decisions about what actions to take next. It is widely rumored that the CONAIE will launch a national indigenous uprising, events that have in the past shut down the entire country. According to the CONAIE spokesperson Pacha Taran, "We are not calling for an uprising. But we are not ruling that out, either."

While certain members of Correa´s Alianza Pais (AP) party have made statements in support of plurinationality, Correa and a number of AP assembly members either oppose the measure or support it symbolically while opposing its substance of collective territorial and cultural rights. As Taran put it, "Correa likes us, except for when we start to protest. Then he tells us to shut up."

According to the CONAIE declaration, "We reject President Rafael Correa´s racist, authoritarian and antidemocratic statements, which violate the rights of [Indigenous] nationalities and peoples enshrined in international conventions and treaties. This constitutes an attack against the construction of a plurinational and intercultural democracy in Ecuador. Correa has assumed the traditional neoliberal posture of the rightist oligarchy."

The declaration goes on to accuse the government of "handing over national and indigenous territories to transnational oil, mining, pharmaceutical, logging and hydroelectric companies." The CONAIE also demands that the Constitutional Assembly support food sovereignty and declare Ecuador "free of transgenics and agrofuels."

Furthermore, the twelve-point resolution called for the firing of Minister of Mines and Petroleum Galo Chiriboga and Minister of the Environment Marcela Aguiñaga. Chiriboga has been widely criticized for allowing foreign companies, namely the Brazilian state company PetroBras, to violate Ecuadorian law. Aguiñaga is accused of allowing large scale logging in the Amazon and of failing to adequately investigate the murders of an undetermined number of Huaoroni indigenous people earlier this year. It is widely believed that the Huaorani were killed by either loggers or paramilitary groups hired by logging companies. They have also called for action to be taken against Attorney General Washington Pesántez. Pesántez is accused of persecuting social movement activists from unions and indigenous groups and organizations like Indymedia.

Finally, the CONAIE declared its solidarity with the people of Bolivia and President Evo Morales. They condemned the Bolivian right-wing's attempt to declare wealthy regions like Santa Cruz "autonomous" and warned against pro-autonomy statements by Ecuadorian opposition leader Jaime Nebot. Although this resolution represents the indigenous movements' strongest public condemnation of Correa to date, the CONAIE makes it clear that they are not part of the right-wing opposition and oppose Correa on their own terms.


Daniel Denvir and Thea Riofrancos are independent journalists from the United States and collaborators at the Latin American Information Agency (www.alainet.org) in Quito, Ecuador. They are also editors at the forthcoming journal Caterwaul Quarterly (www.caterwaulquarterly.com). Daniel Denvir is a 2008 recipient of NACLA's Samuel Chavkin Investigative Journalism Grant.

Participatory Water Management: Case of Ecuador

Global struggles for water have demonstrated that it will soon become, if it is not already, the most sought after commodity. Unlike petroleum or any other fuel, it is a resource that has no substitute, and is completely necessary for human survival. With enhanced contamination and corporate controls threatening water security all over the world, the people must have the power to decide how to solve this problem and manage themselves this resource that belongs to them.

Governments in South America have in many cases acquiesced to the demands of corporate lenders by relinquishing control of city water systems to foreign investors. As Bechtel and its subsidiaries jack up the prices, more people find themselves unable to pay water bills. The article below points out the problems faced by the people of Ecuador and suggests that the people take direct democratic control of the essential resource. The article should also compel a reader to ask who owns the water that we use and consume on a daily basis, and who will have control in the future when supplies are more scarce? - Editor

Who Controls Ecuador's Water?

by Sara Grusky, Food & Water Watch October 30, 2007 - Americas Program, Center for International Policy (CIP) americas.irc-online.org

It is a well kept secret that Bechtel won a contract to privatize the water in Ecuador's largest city, Guayaquil, just months after the massive citizen protests that threw Bechtel out of Bolivia. In October 2000, a local Bechtel subsidiary, Interagua, signed a 30-year concession contract to run the water and sanitation services in Guayaquil. The privatization process was promoted by loans from the Inter-American Development Bank and a guarantee from the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), a World Bank agency. Now, more than six years later, the residents of Guayaquil are demanding damages from the company for water contamination, an end to water cut-offs, and a return to local, public control.

On Sept. 28 residents in Guayaquil gathered in front of the offices of the undersecretary of the economy to protest the contract. On Oct.18 thousands gathered to proclaim that water is a human right, demanding that their "water debts" are forgiven and that their water services are reconnected. A local advocacy organization, the Observatorio Cuidadano de Servicios Publicos (Citizen's Observatory of Public Services), is seeking to stop the water cut-offs through legal action.

One in six people in the world lack access to clean and affordable water and thousands of children die of water-borne diseases every day. Corporations like Bechtel seek to profit from providing water, often elevating the narrow interests of their companies and its shareholders above social and environmental goals. Around the world, privatization has led to large rate hikes and poor service, while failing to solve the problem of lack of access, leaving the poorest communities with no water services at all. This is now the situation in Guayaquil, where there are hundreds of documented complaints due to the appalling service of Bechtel's subsidiary, Interagua. The citizens of Guayaquil are demanding accountability from the company. The Ecuadorian regulatory agency ECAPAG recently fined Interagua $1.5 million for contractual violations. Some of the problems that face the residents of Guayaquil include:

1. Repeated residential water cut-offs for up to 12, 24, 36, or more hours at a time;
2. Residential water cut-offs of senior citizens and other low-income residents due to inability to pay;
3. Failure to extend services to specific neighborhoods, especially low-income residents;
4. Failure to meet contractual obligations for rehabilitation and expansion of services;
5. Public health problems such as respiratory problems, skin rashes, asthma, and diarrhea due to lack of wastewater treatment;
6. Environmental contamination due to lack of wastewater treatment;
7. Hepatitis A outbreak in June 2005, investigated by local authorities (Commission for Civic Control and the Public Defender's office) who concluded that the water was "not apt for human consumption."

The Failure

In 2006, Bechtel's total revenue amounted to $20.5 billion and Interagua's operations in Guayaquil earned $300 million in revenue. Despite these profits, Interagua did not initiate the rehabilitation programs it had promised. Concerns and complaints mounted over broken pipelines, floods due to malfunctioning sewage systems, exorbitant water rates, poor water quality, and environmental damage due to the lack of wastewater treatment during this first five-year period. Lack of investment in storm drainage forced many residents to suffer the health effects of constant flooding. In 2002 the company was treating only 5% of the sewage and releasing the rest, including fecal material, and domestic and industrial waste directly into the local river, Guayas. 1 The health department began to issue reports documenting health problems that children were experiencing in communities located north of the city, such as Acuarelas del Río and Guayacanes, where the sewage was being released. The health problems included skin rashes, asthma, and gastric problems such as diarrhea.

Along with overflowing sewage and illegal dumping, unsafe tap water has also contributed to the serious health crisis. Residents complain about the "nauseating" and "unbearable" odor coming from the tap water.2 Interagua has refused to make public information regarding water quality. In June 2005 over 150 children were infected with Hepatitis A from drinking dirty tap water. The outbreak was concentrated around the western suburbs of Guayaquil where 76% of residents described their water as cloudy and foul-smelling. Interagua denied responsibility for the outbreak but studies have shown that it was a combination of the nonfunctional sewage system and poor water quality that contributed ultimately to the outbreak of Hepatitis A.3 The Commission for Civic Control and the Public Defender's office declared that Interagua held some responsibility for the Hepatitis A outbreak and concluded that the water was "not fit for human consumption." But problems persist including repeated cut-offs of water service that last for more than 24 hours, which is illegal unless the company provides alternative sources of water for the residents. In some areas Interagua cut the water for 23 hours a day in order to evade the responsibility of providing an alternative water source. In addition, the company continues to cut off water services when consumers accumulate too much debt.

Taking Back Control

Guarantees and loans provided by the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank have ensured a profitable investment for one of the world's most influential corporations, Bechtel. But, similar to the experience of many other cities across the world, water privatization has not solved water problems in Guayaquil. Instead, Bechtel has delivered water not suitable for drinking, refused to expand access to services, cut off water to those unable to pay, and neglected responsibilities to provide wastewater treatment compromising the local environment and public health.

The Observatorio Cuidadano de Servicios Públicos is working tirelessly to document Bechtel's contract violations. The group—which brings together numerous civil society organizations in Guayaquil to monitor and help improve public services—has exposed the constitutional, legal, and contractual violations of Interagua and is working to ensure that action is taken. They will continue to organize and demand that water and other public services be locally and publicly owned, controlled, and managed with active citizen oversight and participation.

The recognition of water as a human right and the push for citizen oversight and participation in public services is also being acknowledged and supported on an international scale. The United Nations Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights adopted the human right to water on Nov. 26, 2002 and the United Nations Development Program's Human Development Report of 2006 calls on all governments to enshrine the right to water in enabling legislation. The human right to water is indispensable for leading a life of human dignity. Everyone should have secure access to sufficient safe water and sanitation to meet their basic human needs. To ensure that safe and affordable water is available to the 1.2 billion people across the globe that currently do not have proper access, international financial institutions and aid agencies need to abandon failed policies and stop pushing countries to privatize water services. Governments need to involve residents in solutions and recognize the human right to clean and affordable water.

Sara Grusky is a senior organizer with the Water for All Campaign at Food & Water Watch (http://www.fwwatch.org/). She works with communities and organizations across the Americas that are working to replace corporate control of their water resources with local democratic control. She can be reached at sgrusky@fwwatch.org.

To sign-on to a letter to Bechtel regarding their operation in Ecuador contact Sara Grusky at: sgrusky@fwwatch.org

Also see these related articles (in spanish): http://www.radiomundoreal.fm/rmr/?q=es/node/9203 http://www.nodo50.org/opcion/116/pais.htm

And this news in today from Guayaquil: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7208591.stm