Last Wednesday and Thursday, Ecuadorian President Moreno was scheduled the to visit the FRG and meet with chancellor Merkel. His visit, however, fell flat when turmoil took Ecuador by storm last week following the application of IMF dictates hugely impacting the lifes of most Ecuadorians. Since then, hundreds of protesters and police have been injured in ongoing clashes between the police and army on one side and the poor peasantry and deepest and broadest masses from the cities on the other side. Ecuador is currently under the State of Emergency, with a nation-wide General Strike declared for upcoming Wednesday.
In February, the Moreno government agreed to a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), putting the country in dept by another 4.2 Billion US Dollars. In return, the IMF demanded the implementation of a huge set of measures impacting the masses in Ecuador, and particularly the deepest and broadest, almost instantly when they took effect last week. Following the total cutback of the subvention of combustibles, the price of a Gallon Diesel more then doubled basically over night, jumping from 1US$ to 2.3US$ (according to German press outlets). Regular Gasoline increased by by 0.6 US$. As if this would not be enough to seriously worsen the situation of the masses by increasing rates for transportation and consequently also all goods, raising the price for daily demands in all fields, further imposed measures include the deregulation of workplace security and the cutting of holidays for state employees.
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Following the implementation of these measures, trade unions for transportation, students but also large sections of the indigenous people went into action confronting the reactionary old bureaucratic-landlord state that serves imperialist interests and calling for strikes. Since then, the protests in Ecuador unfolds and develops rapidly. In the Capitol Quito, the Seat of Government was attacked with Molotovs by protesters, who also set up barricades, burning tires, and engaged the police and military in confrontations. To restrain the struggle of the people of Ecuador against the imposition of the dictates of the IMF in service of the imperialists, President Moreno on Thursday paved the way to unleash the army, declaring a 60 day state of emergency. Since then more then 24.000 army soldiers are bolstering the ranks of the police in their combat against the rebelling masses, resulting in hundreds of protesters being arrested and severely injured.
A video made by the comrade of the Front of Defense of the Struggles of the People shows how within the manifestations, demonstrations and confrontations Maoist militants are at the forefront of the protests and it depicts scenes of the heroic fight of Ecuador’s people, such as the poor peasantry disarming soldiers and the masses clamoring for People’s War in the midst of fighting the police and army.
