Report From Ecuador – Democracy Under Threat (www.soaw.org)

Written by Hendrik Voss

FRIDAY, 01 OCTOBER 2010 20:33

SOA Watch has been monitoring the situation that has been unfolding in Ecuador, which many have described as a failed coup attempt. We continue to call on Latin American governments to end the training of military and police personnel at the U.S. School of the Americas, International Law Enforcement Agencies (ILEA) or other institutions that promote anti-democratic behavior. We congratulate the social movements of Ecuador for impeding any possible coup.

Yesterday morning, a large number of media reported that the Ecuadoran military had seized the main airport in Quito and that the police fired tear gas, burned tires “after taking over bases in Quito, Guayaquil and other cities.” They also claim that an Associated Press photographer “witnessed soldiers participating in the action that shut down the main terminal at Quito’s Mariscal Sucre airport.” On the other hand, TeleSur reported that the police had indeed launched a possible coup attempt but that the response by the military was unknown.

News from Ecuador kept pouring in as the events unfolded throughout the day. After President Correa was held hostage in a hospital by the police for 10 hours, Ecuadoran military forces moved in and freed the President and returned him to the Presidential palace.

Last Updated on Friday, 01 October 2010 20:44