Mercosur and Prosur Endorse Ecuadorian Government and Call for End to Protests

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Rulers of the Mercosur countries (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay) released yesterday, October 13th, a joint note lamenting the clashes between Ecuadorian security forces and demonstrators protesting against the government‘s economic adjustment measures.

At least two demonstrators have already died in the protests, although authorities reject this report. While the government speaks of two confirmed deaths, the Public Defender’s Office stated that by last Thursday, October 10th, at least five civilians had already been killed, including one head of the indigenous movement which is leading the protests.

In yesterday’s statement, the Mercosur member states’ leaders said that they condemn the acts of violence recorded in Ecuador in recent hours. They reiterated their support for Ecuador‘s President Lenin Moreno, praising what they described as the “willingness” of the Ecuadorian government and “representative sectors of society” to engage in a dialogue “with a view to normalizing order in the country”.

“Considering the fundamental principle of respect for democracy and the Ushuaia Protocol on democratic commitment in Mercosur […] The countries [members of the bloc] reiterate their support for Ecuador’s democratically elected government and for President Lenin Moreno, and hope for the prompt restoration of peace in the country,” said the note, which was released in Brazil by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Journalists and police officers hostage

The demonstration was made public four days after protesters held ten police officers and some 30 journalists hostage for more than ten hours at the Casa da Cultura in Quito. The action was motivated by the death of two Indians who took part in the protests. Jaime Vargas, president of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE), declared that the movement will continue to take to the streets in the country, particularly in the capital, Quito, until the government reviews its package of economic measures to comply with an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Due to the violent clashes and political and social tension, President Lenin Moreno has provisionally transferred the federal government’s headquarters from Quito to Guayaquil. The President is defending his economic adjustments in the face of protests. In a video broadcast on a national network to substantiate the decision to transfer the government’s seat and to declare a state of emergency throughout the country, restricting the right of citizens to meet, among other measures, Moreno defended the need to adopt measures to settle public accounts. The president also held his predecessor, former president Rafael Correa, accountable for mobilizing segments of society against the current administration.

PROSUR’s note

Brazil’s Foreign Ministry also shared a second note, signed by the nations that make up the Forum for the Progress and Integration of South America (PROSUR), a forum for dialogue founded in March this year to strengthen relations between South American countries. In addition to the Brazilian government, representatives from Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay and Peru signed a statement on the situation in Ecuador.

“In view of the recent events that have taken place in the Republic of Ecuador, the heads of state, members of PROSUR, declare [that] we support democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights in Ecuador,” asserted the presidents of the eight countries that signed the note.

“We support the Ecuadorian government’s efforts to uphold peace, public order, and democratic institutions, using the tools granted by the Constitution and the law. We condemn the acts of violence and the attempts to destabilize the country, its institutionality and the Ecuadorian democratic process”, the presidents assert, rejecting any possible “external action aimed at changing public order and peaceful coexistence in Ecuador”.

The document also calls for the preservation of the right to freedom of expression and peaceful meeting. “We urge the [Ecuadorian] government, the opposition and the representative sectors of society to seek a peaceful solution, based on dialogue and through institutional channels that will allow a prompt solution to the tense and violent situation that has prevailed for several days”.

Source: Agência Brasil

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