Ecuador’s Indigenous Movement Mobilizes for the Water

  Source: Intercontinental Cry

A national, inclusive, non-discriminatory and peaceful effort, the “Mobilization to defend the Water” (Movilización Nacional para defender el Agua) officially began this morning in Ecuador, at 12:00am (0500 GMT).

At this point, several roadblocks have reportedly been set up, involving rocks, trees and burning tires, on several sections along the Panamerican highway and at various other locations.

The mobilization was called on by CONAIE president Marlon Santi, two weeks ago, during the National Assembly to defend the Water. As noted in statements on ECUARUNARI‘s website, the country’s indigenous movement has been “exhausted by the process of dialogue” with the Correa government, and left with no choice but to mobilize to defend the water for themselves and all of Ecuador.

The mobilization, which will continue “indefinitely” according to CONAIE, is protesting the proposed, Water use and management Act, which can be approved by congress as soon as October 14.

The water act will give transnational mining companies free reign over water supplies throughout the country—threatening the health and well being of all Ecuadorians and especially Indigenous People, their cultures, their food supplies, and their most basic and fundamental rights.

Yesterday, the AFP reported that protests were being organized across seven of Ecuador’s 24 provinces. However, given last year’s Popular and Indigenous Minga in Colombia and the more recent Mobilization of Indigenous Peoples in Peru, there’s no telling how far it will grow.

Similarly, there’s no telling how long before police intervene. According to El Pais, more than 20,000 police have been deployed to challenge the mobilization, which so-called leftist President Correa has himself labeled a desperate campaign to destabilize his government with “lies.”

NOTE: ECUARUNARI has a live internet broadcast set up at http://www.livestream.com/ecuachaskitv. It is in Spanish, however it will provide coverage during the mobilization.