2012 Ecuadorian protests

Environmental protests in Ecuador August 2021 2012 Ecuadorian protests Ecuador March 2012 Environmental degradationPerceived threat to indigenous livelihoodsMining concessions in the Amazon Laws protecting water resourcesConsultation with indigenous communities over mining projects Government of Ecuador Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) Rafael Correa Humberto Cholango The 2012 Ecuadorian protests were a series of demonstrations by indigenous peoples who oppose the copper mining concessions in the province of Zamora-Chinchipe. On 22 March, the protesters reached the capital Quito to be met with counter protesters and warnings from the government and President Rafael Correa. Background The protests commenced in part due to an agreement between Ecuador and Chinese company Ecuacorriente S.A. for a 25-yearhttp://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/120309/ecuador-natives-begin-two-week-march-protest-chinese-mining-company Ecuador natives begin two-week march to protest Chinese mining companies Globalpost.com 29 November 2009 2012-03-11 investment contract of US$1.4 billion (£900m)https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-17306228 BBC News – Ecuador indigenous protesters march against mining BBC News 9 March 2012 2012-03-11 to develop the Mirador mine, an open-pit copper mine in the southeastern Amazonian region, including the province of Zamora-Chinchipe.staff http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/mar2012/2012-03-08-01.html Indigenous Ecuadorians March Against Canadian Copper Mine Ens-newswire.com 2012-03-11 https://web.archive.org/web/20120321230350/http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/mar2012/2012-03-08-01.html 21 March 2012 dead The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE), the umbrella organisation leading the protest march, claim to represent a third of Ecuador's 14 million population. CONAIE also supported Correa in the 2006 election when he won his first term, as well as many of his programmes;http://upsidedownworld.org/main/content/view/1288/49/ Ecuador: CONAIE Indigenous Movement Condemns President Correa Upsidedownworld.org 16 May 2008 2012-03-11 however they later accused him of favouring free market policies in disregard of his original intentions. In the past their protests have led to the removals of presidents Abdalá Bucaram in 1997 and Jamil Mahuad in 2000. Parallels Similarly, in August 2011, protesters in Bolivia began a cross-country march against fellow pink tide President Evo Morales' initiative to build the Villa Tunari – San Ignacio de Moxos Highway through the Isiboro Sécure National Park and Indigenous Territory. CONAIE also sent Morales a letter of concern.Rising Bolivia http://boliviarising.blogspot.in/2011/10/letter-from-conaie-to-evo-morales_01.html Bolivia Rising: Letter from CONAIE to Evo Morales regarding TIPNIS Boliviarising.blogspot.in 1 October 2011 2012-03-11 Goals Humberto Cholango, the head of CONAIE, said that the protest did not seek to oust President Rafael Correa, but only to seek the passing of laws to protect water resources and consultation with indigenous groups over future mining projects. CONAIE also said that many people would be forced off their land. They also claimed the policy would lead to more mining concessions. The protesters also seek Congress' denunciation of what they called the "criminalisation of social protest," the collection of new taxes and for the removal of "some" civil servants.https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5issdLTmEu4HMMx3JzvKbfI2I8FCg?docId=CNG.7feae09cde7d4c3d75379bfb3430d933.461 https://web.archive.org/web/20130222172603/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5issdLTmEu4HMMx3JzvKbfI2I8FCg?docId=CNG.7feae09cde7d4c3d75379bfb3430d933.461 dead 22 February 2013 AFP: Ecuador Indians march to protest Correa's land policies 2012-03-11 Protest march CONAIE, supported by some opposition parties and student and teachers' unions, organised the cross-country march starting from El Pangui, Zamora-Chinchipe. Several hundred indigenous Ecuadorians took part in the first stage in protest against the mining concessions in the Amazon basin, which they said would lead to environmental degradation and threaten their livelihoods. The organisers planned to cross several provinces before ending in Quito, on 22 March after the 700 kilometre march.http://www.france24.com/en/20120308-ecuador-indians-begin-protest-march-against-land-policy Ecuador Indians begin protest march against land policy France 24 2012-03-11 April 2019 InternetArchiveBot yes On 22 March, about 1,000 of the indigenous protesters entered Quito from the south with a giant rainbow flag. CONAIE's Humberto Cholango said that they had not "come to destabilise." Counter-protest Nearly 10,000 Correa supporters were called outHello, Guest http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/mar/08/ecuador-amazon-indians-in-mine-protest/ Ecuador Amazon Indians in mine protest UTSanDiego.com 2012-03-11 outside the presidential palace in Quito on 8 February to show their support for the president. As the protesters reached Quito on 22 March, the government of Ecuador called for guarding against a coup d'état. Correa spoke to his supporters, 500 of whom were indigenous protesters entering Quito from the north:http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2012/03/2012322212522359941.html Ecuadorians protest over mining controversy We will never talk to the corrupt right, with the liars! [The indigenous should not] be used. We know that mining is necessary for modern life. As well as the raw materials, we need the revenue so that we can care for handicapped people, pay for social security, build roads. These are the best negotiated contracts ever in world history. We got as much out of them as was possible. Responses Zamora-Chinchipe's governor, Salvador Quishpe, said of the protesters planned expansion route that: "People are very motivated, there will always be more people in each village." President Rafael Correa alleged that CONAIE sought to destabilise his government, while claiming the protest march would be a "resounding failure."http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2012/03/20123921342425380.html Native Ecuadorans protest Amazon mining – Americas Al Jazeera English 4 October 2011 2012-03-11 He also claimed the mine would help fund other development projects as roads, schools and hospitals. Meanwhile, he also called for further mobilisations til 22 March saying: "Resist peacefully, on March 8 we will gather in Independence Square and say, 'Here we are and this revolution does not stop anything or anyone!'" See also Politics List of protests in the 21st century 2004-2005 Ecuadorean protests References 30em Category:2012 in Ecuador Ecuador Category:Environment of Ecuador Category:Environmental protests Category:Indigenous rights protests Category:Protests in Ecuador Category:2012 in the environment Category:Indigenous peoples of South America and the environment Category:Environmental controversies Category:Environmental justice Category:Environmental racism