A-Infos (en) ait russia: Anarcho-syndicalists take part in student and teacher protests in Colombia [machine translation]

Activists from the Libertarian Union of Students and Workers (ULET), a friendly 
organization of the International Workers Association in Colombia, took part on October 10 
in a nationwide protest march for students and teachers. Protesters demanded funding for 
education, an end to police violence and a halt to privatization. ---- The comrades joined 
the protesters at the Pedagogical University of Bogota and went on the march, raising red 
and black flags (https://twitter.com/ULETsindical) ---- A massive demonstration of 
students and teachers actually paralyzed the country's capital Bogotá. The action was a 
continuation of a series of student speeches that began with protests at a university 
against corruption by a university administration. The brutal suppression of the protest 
by the police caused solidarity actions, during which the ESMAD police special forces 
intervened and clashes occurred. Now, protest marches for increased spending on education, 
the dissolution of ESMAD and against corruption have taken place in 17 cities in Colombia.

In Bogota, students at state universities spoke together. At the end of the march, clashes 
of part of the demonstrators with the police, entrenched at the Palace of Justice in the 
city center, flared up again. In Medellin, the march went without incident. In Antioquia, 
clashes broke out near a local university, but a few hours after the end of the march. In 
Barranquilla, where students demanded the resignation of the rector accused of sexual 
harassment, a group of protesters smashed the office of the candidate for governor 
(https://colombiareports.com/students-and-teachers-paralyze-colombias-cities-demanding-more-education-less-police-violence/)

https://aitrus.info/node/5335
-----------------------------------------

Protests in Ecuador have been going on for more than a week

Friday October 11th was the 9th day of protests against neoliberal reforms in Ecuador. At 
least 5 people died during the repression, but protesters do not give up. They rejected 
the country's president's call for negotiations.

On Wednesday, October 9, the country was paralyzed by a general strike. In the capital of 
Quito alone, more than 100 thousand people joined the strike. The Native American 
organization CONAIE brought 50,000 demonstrators to the streets of the capital; workers, 
union members, and students joined the columns (
https://www.jungewelt.de/loginFailed.php?ref=/artikel/364516.proteste-in-ecuador-repression-und-spaltung.html). 
During marches (generally peaceful), clashes with security forces occurred. In Quito, 
several men were injured; helicopters circled around the center of the capital. CONAIE 
accused the government of establishing a military dictatorship.

"Our flag is red like the blood of the working class," chanted the demonstrators in Quito; 
the walls are covered with graffiti and slogans against President Lenin Moreno and the 
IMF. "The government gives gifts to large banks, capitalists and punishes the Ecuadorian 
poor," said Mesias Tatamuez, spokesman for the United Workers' Front. On Wednesday 
morning, protesters barricaded roads and streets in many parts of the country with garbage 
and burning tires. They are trying to disperse water cannons and tear gas. "Moreno - get 
out!", "Police are killers" - the demonstrators chanted.

To prevent the protesters from marching to Guayaquil, security forces blocked the main 
bridge to this city. Authorities said 756 people were arrested during the protests and 
dozens of policemen were injured.

As a result of the seizure by protesters of a number of oil production sites in the 
Amazon, oil production was reduced by 70%. One of the two main oil pipelines stopped 
working. The troops recaptured the Sacha field, but the rest remain under the control of 
the protesters.

Authorities tried to engage in dialogue with protesters through the mediation of the 
church, the UN, and university rectors. Lenin Moreno on Wednesday briefly arrived in 
boiling Quito from Guayaquil to observe the situation, and in the evening he drove back. 
At the same time, the president categorically refuses to resign or cancel a package of 
neoliberal measures, including the abolition of subsidies on fuel prices. Instead, he 
offered repayments to those in need, loans to Indian peasants, debt refinancing, 
irrigation, technical assistance, etc. CONAJE rejected these proposals 
(https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/ecuador-unrest-protesters-raise-heat-defiant-moreno-191009224828996.html).

Discussions with the Indians took place in Guayaquil. But contrary to the president's 
promises, they soon reached an agreement with the protesters, the representative of the 
Indians, Salvador Quispe, said: "the demonstrations are ongoing, nothing is finished." And 
one of the leaders of KONAYE, Jaime Vargas, announced his refusal to negotiate with the 
government, which is under pressure from the IMF 
(https://www.france24.com/en/20191010-ecuador-s-moreno-seeks-talks-after-week-of-fuel-hike-protests)

The Red Cross ceased operations in Ecuador for security reasons.

As a result of the strike, public life was paralyzed in Quito, Guayaquil and other places. 
No transport was visible on the streets, shops remained closed, schools did not work. 
Young people clashed with the police in places 
(https://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2019-10/ecuador-proteste-erdoelpipeline-kraftstoffpreise-rotes-kreuz).

The powerful demonstration in Quito on Wednesday began at the House of Culture. Along the 
avenue on August 10, she moved to the city center, where the presidential palace of 
Karondela is located. Demonstrators installed tree branches on paths in front of the 
Ecuadorian Institute of Social Insurance, where the most violent clashes occurred last 
week. Jaime Arsinyegas, a member of the Ecuadorian Labor Parliament, told reporters that 
many more workers would join the demonstration in the evening, demanding the abolition of 
the subsidy decree 
(http://www.rtve.es/noticias/20191009/indigenas-mantienen-pulso-ecuador-huelga-general-contra-moreno-pese-disuasion-policial/1981155.shtml).

In the area of the palace, the march came across police trenches and barriers. Groups of 
protesters tried to break into the empty Karondelet Palace, which is surrounded by police 
barricades in the narrow neighboring streets. In one of the incidents, protesters climbed 
onto the roof of a police car that stopped in one of the side streets. They knocked on 
armored roofs and fortified windows with batons and stones, while those inside ran away 
through clouds of smoke and tear gas 
(https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/ecuador-thousands-march-anti-government-protests-intensify-n1064561)

Young men in hoods pelted police with stones and burning tires; guards of the capitalist 
order let gas in protesters around the empty parliament building. Demonstrators also 
attempted to storm police barricades around the deserted presidential palace - but to no 
avail.

The leaders of the strike say that it will not stop until the government repeals the 
decree on the abolition of subsidies.

Not far from the parliament building, in El Arbolito Park, thousands of Indians camped 
right on the grass; many of them are armed with sticks. Representatives of various Native 
American groups speak to the audience through loudspeakers. Demonstrations begin at the 
Ecuadorian Culture House located there.

Jaime Vargas has proclaimed that no dialogue is possible until the decree on the abolition 
of subsidies is repealed. "If he is taken back, then people will decide whether we want to 
talk or not. But we are angry because we have wounded, there are arrested and dead, and it 
just won't pass."

Amnesty International has called on the Ecuadorian government to end its heavy crackdown 
on demonstrators, including mass arrests 
(https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/09/ecuador-strike-lenin-moreno-latest).

In Guayaquil, from early morning on Wednesday, temporary closures of the bridge connecting 
the city with Duran were registered - one of the main communication routes of the city, 
which is considered the economic center of the country. And in several areas of the city 
of Cuenca, another major city of Ecuador, protesters also blocked roads in protest 
(http://www.rtve.es/noticias/20191009/indigenas-mantienen-pulso-ecuador-huelga-general-contra-moreno-pese-disuasion-policial/1981155.shtml).

Security forces patrolling Quito. In the vicinity of the House of Culture, where 
protesters gathered, 8 policemen were captured. On October 10, protesters demonstrated 
them at the House of Culture. Jaime Vargas encouraged them to join the protests 
(https://federalnewsnetwork.com/world-news/2019/10/8-police-held-captive-by-indigenous-protesters-in-ecuador/).

At the same time, the Indians declare that they will not be held responsible for the life 
and safety of prisoners if the security forces of the authorities attack from headquarters 
in El Arboledo Park. "Our leaders are not going to release the police, because we demand 
respect. If they attack us, we will use Indian justice," said Indian Fabian Masabanda from 
Imbabura province. "We are not responsible for the life of the police," if the House of 
Culture is attacked.

CONAIE announced a tribute to those killed in the crackdown. According to the Ombudsman, 
among them is Inosensio Tukumbi, the leader of Konaye Kotopahi. "We urge the government to 
end the violence and guarantee the exercise of the right to peaceful social protest," 
CONAIE declared, expressing solidarity with the victims. The Indian leader died, having 
suffered a head injury when the police dispersed a protest rally. At the end of last week, 
one man was shot to death by a car hiding from protesters in the south of the country. The 
three who fell from the bridge in Quito, too, apparently died ...

At a rally in the House of Culture on October 10, which brought together several thousand 
Indians, Jaime Vargas called on the army to stop supporting Lenin Moreno. He called those 
representatives of the Indians who are negotiating with the government traitors 
(http://www.rtve.es/noticias/20191010/cinco-personas-han-muerto-ecuador-durante-protestas-contra-moreno-subida-del-combustible/1981237.shtm).

At the moment, the Indians are captive in Quito 8 police officers and 2 agent provocateurs 
of the security forces. Eight police officers from agents from the motorized task force 
that circulated around the House of Culture in central Quito were surrounded and captured 
by the Indians. Soon after, the Indians demanded that the security forces move away from 
the House of Culture, located in El Arbolito Park, where clashes were recorded in recent days.

CONAIE continues to demand the cancellation of the reform package and the resignation of 
the Ministers of the Interior and Defense. "The government is killing people today," said 
Jaime Vargas, who accused the executive of "surrendering to the IMF," rejecting the 
dialogue: "We will not agree on anything with the government. The only thing required is 
for him to immediately resign and resigned as president. "

Human rights activists report 5 dead, 554 wounded and 929 arrested since the start of the 
protests 
(https://elpotosi.net/mundo/20191011_ecuador-persiste-la-crisis-y-ya-suman-cinco-muertos.html)

https://aitrus.info/node/5333
----------------------------------------------------------
Ecuador: Confrontation Continues

The confrontation between the working people of Ecuador and the neoliberal regime 
continues. On October 10, a "radicalization" of protest was announced. In the capital of 
Quito, new columns of Indians enter. Young people engage in street battles with police 
using improvised rockets. Protesters refuse any negotiations with the authorities until a 
decree on the abolition of fuel subsidies is taken back.

Hundreds of Indians from Ecuadorian Amazonia October 11 came to Quito and joined the 
protests, while from the province of Cotopaxi report new cases of police capture. Domingo 
Tan, a spokesman for the Shuar Indians from the province of Pastas, said his fellow 
tribesmen had come to "arrange a peaceful march" and claim their rights. "The government 
must hear, if it does not want to listen, it is time for it to go home," the Indian said 
after coming to Quito. In his hands is a spear made of pambil wood. But, according to him, 
he is not going to fight with the forces of order. According to him, thousands of Indians 
came from Amazonia to join the protesters, who are located on university territory near 
the House of Culture. Some are housed in churches, while others are en route. Edgar 
Chunmbi, a representative of the Shuar ashuar from Pastasa said that on the way from the 
back of their province they reached the city of Puyo, but since the government did not 
respond to their demands, they moved on to Quito. For him, the spear is a symbol of 
protecting his rights, and so far he has not had to use it against the forces of order.

In the forum of the House of Culture on the morning of October 11 in front of the Indians, 
the leaders of the protest declared that they were there "to fight to the end, to the last 
drop of blood." At this time, civil society activists such as Ramiro Chalko and his 
girlfriend Sylvia were distributing food for the "Indian Brothers" at the complex of the 
House of Culture. As Chalko explained, he and his neighbors cooked food in the morning and 
drove to the House of Culture area in cars to distribute food to demonstrators who "are 
fighting against this government." "To share means to love, and we must share with our 
brothers, who are for us and for the same thing," Sylvia explained, standing behind a 
large pan of several hundred liters, from which she laid food on the demonstrators. "Here 
are all brothers, we do not pay attention to color, race, we are all Ecuadorian brothers," 
- says Chalko. He is engaged in this strictly voluntarily, out of solidarity, at his own 
expense and will continue to do so until the situation is resolved ...

A large number of food products and clothes were delivered to the Culture House in the 
morning. The situation there is calm. 8 police officers captured the day before by the 
Indians were released at night. However, on Thursday night, police officers were detained 
in Puhili (Cotopaxi Province) ...

The strike, meanwhile, continues, in Quito and other cities there are problems with bus 
services ... 
(https://www.elnorte.ec/actualidad/indigenas-amazonicos-llegaron-a-quito-para-unirse-a-las-protestas-DB535467)

The provinces of Ecuador remain paralyzed, traffic is blocked. So, they inform about the 
blockades from the province of Imbabur ( https: 
//www.elnorte.ec/imbabura/la-provincia-de-imbabura-sigue-bloqueada ... ). On Thursday 
evening, violent clashes broke out in Atuntaki between protesters and the police, which 
lasted until midnight ( https: 
//www.elnorte.ec/imbabura/atuntaqui-busca-recuperar-la-normalidad -... )
+++
Attempts by the Lenin government Moreno to suppress protests only exacerbated the 
situation. "We have tears in our eyes, but if we learned something from our mothers and 
fathers, it is that those who died for freedom were honored to replenish their ranks," 
said KONAYE leader Jaime Vargas. According to him, "in recent history, they do not 
remember such brutal and violent repressions against people demanding their rights." "This 
will not stop until the IMF removes itself from Ecuador," he assured in a communiqué read 
out on October 10. The actions of the security forces are a gross violation of human 
rights. "People were treated like an enemy. Humanitarian shelter zones were not respected, 
tear gas bombs were thrown to where our children and old people were. We were not allowed 
to create humanitarian corridors to deliver the wounded to hospitals.

However, the Indians do not leave Quito, far from it. On the contrary, from the most 
remote corners of the country more and more columns are drawn to the capital ... Pictures 
of violent dispersal, attacks by security forces and indiscriminate beatings only increase 
anger against the government.

During the crowded funeral of the deceased Segundo Inosensio Tucumba Vega, there were not 
only demands to repeal the subsidy decree. "Down with Moreno, down," chanted a crowd of 
people gathered on October 10th.

The battle reached the House of Culture, the Salesian University and the University of the 
Pontiff, places allocated for the recreation and refuge of thousands of Indians who came 
to the capital. The leadership of both universities strongly condemned the gas attack on 
its territory on October 9, and even the Minister of the Interior was forced to apologize 
for this and promise that this would not happen again. Police officers detained by the 
Indians were released, but only after being forced to carry the coffin of one of the 
victims ( https: //www.elsaltodiario.com/ecuador/la-represion-de-la-revuelta-radica ... )
+++
While a military helicopter is circling overhead, a volunteer clown with a red rubber nose 
sings a song to laughing children in front of a public theater. Volunteers inside the 
building distribute sandwiches and juice to Shuar people who have recently arrived from 
the Amazon rainforest. Some have painted black faces and hand-carved wooden spears, which 
sway above the Indian demonstrators located in the House of Culture.

A few blocks from there, young demonstrators stoned the police with stones. On the morning 
of October 11, street fighters again broke through to the main entrance to the parliament 
building, but were again thrown back with tear gas. Clashes in the heart of Quito have 
been going on for 5 days ...

The Native American peoples of Ecuador, captive of poverty and not covered by state social 
programs, are furious. Over the past week, thousands of Shuars, Saraguro, Quechua and 
other Indians rushed to Quito from the depths of the Amazon rainforest and the heights of 
cities and villages of the Ecuadorian Andes. They camped at the House of Culture, the 
nearby El Arbolito Park and three universities, with the support of thousands of 
protesters from Quito and the surrounding area.

At least once a day, young people with sticks and stones rush to parliament and try to 
seize it, as they already did once this week, before they were expelled with tear gas. 
Protests paralyzed life, at least in the southern regions of the capital, forcing Moreno 
to temporarily relocate the seat of government to the coastal city of Guayaquil. 
Protesting Indians also attacked the oil fields in Amazonia and paralyzed oil production, 
the main source of export, shutting down generators and forcing personnel to leave.

On October 11, President Lenin Moreno reiterated the call for dialogue, but reiterated 
that he could not restore subsidies. CONAIAH, in response, demanded "direct and public 
dialogue in order to halt or re-erase" neoliberal economic reforms.

The protest base functions as a mini-city, with playrooms for older children, children's 
rooms for the smallest, and separate bedrooms for men and women to protect protesting 
women and their children. Medical students provide medical assistance, and volunteers 
bring donations - food, drinks, clothes, toilet paper and other necessities. Garbage is 
divided into various categories for recycling.

On Friday afternoon, October 11th, a festive atmosphere reigned in the park. Families lay 
down on the grass, sellers offered fried pork and kebabs of chicken and sausages. Inside 
the House of Culture, exhausted protesters sprawled on blankets or armfuls of branches.

Mariana Yumbai, a 46-year-old law teacher from the Bolivar province, inserted two cotton 
wool in her nose to soften the effect of tear gas. She admits that the country is 
experiencing economic difficulties, but the solution is for the rich to pay higher taxes, 
and not to raise prices, which will hit the poor. Bolivar Indian peasants do not have 
irrigation networks to supply potato and grain crops and to water cattle. Over 40% of 
children suffer from malnutrition; many people live on $ 30 a month. When the subsidies 
were canceled, bus drivers raised fares to the provincial capital from $ 2 to $ 4 ...

Meanwhile, on the floor of the largest theater in the complex, the Quechua Indians burned 
eucalyptus leaves in memory of the dead demonstrators ...

Lenin Moreno received support from the Organization of American States and the US 
government. "We recognize the difficult decisions made by the Government of Ecuador to 
advance manageability and sustainable economic growth. We will continue to work with 
President Moreno to support democracy, prosperity and security," the US Secretary of State 
characteristically stated (Associated Press reports - http: // www .startribune.com / 
way-forward-in-ecuador-looks-murky-after-deadly-violence / 562785782 /)
_________________________________________
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