Ecuadorean Dark Forces Behind Attempted Coup Plot

by Stephen Lendman

Washington's dirty hands manipulate geopolitical events worldwide - notably in Latin America since the 19th century.

In September 2010, Washington's attempted coup against Ecuadorean President Raphael Correa failed. A previous article asked is history repeating now?

Days of street protests continue over the phony pretext of inheritance and capital gains tax increases affecting only wealthy citizens - about 2% of the population.

At the same time, ordinary Ecuadoreans stand to benefit from announced progressive tax reform. Street protests reflect wealthy elites opposing progressive fairness - with Washington's dirty hands manipulating things covertly like always.

In April at the Summit of the Americas in Panama, Correa denounced Washington's sordid history of meddling lawlessly in the internal affairs of Ecuador and other Latin American countries.

"Illegal intervention still continues," he said. "Our people will never accept the guardianship, interference or intervention (over what Washington calls the) democratization" of Latin American countries.

On Monday to restore calm, Correa delayed announced inheritance and capital gains tax increases to debate their implementation.

"We can wait," he said. "This is not for our government. This is for future generations. Every excessive concentration of wealth is unjust."

A national debate will show opposition forces what most Ecuadoreans support. If they can show proposed tax increases harm the nation's poor, "I will personally ask for them to be withdrawn," Correa said.

"Poor people are poor because of an extremely unjust society," he stressed. On Monday, thousands of government supporters rallied en masse in Quito's main square. They back Correa's "Citizen Revolution."

He said "members of the opposition want to achieve through force what they cannot achieve by the ballot box." Beware of a coup attempt, he warned.

"We cannot forget that the violent ones, the aggressive ones, the abusive ones caused five deaths on September 30, 2010. We cannot let that happen again," he stressed

He challenged opposition elements to try removing him by recall referendum - as constitutionally allowed. Holding one requires collecting verifiable signatures from 15% of the electorate.

Correa expressed optimism he'd win any recall election handily, if one is held. He's too popular to be defeated legitimately.

Telesur explained right-wing Ecuadorean monied interests behind opposition street protests - with Washington's covert involvement.

Banker, veteran hardline politician, former presidential candidate Guillermo Lasso is the main protest backer, said Telesur. In 2010, PAIS Alliance candidate Correa's majority victory overwhelmed his minority CREO party support more than two to one (57% - 23%).

Lasso has dubious credentials. He's linked to US monied interests. He was economy minister from 1998 - 2000 during an economic crisis caused by massive banking fraud with his fingerprints all over it.

Many Ecuadoreans lost their jobs, sources of income and savings. Many had to emigrate to survive. Despite Lasso's involvement in what happened, he became President Lucio Gutierrez's economic advisor and special ambassador until Gutierrez's 2005 ouster.

Guayaquil Mayor Jaime Nebot/close ally of former Ecuadorean despot Leon Febres-Cordero is involved in wanting Correa ousted. He led a brief campaign to declare Guayaquil an independent state - getting scant public support.

Quito mayor/former presidential candidate Mauricio Rodas is another Correa opposition figure. He's a former Febres-Cordero supporter.

Telesur calls Abdala Bucuram (nicknamed El Loco) "the most audacious" anti-Correa figure - another former Ecuadorean president (1996 - 97) until removed after the nation's National Congress declared him mentally unfit to serve. He's living in exile in Panama - wanted on corruption charges.

Parliamentarian Clever Jimenez supported ousting Correa in 2010. He's at it again for a second try.

Ongoing Ecuadorean protests resemble US destabilizing Venezuelan ones - unsuccessful each time tried. Washington wants all independent government replaced by pro-Western ones subservient to powerful monied interests at the expense of popular ones.

Correa has been Ecuador's president since 2007. Constitutionally, he can seek reelection as often as he wishes. No term limits exist.

If he runs in February 2017, he's overwhelmingly favored to win. The only way hardliners can defeat him is extrajudicially. Expect them to keep trying - with full US support and encouragement.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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