US-Orchestrated Coup Attempt in Ecuador

by Stephen Lendman

Washington wants all independent governments toppled - regime change by US-orchestrated color revolutions, coups or naked aggression.

Ecuador is in the eye of the storm. Obama's earlier 2010 attempt to forcibly unseat popular President Rafael Correa failed.

He's trying again. Ecuadorean democracy is being attacked. Since early June, US-orchestrated right-wing protests (mainly in Quito and Guayaquil) erupted. They continue at times violently to replace Correa with fascist rule.

They began on the pretext of announced higher inheritance and capital gains taxes affecting about 2% of the population - the Law to Redistribute the Wealth now being debated after Correa halted its implementation to make rich Ecuadorians pay more along with creating more social enterprises, collectives and cooperatives.

Protest leaders want Correa forcibly ousted. Interior Minister Jose Serrano revealed a plot to storm the presidential palace, block airports and bridges on the Colombian and Peruvian borders, as well as attack security forces.

Serrano said opposition lawmakers Andres Paez and Lourdes Tiban conspired with former Col. Mario Pazmino to instigate violence and chaos during protests.

Pazmino was former army military intelligence head - "very close to the CIA," according to Correa. In 2008, he was sacked for colluding with Colombia's bombing of Ecuador.

The coup plotters' plan involved advancing from north and south to converge around Quito's presidential palace - intending to occupy it forcibly.

"They planned to use pointed sticks to break police shields, throw balloons filled with paint for police to lose visibility, pepper-spray police horses and dogs" to scare and scatter them, Serrano explained.

They intended publishing letters in two national newspapers - El Universo and La Hora - as well as anti-government letters to Pope Francis to undermine his forthcoming visit, an American tour beginning in Ecuador on July 5 followed by Bolivia, Paraguay, Cuba and the United States.

Serrano said "if they were not able to seize power, (they) would have created national chaos" to force Pope Francis to cancel his visit, as well as "maintain…indefinite protest(s)."

Correa commented on "clear evidence of a plot meant to take over the (presidential) palace. They want to defeat violently a government internationally and domestically supported," he explained.

They'll be defeated like September 30, 2010 plotters (called 30S) "peacefully but firmly," Correa said. "We are more, many more," he stressed.

On Thursday, violent clashes erupted. Right-wing extremists attacked Ecuadorean police near Quito's presidential palace. Their plan to breach their lines failed. Four officers sustained injuries.

Journalists were attacked. Culture Minister Guillaume Long said "(t)oday we are facing (a) real threat of destabilization. It is fundamental (for) the people of Ecuador to come here and (defend) democracy. We're not going to allow more coups."

Thousands of Correa supporters rallied Thursday night to defend their government in Quito's Independence Plaza, its main square (the Carondolet).

Correa addressed them saying "(w)e are ready to defend the revolution against coup plotters. We will remain firm in defending the revolution against the ultra-right."

"(M)obilizations to tire us out…to prevent us from governing (won't) work. We are willing to defend our history and our citizen's revolution. Here we have democracy. Here the majority rule and the past will never return."

Washington wants Correa's government replaced by a regime it controls, neo-colonial rule most Ecuadoreans oppose - following the pattern of earlier failed Venezuelan protests.

So far, popular support for Correa prevails. At the same time, dark forces headquartered in Washington never end their dirty game for unchallenged global dominance - a plot to create unfit to live in ruler-serf societies worldwide.

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.

Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.

It airs three times weekly: live on Sundays at 1PM Central time plus two prerecorded archived programs.