Ecuador President Calls for Calm
March 23, 2006
ECUADOR–Ecuador’s president has urged residents of Ecuador to stand together after nationwide protests threatened to destabilize the country. The protests were ignited by ongoing talks with the United States over a possible free trade agreement. Protesters say a pact with the US will harm their economy and culture, benefiting only the wealthy. Protest leaders are demanding a referendum on the issue. However, President Alfredo Palacio said the protests, led by indigenous communities, were designed to create chaos and to lead to the overthrow of his government.Since Monday, protesters have blocked major roads with burning debris. The unrest spread from the highlands into the oil-producing southeast jungle on March 15, when protesters took 15 soldiers hostage. The country’s Interior Minister, Alfredo Castillo, has already resigned over the government’s handling of the crisis. He is the third Interior Minister to resign from the post in just 11 months.
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