Indigenous March across Ecuador to Oppose Correa’s Power Grab
Wary of an ever-growing state in Ecuador, several indigenous groups have joined a nationwide movement against the government of President Rafael Correa. To demonstrate their resolve, they have decided to embark on a 10-day march all the way from the Amazon to Correa’s office in Quito.
On Sunday, August 2, the 400-kilometer “March for Democracy and Dignity” convened by Ecuador’s Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities (CONAIE) departed from the town of El Pangui, in the southern Zamora Chinchipe province.
Before leaving, the demonstrators celebrated a ritual in which they prayed to Mother Earth for her permission and her blessing “to overcome all obstacles,” according to Salvador Quishpe, an indigenous opposition leader and Zamora Chinchipe governor for the Pachakutik party.
“We want peace, tranquility, respect, cordiality. That’s all we seek with this march: respect, above all, respect for the dignity of our history, our ancestors, our children — for the dignity of our peoples,” Quisphe told Efe news agency.
http://panampost.com/rebeca-morla/2015/08/03/indigenous-march-across-ecuador-to-oppose-correas-power-grab/
