interview with peru's governor general

Short interview with
Secretary General Fausto Dután Erráez
of Ecuador's Socialist Party

Charting a revolutionary course from post-Fidel Cuba (his brother Raul had assumed the presidency) to Venezuela for the Presidential Elections - where the South American Bolivarian Revolution is injected with new impetus as Chavez, who many regard as the new Bolivar, if not a virtual Saint - wins resoundingly and millions take to the streets to celebrate, I then move on to Columbia to experience the difference between a “rogue state” and a US ally in Wahington´s traditional South American mold. After 6 weeks in what is essentially a military occupation I slide south to check out Ecuador’s nascent revolution under the recently-elected Rafael Correa. In Quito I resolve to get more of a low-down.

I walk through an open door into the Socialist Party's headquarters. It's early morning and no-one is around so I take a seat in the reception. The first to show is the Secretary General. Despite having limited time he cordially invites me into his office. A stern stone figure of Ché Guevara oversees our conversation.

IR: What is the relationship between the Socialist Party to Raffael Correa's government? (Elected Jan. 15th)

Fausto Dután Erráez: We are in alliance with his party, so we are part of the government, which essentially is one of transition.

FDE: Ecuador is rich in such natural resources as oil, as well as in minerals such as gold, silver and copper. We would like to take back control of these resources, which are in our territory, but currently owned by multi-national companies.

More than 60% of Ecuadorians live in poverty. We want to introduce programs to solve this: in education, health, housing...

FDE: Corruption is a big problem. We would like to combat it on all sides. There are organisms of control needed. They can be introduced through what we call "New Democracy", meaning the participation of the Ecuadorian people in their government - and where the president responds to the people. The oligarchy is resisting, and it holds control of Congress and the Supreme Electoral Tribunal. Through these mechanisms they block and boycott proposed progressive changes. Thus the idea of creating a Constituent Assembly that would be able to create a new Constitution and de-politicize the Supreme Court, for example. The Constituent Assembly would have more power than Congress, and would have the power of dismissing judges, or even the president himself. It would be made up of citizens representing different communities and

organizations from across Ecuador, as long as they had sufficient democratic backing. In April there will be a referendum to ask the people if they are for this change. Congress is currently made up mostly of people with money and power, and corruption is endemic.

FDE: It was good to meet you and I hope that we can develop a relationship with your organization in Victoria.

Rafael Correa's referendum initiative was finally approved 57-1 in the 100-member Congress, under pressure from public demonstrations (according to polls, 75% of Ecuadorians supported the initiative). Most of the opposition lawmakers boycotted the vote in protest, calling it unconstitutional. Many of the protesters have been indigenous peoples in their colourful traditional dress. For years the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAE) has criticized Ecuador's governments for failing to include the participation and interests of the country's indigenous nationalities and the vast majority of Ecuador's social groups. Since 1990 CONAE has demanded the convocation of a National Constituent Assembly. CONAE has also called for the recognition of political, economic, social, cultural and spiritual rights of indigenous communities; fair and equal distribution of the country's resources and wealth, the economic well-being of all the Ecuadorian people.

Andean winds and rain sweep March in; time marches on and I'm determined to make it further south to taste some of Bolivia's Bolivarian Revolution before heading back to Canada, where the system seems so static and entrenched.