The people of Ecuador are rising up to refound their country as a pluri-national homeland for all. This inspiring movement, with Ecuador's indigenous peoples at its heart, is part of the revolution spreading across the Americas, laying the groundwork for a new, fairer, world. Ecuador Rising aims to bring news and analysis of events unfolding in Ecuador to english speakers.

Thursday, August 02, 2007

Correa: Organized Mafias Instead of Parties in Ecuador

Quito, Aug 1 (Prensa Latina) Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa favored on Wednesday the setting up of the Constituent Assembly to eliminate the organized mafias that call themselves political parties.

"What we have are organized mafias (instead of parties) acting in the interest of a cacique," said Correa at the opening of the workshop "Latin America: Processes of Constitutional Construction", being held at the Hilton Colon Hotel.

The Ecuadorian president pointed out that the neoliberal model disintegrated the nations" freedom and now Latin America, especially the Andean region, is one of the most unequal territories in the world.

Correa noted that the Constituent Assembly will seek to change the situation and fight the power of parties, the organized mafias, and encourage the participation of the State and the people.

"We need to dream again about a country where no one has to leave and become a refugee of poverty; a country of all and for all, for artisans, indigenous people and farmers," he stressed.

Ecuador must be a place where "we all can live well without opulence, but with dignity," he went on to say.

Correa highlighted the need to achieve representative and participative democracy.

He slammed the Congress, which is going through a crisis of credibility, and stressed that the Constituent Assembly must draw up a new Magna Carta to replace the 1998 Constitution.

The workshop is being attended by OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza, former President Rodrigo Borja and delegates from the Andean countries.

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