Change Triumphs in Ecuador\'s Constitutional Referendum

Tag : Agrochemicals

Ecuador's new constitution was approved with 64% voting"yes" on Sept. 28. "No" won 28% of the votes,7% were invalid, and 0.7% left blank, according to the SupremeElectoral Tribunal.
The results of the referendum reflect the high expectations forchange that the majority of Ecuadorians are feeling, and which theyhave ratified with their votes in the last four elections. Thisdesire for a profound transformation also extends to the immigrantsthat have left for the United States and Europe, who have been hitby the economic crisis. People voted for a more participativedemocracy and for the ability to intercede actively in politicallife.
The constitution combines a series of progressive traits thatovercome some of Ecuador's current inequalities, discrimination,and injustices, such as the following: the balanced living concept(sumak kawsay), which implies living in harmony with oneself,society, and nature; nature's right to assure "the maintenanceand regeneration of its vital cycles, structure, functions, andevolutionary processes"; national diversity and collectiverights; the right to water and the prohibition of itsprivatization; food sovereignty and the permanent right to securefood sources; the right to communication, and access to public,private, and community media.
The constitution also has articles that are significant in terms ofsovereignty and the prohibition of foreign military bases, asArticle 5 states: "Ecuador is a peaceful territory. We willnot permit the establishment of foreign military bases nor foreignfacilities with military aims. It is prohibited to cede nationalmilitary bases to foreign armed or security forces." Ecuadordefines itself as a country that promotes peace, universaldisarmament, condemns the use of weapons of mass destruction, andthe imposition of bases or facilities with military purposes ofsome states in the territory of other nations (Article 416, 4).This is a victory not only for Ecuadorian organizations, but alsofor continental and worldwide networks that have struggled toabolish foreign military bases. Rethinking the Economic Model
The new constitution also has a chapter on the prioritization ofnational production in its economy. In regards to development, itrecognizes the "group of economic, political, social,cultural, and environmental systems that guarantees the realizationof the balanced life, sumak kawsay." This means that economicgrowth is not the only priority as a means to reach development;instead, it is considered an integrated vision. It proposes, amongother things, "to build a fair, democratic, productive,solidarity-based, and sustainable economic system founded on theequitable distribution of development benefits, means ofproduction, and the generation of dignified and stable work"(Article 276).
The constitution recovers the role of the state in participatorydevelopment planning in areas such as healthcare, education,housing, and water supply, among other things. Some of these hadbeen turned over to the private sector during years of neoliberalimplementation. Now the state will maintain control of thefinancial sector and develop policies to avoid the concentration orhoarding of means of production.
It also proposes the development of specific policies to eradicateinequality and discrimination toward women, including the valuationof non-paid work in the home, and universal social security.
Strategic sectors are recognized in the new constitution, such asall forms of energy, telecommunications, non-renewable naturalresources, transportation, and refining of hydrocarbons,biodiversity, genetic heritage, and water.
The state reserves the right to "administer, regulate,control, and manage" these sectors because of their decisiveeconomic, social, political, or environmental influence.
Though this is fundamental, concern also exists in some sectorsthat a door has been left open in terms of exploitation ofprotected areas, if the National Assembly should choose to do so.The indigenous movement proposed that the policy of "previousinformed consent" be used, as in the Universal Declaration ofthe Rights of Native Peoples, but the Constitutional Assemblyapproved the "previous informed consultation" policy,which is now part of the constitution.
Despite this limitation, Humberto Cholango, indigenous director ofECUARUNARI, the largest organization of the Confederation ofIndigenous Nationalities of Ecuador, celebrated the approval of theconstitution and its inclusion of the diverse nationalities thatmake up the nation, which "is of historical importance,because it has been proposed as such since the first indigenousuprising 18 years ago," according to Cholango.
A key player in the "yes" decision was without a doubtPresident Rafael Correa, whose administration stands out for itsreorientation of public investment away from the usual eliteclasses, and instead toward health, education, and public works.This has been favored by the high price of oil and increased taxrevenue collection, as many businesspeople have been forced to pay. Foreign Military Forces Sent Home
Another positive element is the defense of national sovereignty,expressed as a rejection of the warmongering politics of thegovernment of Colombia and President Alvaro Uribe. It also puts anend to the agreement with the United States that allowed it to havea military base "for the drug war" in Manta, Ecuador. Inreality this base was used for other purposes such as theinterception of boats transporting migrants and also for PlanColombia. American military personal will leave Ecuador next year.
Another important theme was the impulse toward political, economic,and social integration into Latin America as a region, withemphasis on the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR).
Although some of the proposals initiated by the government havebeen questioned by the indigenous and environmentalmovements—such as oil exploration, mining, and agriculturalpolicies based on agrochemicals and agrofuels—theorganizations recognize that this can be limited through the use ofthe constitution to ensure the defense of natural resources, life,and biodiversity.
It's important to recognize that the constitution compiles variedaspirations from diverse social sectors that have fought for morethan a decade against neoliberalism and policies that assured thepayment of external debt to the detriment of social programs.
The Constitutional Assembly and the triumph of President Correa arethe result of social struggles against the successive governmentsthat opted to govern on the side of economic interests and not ofthe people. Many mobilizations have caused the ousting of presidentafter president that deceived the people, which was the reasonEcuador had seven presidents between 1995 and 2005. Citizen Participation and Who Voted "No"
Thousands of organizations took part in the Assembly in order topresent their proposals (3,500 in all) and dozens of forums wereheld on topics such as water, food sovereignty, heath, etc. Citizendemands were incorporated into the 444 articles that make up theconstitution. This was a participatory process, but it also hadcontradictions, precisely because of the different positions of thepolitical parties in the Assembly and "Acuerdo Pais."
This process, as well as the thousands of forums and debates inneighborhoods, schools, universities, and communities prior to theReferendum, allowed the people to take ownership of theconstitution's content.
Those that bet on "no" votes were those who didn't wantto lose their privileges and maintain the neoliberal policies thathave deepened poverty, inequality, and the concentration of wealth.According to sociologist Mario Unda, the real losers were from theright, that has been reduced to the city of Guayaquil, massivemedia outlets that did an open "vote no" campaign, aswell as the hierarchy of the Catholic Church that led theopposition from the pulpits, spreading lies about the newconstitution being pro-abortion and gay marriage.
This referendum has ended a phase that began with the second roundof the 2006 election when Correa won by a significant margin overbanana magnate Alvaro Noboa. The old elites that had monopolizedthe economy and politics and had once run things were defeated atthe ballot box. A new era is beginning while the new balance ofpower adjusts and new actors define their new policies andstrategies.
The institutional transition period starts with the provisionaldelay of the Constitutional Assembly, in order to create severallaws and name the National Electoral Commission and the ElectoralTribunal, which will convene a new general election in 30 days. Theelection is predicted for January or February 2009. Correa willmost likely run for his second four-year term.
This will be a time of intense struggle, during which the characterof the government will be defined—it now has the option toshift its positions to the left according to the demand of themajority of Ecuadorians. They're gaining traction on a new roadpaved with hope.


Translated for the Americas Policy Program by Katie Kohlstedt.
Helga Serrano works at the Christian Youth Association of Ecuadorand coordinates the No Bases Ecuador Coalition. Eduardo Tamayo is ajournalist with ALAI—they are analysts for the AmericasProgram found at www.americaspolicy.org .
To reprint this article, please contact americas@ciponline.org . The opinions expressed here are the author's and do not necessarilyrepresent the views of the CIP Americas Policy Program or theCenter for International Policy. For More Information
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