CNN's coverage of the Ecuador attempted coup causes the resignation of CNN's reporter in Ecuador

Rodolfo Muñoz

Amazingly, you haven't been fed this story up there in the homogenized, filtered world of EngLang news, have you? It turns out that the CNN journalist on site at the September 30th attempted coup in Ecuador has resigned from the company due to the way in which that news channel reported his story.

Here follows a full translation of this Spanish language report on the resignation of Rodolfo Muñoz (it has to be translated, because there aren't any EngLang reporters in LatAm that think this newsworthy... strange that innit?). IKN thanks the legwork of reader 'MR' on the translation, which is a good one. Read on and find out that even the people reporting what happened on September 30th in Quito, Ecuador disagree with the editorial line of the TV channels that tried to make out it was some sort of non-event. Or in other words: Yes, you're being lied to. Get used to it.

CNN's Version on the Ecuador Coup Provokes Resignation of its Reporter 

The Ecuadoran journalist stated that he decided to resign from CNN that very Sept. 30 because the US TV channel’s viewpoint on the circumstances that day in his country differed from what he observed as he covered the events which pointed to the fact that a coup d’etat was taking place. Muñoz also noted that there is evidence that killing President Rafael Correa was a goal.

The former CNN correspondent in Ecuador, Rodolfo Muñoz, explained on Tuesday that his resignation from the US news channel was due to the viewpoint that it had on the attempted coup d’etat in his country, which differed from what he observed as he covered the events.

"That same night on Sept. 30 I determined that it was no longer in my interest to continue doing that sort of work, a distinct slant from what was happening in my country; in the end I found that the option was gone, the conflicting viewpoints is what changed without a doubt and that’s where it ended,” the reporter said to the press in his country about his resignation from CNN, after covering the attempted coup d’etat in Ecuador.

In a press release that Muñoz put out on Tuesday announcing his decision,the journalist affirmed that the role of a reporter is that of mediator and not that of agent or protagonist in the events.

"Throughout my career, I learned and taught that the reporter’s role in any news event, be it simple or complex, is only that of mediator, not that of agent or protagonist. I learned that we mediators cannot await newsworthy outcomes according to our own particular desires, preferences, phobias and prejudices.

He added that the information that communicators transmit, in particular that to audiences in other countries, must allow for the possibility of two different views of the events.

"I always knew that all information, especially if it is directed to a foreign audience, one that does not know the particularities of a country other than their own, should be shown at the very least from two distinct perspectives ", he expressed in the statement.

They Wanted to Kill Correa

During an interview given to teleSUR on Tuesday, the Ecuadoran journalist reiterated that there is proof that they intended to kill President Correa during the putsch on Sept. 30.

''A ton of ‘broadsheets’ showed up on the internet (...) above all a version which circulated worried me (...)  some in the media were stating that nothing had happened (...) there is proof that they wanted to kill the president'', he asserted.

A group of police seized by force last Sept. 30 the First Regiment in Quito in protest, supposedly, against the refusal to veto the Public Service Act which proposes eliminating bonuses and promotions that are paid out in yearly salaries.

Ecuador’s president, Rafael Correa, was in the insurgency’s focal point to attempt dialogue, but was obliged to withdraw on account of the violent actions which were taking place in the area.

In the face of this, Correa denounced the fact that the violent police protests occurring in Quito formed part of an attempt at a coup d’etat which had been in preparation for months on the part of the opposition and had called on the police force that serves the country to revolt.

During the coup attempt, the Ecuadoran president remained for 12 hours held involuntarily in the police hospital where later he was rescued in a joint operation of the military and units from the Special Operations Group of the police.
After the attempt, some recordings from the central police radio dispatch revealed that rebelling agents were inciting the killing of the leader and were affirming that they would not allow him to leave the hospital, where he had sought safety after being attacked, as long as he refused to repeal the law.

After the events, the Ecuadoran leader in various occasions has declared that they tried to assassinate him during the putsch to overthrow him.

"We were able to make it to the emergency in an armoured car. When we set out in the car and we began to leave, a shower of bullets hit the President’s car, seeking to kill the President", Correa stated to teleSUR about the moment in which he was rescued from the health center.

Correa's big opinion poll boost

Jurgen Schuldt over at Memorias de Gregorio Samsa has all the details of the opinion poll published by Santiago Perez OPE (one of Ecuador's main pollsters) with six screenshots of the published poll. Go there to get the details, but let's just note one datapoint to give you a taste:

September 25th 2010 (before the police protest/attempted coup last week): Positive Evaluation of Correa Government:

65%

October 2nd 2010 (after the police protest/attempted coup last week): Positive Evaluation of Correa Government:

75%

Go to here for more, including Correa's personal numbers.

UPDATE: Reliably witty mailer, reader 'MP' writes, "Just imagine where the polls would be if he were to knee someone in the nuts...."

Ecuador and mining

Here's an excerpt from last Sunday's weekly.

Ecuador: President Correa makes strong pro-mining noises

On Saturday in his regular address to the nation, President Correa took time out to make some pretty strong pro-mining comments. Basing his comments around the recently completed census of mining in the country that identified some 9,750 people as full-time miners and 1,800 (mostly informal) small mining operations, Correa said that his government plans to quintuple the number of people directly employed in mining and made specific reference to five large-scale mining projects that, once developed, would employ a total of 30,000 people. Also, as usual when speaking in favour of mining he made it clear that mining at any cost would not be allowed in the country and the strictest standards of environmental protection would always apply. Here are two Correa quotes found in this report (11) on yesterday’s discourse and translated by your author:

“Yes to mining, yes to petroleum, but with environmental and social responsibility. Promoting a responsible and ethical mining industry, this is the key......all human activity transforms the world, but if it is done with environmental responsibility these changes can be reverted by 95%.”

“If a mining plan has too much environmental impact and little revenue (for the State) it will be rejected, but it’s absurd to oppose exploration when the new mining law sends 60% of tax revenues collected from mining to communities around the projects.”

There’s nothing particularly new in Correa’s words of this weekend, but they are the first explicit pro-mining sounds he’s made for some time and come at a moment when environmentalists have tried to up the volume of opposition to the extractive industries in Ecuador but haven’t, so far at least, enjoyed much popular success with the message. Correa, a person who follows opinion polls and public opinion very carefully, wouldn’t have suddenly decided to speak out in favour of mining without carefully checking for overall popularity of the message first and must be confident he enjoys the support of the majority (or at least doesn’t suffer outright rejection) on the subject of mining.

Proof that Studmuffin will talk to anyone

"The card you chose was........THE NINE OF DIAMONDS!"
(crowd bursts into wild applause)

News yesterday is that some lady named Hillary is visiting Ecuador in June to chat with Da Muffin about this and that. The last time they saw each other was Uruguay in March, but this one will be the first official visit by a US Sec State since Madeleine Albright in 2000. Here's the translated blurb and quote from EcuadorCentral, which features the name Arturo Valenzuela, head US diplo for LatAm, i.e. the guy who normally has to clear up the mess the other make. This time he got to do something more proactive.

"Arturo Valenzuela called me a few days ago and said that Hillary wants to visit Ecuador, and I said that she's welcome", said Correa. "(The visit will discuss).. regional issues, Unasur issues. There's a wide agenda with the USA pending, including commercial talks."

So now you know.

Oh noes! Ecuador peaceful! Dismay washes over western world!

News from the indigenous protest that was being gushingly gushed by the dumbass English media in LatAm as "Correa's first showdown" with the indigenous community that had already "toppled previous governments" and stuff is that the protest has been suspended and dialogue has started. Here's Reuters (translated from Spanish report):

QUITO: Ecuador's indigenous movement called off a protest on Monday that threatened to paralyze the Andean nation after reaching an agreement with the government to open a proces of dialogue concerning an official proposal that will regulate the use of water.

After sporadic roadblocks in strategic places all day, the indigenous leaders decided to suspend the protest amidst discontent from the grassroots bases of the organization that did not support the talks with the government.

Or in other words, the dumbass English language press had you all worked up over nothing.

Again.

You really should stop getting your LatAm biznews from people who can't speak the Spanish or Portuguese. In factt he only news worth worrying about out of Ecuador is good, with the first pour of gold at Dynasty's (DMM.to) Zaruma mine showing the progress to responsible mining practices that the government has promoted all along...but we don't wanna talk about good biznews from and AxisOfEvo™ country, do we?

Vino calientes served. The end.

The UNASUR Bariloche Summit: What you need to know

Muffin meets Fidel

And here's the photo. Bad news for those who wish death upon others, I'd say.

click to enlarge

First time I've seen Fidel in anything but a track suit for a long while, too. Apparently they chatted for several hours on Friday.

Semper Fi

Y'know, sometimes I wonder whether all this blogging from LatAm in English is worth it. It sometimes occurs to me that there are enough intelligent people around that can work it all out for themselves without the aid of a safety net or this humble corner of cyberspace, even in the US military.

But just when these thoughts start to well up I'm invariably reminded that the vast, cavernous majority of the commentary available in the English language about matters LatAm is TEH STOOOOOPID....

"....Ecuador ordered the American aircraft out because the new president there, Rafael Correa, was elected with the assistance of drug gangs, and getting rid of those American patrol aircraft has been a longtime goal of the drug smugglers. Correa also allowed leftist Colombian rebels, like FARC, to set up bases in Ecuador. This was exposed when Colombian troops captured FARC documents, when one of those border bases was raided. Correa was very angry about this, and tried to divert attention from his close relationships with the drug gangs and FARC, by accusing Colombia of being an American puppet and assisting the Americans in taking over South America. Or something along those lines...."

...and it keeps me rolling on. I mean, would you actually believe the name of that website quoted above is "strategy page", devoted to all things military and all things...errr...like thinking, right?

So let us salute the other 99% of those souljas who would Change™ the world....

....and remind one another that yes, oh yes, you need IKN in your life. Just admit it.

Muffin Flu, anyone?

News from Ecuador is that Studmuffin's Chief of Security has come down with Da Swine Flu and now the whole presidential entourage, Prez included, is under observation for symptoms of the bug.

Thus IKN launches its "Emergency Volunteer Muffin Observer" appeal. Tell me, is anyone out there interested in closely observing President Rafael Correa for a few days? It's a morning, noon and night job, folks.

Bina, are you out there?
c

Ecuador: Good news is no news

When it comes to South American financial news, the only things that English language newswires are allowed to report about Colombia and Peru (Amerika's friends) are good. When it comes to Bolivia, Ecuador and Venezuela (those nasty commiepeople) the reverse is true.

Take, for example, the story of Ecuador's international currency reserves. Here's the chart year to date and we can see how reserves dropped in the first part of the year, reaching their low point at the end of May.

Bizarrely, the newswires were full of stories about those reserves when the drop was on. Here are just a few examples (of many, believe me) culled from the wires between March and May:

March 16: "...Ecuador’s foreign reserves fell to their lowest since June 2007..."

March 19: "... The country’s foreign reserves declined 5 percent to $3.31 billion in the week ended March 13, the lowest since June 2007..."

March 26: "...leftist President Raffael Correa could be forced to drop the dollar, throwing the country's monetary system into chaos ..."

April 27: "....Correa dismissed concerns about the economy, even though Ecuador's foreign exchange reserves dropped by half over the last six months...."

May 11: "... A 30 percent tumble in the central bank’s foreign reserves since the December default is draining the money supply..."

But then weirdly, bizarrely, strangely, when May left the scene and those international currency reserves began to rebound (due almost entirely to the better prices for crude oil), the newswires decided that the subject wasn't interesting any longer. By way of proof, check out this link to Bloomberg that notes how the keywords 'Ecuador', 'currency' 'reserves' returned a whole swathe of reports in 2009....but not a word since May. Not a single word.

Funny that, innit?

And you wonder why I call bullshit on the mediocre media that covers LatAm? The only truth you get is the version the newswire controllers want you to get. True for every single country down here. Truly pathetic coverage of Latin America, brought to you by Cheese-O-Mint™, for all your cheese/mint needs. Ask for it by name at your favourite store.

FARC, Correa and a video

This youtube video is the talk of Colombia and Ecuador this evening and comes from this report.

What it seems to show is the FARC leader 'Mono Jojoy' talking to his troops just after the death of Tirofijo Marulanda, but the explosive information it holds is the part where Jojoy clearly says that the FARC contributed funds for the presidential election campaign of Rafael Correa.

There are no English subtitles and the Spanish is not super-clear so it's really only for those proficient in the language right now, but I've played over the key part several times (minute 3:10 onwards of the 4.14 youtube) and although we don't get the context of the sentence from the moment before Jojoy takes his drink, he clearly says:

"...y ayuda en dolares a la campaña de Correa y posteriores conversaciones con sus emisarios..."

...which translates as;

"...and help in dollars for the Correa campaign and subsequent conversations with his representatives...."

So, here we go with the next scandal, folks. They are never too far in the future down this way.

UPDATE: Ecuador's Interior Minister Miguel Carvajal is reported here as saying:

"We have to verify if the video is real and not a fake. If it is real, the FARC will need to be asked the names of the people they gave money to, because neither the País Movement (Correa's party) or the government has asked for or received money from the FARC."

Note to Colombian narcotraffickers: Take the Pacific route in August

News from Ecuador is that the USA isn't going to wait 'til the September 18th "we be kicking you out today, gringos" day to stop anti-narcotics operations (and the odd bombing run, of course) from its Manta air base in Studmuffinlandia. The Ecuador bigwigs in charge of the caboodle today confirmed the USA's decision that the last surveillance op will take place this month, on July 17th to be exact.

So a headsup to all those marching powder entrepreneurs in Colombia and Peru; dudes, forget that cross-Venezuela route for the next six weeks or so and load all up in those semi-submarine thingies you got for the Pacific run. There ain't no bear in the air no more.

Mojitos served. The end.

Ecuador, ATPDEA and "US business groups"

Here's a funny one. A certain amount of chagrin in The Wall Street Journal today about the decision to keep Ecuador inside the ATPDEA trade program. Here's the moneyline

U.S. President Barack Obama said Tuesday that Ecuador would continue to enjoy trade preferences, while extending Bolivia's suspension from the program........While the decision on Bolivia was expected, U.S. business groups had hoped that Ecuador would also be taken off the program due to what they consider an unfavorable investment climate in the country.

Those "U.S. Business groups" include, of course The Wall Street Journal itself, as Correa is about to sue the newspaper's ass for defamation about Mary Nasty O'Grady's recent bullshit lies on Correa and his country. "We're going to file suit against that newspaper because we're fed up of its lies", said Correa.

Hey....the WSJ can still have a gloat about Bolivia, can't it..

Hawaiian Heart Studmuffin

Here's the link to the official White House communiqué (to prove I'm not making this up). I like how the serious politicos ignore the crap spewed by Oppenheimer&Co and recognize a vibrant democracy that has a free and independent press. No word on whether Studmuffin made any comments about the foxiness of Michelle or whether The Hawaiian got defensive and told The Muffin to back the hell off.

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
_____________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 11, 2009

Statement by the Press Secretary on the President’s call with President Rafael Correa of Ecuador

The President spoke with President Correa yesterday to congratulate him on his recent reelection and to commend the people of Ecuador for their commitment to democracy. The President stated his desire to deepen our bilateral relationship and to maintain an ongoing dialogue that can ensure a productive relationship based on mutual respect. President Obama expressed his support for a vibrant democracy in Ecuador that includes a free and independent press as the means of promoting human prosperity, security and dignity, which are important goals for both of our countries and for the people of the Americas.

The finals of the South America region Hokey Cokey championships in Quito this afternoon

The cool dude with the shades beat out allcomers.

Ecuador Bonds: Game on

It took over four months for the Ecuador defaulted bondholders to make a move, but yesterday they tipped their card everso slightly. Reuters reported yesterday afternoon (Soto, natch) that they had got their hands on (i.e. sent by bondholders on a courier bike) a letter sent by the holders of a minor slice of the bond pie (estimated at $130m or above by Eurasia's Patrick Esteruelas). The letter had been sent to the government of Ecuador and requested the government to make good on the full amount of the bond capital and interest due.

Interesting that they should have waited until after the Presidential elections to make this opening gambit. This story is at the top of the second, approximately. Watch this space.

In case you haven't heard.........

........Studmuffin won.

Studmuffin celebrates the fact he has the best
dress sense in any leader not named Michelle

Polls have him projected to get 54% or 55% of the vote (it'll take a while to get the definitive tally, Ecuador is as Ecuador does) but the final final total will be a detail. More importantly he's the first Ecuador Prez to be voted into the job on the first round of voting since democracy came back to Ecuador, which is no mean achievement in a country famous for chucking out their heads of state before time.

I had a quick search for the worst coverage of his victory in the English language this morning. My interim winner is The Washington Times, who managed to squeeze in the flagging economy, the "volatile Andean country" and the NATCH! reference to being a Chávez-lovin' lefty in just 122 words. More cringeworthy coverage of the region, eh? ¡Que sorpresa! Here it is in full.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

ECUADOR

Correa expected to win re-election

DURAN | Ecuadoreans voted Sunday in an election that incumbent President Rafael Correa was expected to win easily, even as the economy flags, because of solid support for his welfare programs.

Polling stations were busy into the afternoon across the volatile Andean country of 14 million people that is known as much for toppling presidents as its Galapagos Islands and remote Amazon tribes.

A Correa win would confirm him as the most powerful leader in Ecuador's 30-year-old democracy and mark another victory for a generation of left-wing presidents like Venezuelan Hugo Chavez who govern many countries in the region.

An early exit poll seen by Reuters on Sunday gave Mr. Correa 56 percent of the vote and a 27-point lead over his nearest rival.

Ecuador gets credit from China

Studmuffin brushing up on his mind control techniques
before the election later this month

Studmuffin sums up the latest deal with China in one simple phrase:

"China has a surplus of financial resources, but a deficit in natural resources, particularly hydrocarbons."

That's about the size of it. Meanwhile, Ecuador has plenty of oil and not much money right now so the solution is simple; China hands over U$1Bn to Muffinlandia, and Ecuador ships over the oil little by little in the next few years. As for all the talk of turmoil in Ecuador's financial sector, here's FinMin Borja via Bloomie:

"All the prophets of disaster who said dollarization won’t last and that there’s no finance for Ecuador have been proven wrong,” Borja said. “There’s enormous international interest in providing finance."

And when he says "international", you'd be way wrong to immediately picture Lula's blue-eyed whiteys. By the way, Correa is polling 53% of vote intention for the presidential election, with his nearest rival at 12% or so. Therefore to quickly answer a reader's mail from Friday, Correa wins. Period. Zerobrainer.

Muffin does Paraguay

Every girl crazy 'bout a sharp dressed man

President Studmuffin today arrived in Paraguay on a 48 hour state visit that's officially to sign bilateral agreements, make for closer ties between the two countries and reaffirm the fraternal bond etc etc etc blah yada yada.

Interesting that Studmuffin can take two days out in the runup toPresidential election coming up next month (yep, the next bunfight on the list soon with us) and go visit his pally pal Lugo, no? That, to me, is a very strong statement of confidence about how the vote is going to turn out.

It also gives Studmuffin two days away from his major bugbear in life, namely the opposition Ecuadorian press, but guess what the main subject of conversation was in today's presser in Asunción? Yep, the Ecuadorian press. When they asked him about a recent report from the Interamerican Press Society (SIP) that had Ecuador on the list of countries that doesn't respect press freedom, this is what he said (via Ottotrans™):

• "What often exists, not just in Ecuador, is a corrupt and mediocre press that performs a political role."

• "I don't know who has legitimized this organization made up of media proprietors, not even of reporters."

• "(The SIP) opinions are given by people that, rather than defend freedom of the press, are defending freedom of the company."
  

• "Where can I report the press gagging of Ecuador's government? As the media can say many things, the President and the government has the right, based in freedom of expression, to answer."

Can't you just feel the love? Téréré served.

Ecuador, coca grower

Firstly, check out that above map which reminds us that Ecuador is a country stuck between the world's largest cocaine producer (Colombia, approx 60% of world production) and the world's second largest cocaine producer (Peru, approx 30% of world production).

Secondly, keep in mind that the geography of The Andes mountain range doesn't suddenly just stop at the border with Peru and start up again when Ecuador becomes Colombia. That's to say that the ideal conditions to grow coca exist as much in Ecuador as in its neighbours.

Once the context is understood, plus the fact that Ecuador is a poor country by any world standard, it's quite remarkable how Ecuador has managed to avoid the scourge of illegal coca farming and even more illegal cocaine manufacture all this time. Although used as a trafficking route (check that map again, as you hardly need Einstein on the case) Ecuador is not coca country, period. From this, basic common sense draws us to the conclusion that Ecuador is doing something that both its neighbours could learn from, n'est pas?

This is why this report caught my eye this week. So far this March, Ecuadorian army patrols have found and decomissioned two small coca plantations inside their own borders. Both were around one hectare in size and both were found in the San Lorenzo district that, surprise surprise, borders Colombia.

Of course, two hectares is nothing compared to the 99,000 hectares under coca production in Colombia, according to the UN in its recent report. But it does suggest that while the brutish armed forces of Colombia are unable to control its country and its coca problem despite the near U$7Bn that it's been gifted by the USA this decade to combat the trade, the poor and relatively ignored Ecuador is totally on top of the situation, successfully patrolling its border regions and out there quite literally nipping the problem in the bud. But in this upsidedown world in which we live, Colombia will continue gathering gringo plaudits despite allowing its cocaine production to rise 50% in the last four years. The US military aides insists that they're not losing in Colombia, by the way. I can only assume it's the same way they didn't lose in Viet Nam.

There comes a point when you have to wonder why and whether the DEA really does have a secret agenda as the conspiracy theorists insist.