Strike brings Ecuador's capital to a standstill

[Bacchus4.0]

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/08/general-strike-brings-ecuador-quito-standstill-150813234211406.html

A general strike by a broad coalition in Ecuador upset with President Rafael Correa has virtually paralysed the capital, Quito, provincial cities and stretches of the Pan-American Highway.

Thousands of indigenous activists, unionists, environmentalists and members of the political opposition blocked roads on Thursday with tree trunks, rocks and burning tyres.

Public transport was scarce in Quito and major thoroughfares were blocked in Guayaquil, Cuenca and other provincial capitals.

There were no reports of serious violence. Police fired tear gas at one point in a vain attempt to dislodge indigenous protesters on the Pan-American Highway near the Cotopaxi volcano.

[COLGATE4]

1. Correa has overreached himself trying to get re-elected

for a fourth term. I doubt he will survive.

[Zorro]

2. Correa is feeling the pinch of reduced oil revenues

which is a reason he's pushing for aggressive sales tax collection and significantly higher inheritance taxes, both of which are very unpopular policies with the Ecuadoreans.

I think any attempt for an additional term will really generate a lot of demonstrations, which he will of course blame on the USA. He doesn't want to let go of power.