stay alert ! Indigenas will try to surround Parliament (fwd) Date sent: Thu, 20 Jan 2000 Luciano. I will try to send an analysis on the indigenous movement this week end. Everything depends on how things develop. The situation is tense, but of great human value. The indigena (they actually prefer being called indios because indigena is an anthropological term) transmit an enormous energy and their courage is incredible. If anything was to happen tonight or tomorrow morning I'll send something. fraterno Marlon article in Spanish available: www.amarc.org/pulsar (+ pictures !!) Thursday 20.1.2000 - 14:00 h Ecuador: Indigenas will attempt to take the National Parliament. By Marlon Carrion C. Indigenas are meeting in a General Meeting before walking down on the National Parliament in Quito Quito, Ecuador.- Today Thursday at noon, thousands of indigenas currently protesting and demanding president Jamil Mahuad to resign decided to surround the National Parliament. The police and military started immediately deploying barbed wire fences, anti-riot vans and some tanks. At this moment, there are more than thousand policemen and soldiers heavily armed guarding the Parliament. There was a rumour that during this afternoon, the indigenas will try to take the area of the National Parliament. The military and police said they would never allow that. This lead many people to think the confrontation could be a bloody one. Miguel Luco, indigena leader and ex-deputy for this sector, said that it would be very regrettable that the military shed the blood of the people instead of supporting the movement who wants the resignation of the president who has plundered the country to the benefit of the big bankers. The tension rose when a military armed helicopters and one from the police flew very close to the buildings close to the Peoples Parliament and to the Arbolito park where a large amount of indigenas are based. Miguel Lluco asked the international community, the Red Cross and the embassies of friend countries present in Quito, the humanitarian organisations to remain in alert and to come to the Parliament in order to prevent the men in uniforms to undertake any violent action against the indigenas who are totally disarmed. (Ec/QR/Po-Pi-Mt/Pp-Cs/mc)