Ecuador Indian Group Plans Uprising

QUITO, Ecuador, Aug 29 (AP) - The leader of the Indian movement that helped 
topple Ecuador's president earlier this year announced plans Tuesday for a 
national protest against President Gustavo Noboa. 

``We are convening a great popular uprising of all Ecuadoreans,'' said 
Antonio Vargas, president of the Confederation of Indigenous Nations of 
Ecuador. 

Vargas, who has been at odds with Noboa's government for months, said the 
protest would begin Monday and continue indefinitely. 

In January, Vargas led hundreds of Indians in a takeover of the Congress 
building with the backing of a cadre of young army officers, prompting top 
armed forces officials to force President Jamil Mahuad from office. 

The coup lasted less than a day, with power being ceded to Noboa, the vice 
president. 

Vargas said other sectors of Ecuadorean society would take part, although he 
did not elaborate. In past years, Indian protests have mostly consisted of 
blocking regional highways to paralyze national transportation. 

``This government has made no change for the nation, much less for the 
indigenous movement,'' Vargas said. 

Mahuad was widely blamed for Ecuador's worst economic crisis in 70 years. His 
popularity ratings had fallen into single digits when he was ousted. 

The economy has shown signs of improvement under Noboa, who is phasing out 
the national currency and replacing it with the U.S. dollar as legal tender. 

Vargas and his supporters oppose the dollar plan. 

Only two of every 10 Ecuadoreans have stable employment, and more than 
two-thirds of Ecuador's 12 million people earn less than $30 a month. The 
country's 4 million Indians are among the poorest.