The New Dark Age

8 October, 2010 — The Real News Network

Ecuadorian filmmaker Oscar León presents his take on country’s history that led to the crisis, Pt. 1/2

Ecuador: Failed Coup or Institutional Crisis?
Follow my videos on vodpod

This is a special report about the Police Force insurrection and kidnapping of Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa on September 30th, 2010. President Correa was held hostage for 11 hours by a large number of armed policemen inside the Quito Regiment. Eventually leading to street battles and a bloody ending that gripped a nation.

My name is Oscar Leon, reporter and documentary filmmaker from Ecuador. Between 2005 and 2007 I created the documentary “Third World Democracy Handbook” about the fall of President Lucio Gutierrez, at that time he was the 3rd President to fall in less than 10 years, had Rafael Correa fallen he would have been the 4rd to fall in less than 14 years. Being a reporter in Ecuador during the “Lost Decade” I can bring some insight about what happened that day. Was this an institutional crisis? Or a foreign power’s attempt to overthrow him? This infamous day is being utilized by both political sides. But what is the truth behind it? In order to get a better understanding of what happened, in Part 1 we will explain some necessary context. In Part 2 of this special report we will go over what took place on September 30th 2010.