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Ernesto Samper, secretary-general of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), declared via twitter Monday that the regional organization will oppose efforts to destabilize or undermine the democratically-elected government of Rafael Correa in Ecuador.
"Those who are looking for excuses to destabilize the government of President Rafael Correa, must know that UNASUR will strongly oppose their undemocratic efforts,” said Samper via his Twitter account.
Over the past week, right-wing opposition demonstrators have been holding sometimes violent protests outside the headquarters of the Ecuador’s governing party in Quito
The protests were initially framed in terms of citizens having to pay a very small tax on large inheritances, but now the right-wing protesters are openly calling for the ousting the government.
RELATED: Right-wing Attack on Ecuador’s Democracy
Correa has warned that the real aim of the opposition is the destabilization of his democratically-elected government.
“It is not about revoking the inheritance law, they are trying to overthrow the national government,” said Correa during his weekly address Saturday.
Posts on social media have made calls for the armed forces to intervene and possibly mount a military coup. A widely shared image calling for protests in front of the offices of the ruling PAIS Alliance also stated, “A call to the armed forces of Ecuador, be vigilant to defend peace, democracy, the homeland, liberty, and justice for Ecuadorean people.”
However the 2008 Ecuadorean Constitution is clear that the country’s armed forces are not responsible for maintaining constitutional order in the country.
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