From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] THIS IS AN URGENT APPEAL FOR TECHNICAL AND MATERIAL ASSISTANCE OF ANY NATURE PLEASE FORWARD THIS APPEAL TO ANY ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU BELIEVE WOULD BE CAPABLE OF ASSISTING THE STRUGGLE OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ECUADOR Dear friends, I am forwarding you the following two items that help clarify how you and your organization can concretely get involved in lending your support to the popular struggle of the Ecuadorian people against a corrupt neoliberal regime and the growth of US militarism in that country. Recently the national teachers unions, students, indigenous groups, public sector employees and health workers have begun mobilizing against the Noboa regimes austerity measures, privitization campaign (including education), and mass layoffs and impoverishment throughout the country. In this email you will find: 1) An urgent appeal for technical and material assistance by the Association of United Ecuadorians (Toronto chapter); 2) A copy of the email sent to Canada by the leader of Frente Popular (Popular Front), Luis Villacis Maldonado requesting assistance If you have anything to send - in the form of old computer equipment or even just extra pens and papers - please contact Marcelo Ruiz immediately at [EMAIL PROTECTED] and offer him your assistance. eNSOLIDARIDAd Kole ********************************************************************* ITEM #1 URGENT APPEAL FOR HELP (ASSOCIATION OF UNITED ECUADORIANS, TORONTO): During the "Second Summit of the Peoples of the Americas", we had the pleasure of meeting up with Luis "Lucho" Villacis Maldonado, the popular leader and spokesperson of Ecuador's Frente Popular. His organizational capacity, modesty and objectivity have left all of us with pleasing memories of his visit to Canada. This activist and fighter for social justice has now returned to Ecuador to continue his involvement with the popular struggle in his native country in order to help fortify the necessary and crucial effort of uniting all popular, worker's, campensino, student, indigenous', professional, women's, intellectual, and elderly sectors of the population, as well as the patriotic and more humane members of the business community in preparing a national mobilization against Noboa's neoliberal regime. The present moment demands that our companions in all sectors that represent poor people and exploited workers, overcome any infantile and sectarian differences between themselves and stand together in a United Front in order to better confront the corrupt oligarchy that is ruining our country for their gain; an oligarchy that has been subordinated to imperialist businesses and politics; an elite which obstinately persists in attempting to sink our country into misery, unemployment, ill-health and draw us into foreign wars waged against our neighbors. During these historic moments, we greet the initiative currently taking place in Ecuador that seeks to establish a National Assembly of the Patriotic Front with the aim of strengthening our patriotic and revolutionary positions, so that every popular organization that joins in this appeal can bolster the common networks of progressive organizations throughout the country. For us, the impoverished humanity and workers of the world, the struggle of the Ecuadorian masses, is quickly setting standards, acting as a guide, and directing us by its offers of aid and solidarity to the indigenous groups, workers and the poor of Ecuador. Our organization has dedicated itself to donating material aid to the Popular Front which consists of a computer, a fax, a laser printer, and monitors, which will be added to donations that Francisco obtained from our companeros grandson for these popular organizations in Ecuador. However, a serious problem has struck our group and that is the reason for which I go to you fellow activists; we need help in this common effort in order to reunite all the equipment such as computers, modems, video camaras, printers, recording equipment, pens, papers, etc., and anything else that can be used for the development of our revolutionary propaganda with our compatriots in Ecuador. We are looking to send, a modest wooden box full of these items, and want to ask all of you if you have ANYTHING to add - even if it is only used equipment that is considered almost useless here, because even such equipment will prove very useful for our companeros in Ecuador. We will also like to request financial assistance to help defray the costs of transporting this equipment. If you are able to make donations, please let me know at the following e-mail address: [EMAIL PROTECTED], and also send copies of your email to the Popular Front: [EMAIL PROTECTED] and to the national leader of UNITES (national teachers union), Aracelly Moreno: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Again, all used equipment in Canada - no matter how out of date here - is useful in Ecuador, and will be used to produce leaflets, newsletters, papers, websites, to send e-mails, upload video, send press releases etc. It is necessary at this point to emphasize the fact that all the gains of the revolutionary left were always made through efforts of pure sacrifice and tenacity. The shipping of all this equipment will cost us a lot of money and I suggest that we also organize cultural activities to fundraise for the money that will prove necessary to pay for all of this (if you are interested in helping organize such an event please contact me at [EMAIL PROTECTED]). We welcome all companeros to stand in solidarity with our struggle and invite them to exchange with us their ideas, resources and expertise in forwarding our common struggle. I eagerly await your responses and assistance. With appreciation, Marcelo Ruiz Asociacion Ecuatorianos Unidos (Capitulo Toronto) (416) 736-0475 ITEM #2 NOTE FROM LUIS VILLACIS MALDONADO To our Friends in Canada: With a strong embrace I greet you from Ecuador. Today I began organizing actions in solidadrity with the striking Health Workers and Health Professionals here in Ecuador. Tomorrow it is likely that I will travel to Guayaquil in order to participate in the mobilization of the Frente Patriotico in that city and to help lay the groundwork for the National Assembly of the Frente Patriotico. These initiatives seek to articulate clear policies and put a decisive end to the famishing neoliberal policy of the current regime. I hope to continue coordinating with the rest of you in order to impel greater awareness of our struggle abroad. Our relations with emigrant organizations in Italy and Spain, and the actions that you are now undertaking in Canada, are all very important contributions to the popular struggle in Ecuador. My apologies for my current inability to return to Canada, but so much crucial work needs to be done here. In any case, I would like to ask that arrangements be made in order to secure the transport of the donations for the Popular Front of computers and other equipment that Marcelo is offering us from Toronto. I believe that with this assistance, in the coming weeks, we will be able to setup a better website for Frente Popular and reaching a broader audience. I would like to take this opportunity to send my greetings to all our Ecuadorian, Latino and Canadian companeros and their dear families. Fraternally yours, Luis Villacis Maldonado _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
