No such thing as a coup d'etat

October 1 2010, 3:14 PM

As a way of thanking the many gestures of interest and simpathy for the events that occured in my country yesterday, I feel it is my responsibility as an Ecuadorean to clarify some of the facts that have been terribly misunderstood by international media.
 
First and foremost,  there was never a coup d`etat or even a slight attempt to overthrow the Government. The police members that were protesting demanded a very specific thing: the annulment of a Law that was approved a couple of days before, under which some of the bennefits for public servants (including members of the Police and Armed Forces) were removed. If you listened to the interviews made during the first hours yesterday, you might have notticed that not a single one of the rioting police men mentioned anything about taking over power or demanding Mr. Correa to leave his post.
 
If the rioting police members had had a real intention to kill the President (as he repeated after his rescue last night), they would have done so. Especially when Correa himself ripped off his tie and challenged the mob to do it, instead of using that first approach with the police to dialogue and open a path to conciliation. Later on, he took shelter in the nearby Police Hospital under his own will. He was never kidnapped, nor forced to stay there. Even more, many Ministers and State officials met with him and came in and out the building without any restriction.
 
After noon, the events that took place had a deep impact in the appreciation of the crisis by the international community. Alleging the existence of a coup, President Correa declared a state of emergency, under which it demanded all independent media to broadcast the official signal of the State Channel. The Decree under which the state of Emergency was declared never stated that any rights would be restricted, therefore, the limitation to the right to freedom of expression and information was, to say the least, out of line.  The Government´s version was therefore, the only one broadcasted to Ecuadorians and abroad. Regrettably, international media and many NGO´s followed this biased version, and the idea that Ecuador was under a coup was rapidly disseminated.
Please not that international bodies like the Permanent Council of the OAS, and the Inter- American Commission on Human Rights strictly refrained from using the expression ¨coup d`etat¨ when addressing the situation in Ecuador. They just mentioned the existence of a threat to democracy and stability, but nothing was said on an actual attempt to overthrow Mr. Correa because there was none. As many people have manifested, categorizing yeterday´s events as a coup was an irresponsible act of missinformed media that deeply contributed to the raise of panic and chaos.
 
At night, Ecuador witnessed how President Correa was rescued by over 700 members of the special forces (700!!!!!) who engaged on a shooting with the rioting police men in an area where two hospitals are located. Two persons died and other 44 are badly injured, due to this excesive use of force.
President Correa rushed to Carondelet (Ecuador´s  Presidential House), where his supporters had gathered. It was surprising to see how fast the President´s assistants had set a stage, a giant screen, speakers, and music for the people that gathered in the Independece Plaza. It seems that he was pretty confident that he would be free. Strangely enough, he repeatedly stated after his rescue, that his life was in danger and that there was a plot to kill him.
 
What was even more heartbreaking, was that after an hour of intense shooting between the armed forces and the rioting police members  (which was bravely covered by some journalists after the media was allowed to broadcast again), Correa´s followers celebrated his release,  as if the killing among Ecuadorians was something worth celebrating. Even worst, President Correa addressed the people with a belligerent speech, in which he assured that "it shall be no pardon, no forgetting". He accused members of the opposition without any proof of his affirmations. Once again, he used his speech to provoque, to challenge and to foster the division between Ecuadorians, instead of promoting peace, dialogue and forgiveness.
 
As an Ecuadorian citizen, I now wonder who is this person that now has control of my country. What can we expect from a President that celebrates the killing between Ecuadorians as a personal success? What can we expect from a person that acts on vengeance, looking for ways to make any conflict deeper instead of looking for a solution that may satisfy all parties involved?  I am convinced that misinformation was the reason why Correa was able to manipulate yesterday´s events. Therefore, it is very important that everybody knows what really happened. Please forward this to everyone that might be interested.
 
Support Ecuadorians, because we are not the people that are unfortunatedly are ruling our country today.

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Hasta Siempre, Saramago

June 19 2010, 1:24 AM

 “El viaje no termina jamás. Solo los viajeros terminan. Y también ellos pueden subsistir en memoria, en recuerdo, en narración... El objetivo de un viaje es solo el inicio de otro viaje”’     
José Saramago, 1922-2010
 
Es triste cuando muere alguien que uno admira. Alguien que con su trabajo nos ha hecho reflexionar, nos ha hecho reír y nos ha invitado a cuestionarnos aquello que dábamos por sentado como una verdad absoluta.  José Saramago hizo eso en mi vida. El ganador del Premio Nobel de Literatura, que falleció el día de hoy a la edad de 87 años, me brindó con sus obras horas de reflexión en  temas que van desde lo moral, lo político y hasta lo religioso. Su sarcasmo, su fino humor y la sinceridad de sus personajes hacen que sus obras sean valiosas no solo por su mensaje, sino por también por su construcción literaria.
Debo reconocer que no he leído todas sus novelas, ni tantas como quisiera. Sin embargo, de lo poco que he leído hasta ahora quiero compartir algunas de mis reflexiones, y rescatar el mensaje que cada una de ellas dejó en mí, como un homenaje a este que será siempre uno de mis escritores favoritos.
Conocí a Saramago con “Ensayo sobre la Ceguera”, la novela que le mereció un Premio Nobel en 1998. Esta es una metáfora sobre la insensibilidad del ser humano moderno  que se esparce como una enfermedad y nos impide realmente ver a los otros como personas. El día menos pensado los seres humanos perdemos, como los personajes de la obra pierden  su vista, la capacidad de reconocernos los unos a los otros, de solidarizarnos, de entender más allá de nuestras propias necesidades y egoísmos.  
En “Ensayo sobre la Lucidez”, Saramago no abordó temas de valores éticos, sino que realizó una crítica a la democracia como institución sobrevalorada para la efectiva representación de un pueblo. Esta obra es un llamado a cuestionar la democracia formal- el voto- especialmente en aquellos casos en los que quienes aspiran al poder no representan verdaderamente a quienes se llama a las urnas. Es el sistema democrático la mejor opción? Debería ser la única opción? Si la gente decidiera no votar, sería también este un ejercicio de voluntad democrática con igual o mayor valor que el sufragio?   
Cuando leía esta obra justamente se iniciaba la campaña política para las elecciones de 2007 en Ecuador, que se caracterizaron por la falta de un verdadero líder, por los votos protesta y los votos al “menos peor”. Pensaba que hubiera sido interesante (y útil) que hubiéramos decidido, como los personajes de la obra, no ir a las urnas  y afrontar el triste hecho de que nadie se sentía verdaderamente identificado o representado por ninguno de los que en ese entonces aspiraban al poder. Los resultados nefastos de tener el sufragio como única opción para ejercer la democracia los conocemos hoy de sobra.
Otro tema que Saramago parecía disfrutar era el cuestionamiento del Dios-Iglesia Católica. A disgusto de muchos feligreses, en 1991 se publicó “El Evangelio según Jesucristo”, una novela en la que Saramago presentó una versión alternativa de Jesús, más como un hombre que como un semi-dios. De entrada rechazó algunos de los principales dogmas de fe del Catolicismo, e.j. que la Virgen María no era virgen, que Jesús fue efectivamente concebido por José de manera natural, que  tuvo varios hermanos,  que contrajo matrimonio con Maria Magdalena -una prostituta arrepentida-  y que Judas era de hecho su apóstol favorito de Jesús, quien le entregó a Roma  como un favor especial para cumplir su misión en el Mundo. (Saramago incluso sugiere que el verdadero “héroe” es Judas y no Jesús, pues fue él quien realmente hizo que se cumpla la voluntad divina y el sacrificio de Jesucristo. La novela termina en el Monte Calvario, lo cual deja pensar que Saramago además rechazó la idea de la resurrección.
A pesar de que la narrativa estaba llena de sarcasmo y buen humor, la novela para mi fue enternecedora. Recuerdo que en algún sermón en misa un sacerdote criticó la obra y llamó a los que estábamos ahí a no prestarle atención, porque era poner en riesgo nuestra fe. Yo pienso que fue al contrario. Para mí, leerla renovó y fortaleció mi fé. (A pesar de creo que Saramago no estaría tan contento con este resultado porque él era ateo). Pensar en Jesús como un ser humano igual a todos, que consumido por la culpa se ofrece a morir  no solo para redimir a la humanidad sino para redimirse a sí mismo,  hace más fácil identificarse con las enseñanzas de la Iglesia Católica, creo yo. Hace más fácil querer imitar a Jesús.  Y es que si un semi-Dios carga una cruz por el Monte Calvario es aberrante como mucho, pero  si lo hace un ser humano con una misión divina, es simplemente conmovedor.
 Durante la novela, Saramago continuamente cuestionó el concepto de la “voluntad divina” e inclusive sugirió una visión de un Dios egoísta y  manipulador. Un Dios que vive alejado de la humanidad a la cual creó y dejó abandonada a su destino.  Este concepto lo repitió en 2009 con Caín, obra en la que, al igual que en “El Evangelio”,  Saramago analizó varios  pasajes bíblicos ( esta vez del Antiguo Testamento) preguntándose si verdaderamente un Dios vengativo, caprichoso e inmaduro inclusive, podría ser al mismo tiempo el Dios-Amor que la Iglesia nos enseñó. Asimismo, y al igual que lo hizo en  “El Evangelio” con el personaje de Judas,  Saramago redimió la imagen de Caín, el “villano” del antiguo Testamento, dando a entender que todo aquel que alguna vez ha cuestionado a la Iglesia ha sido inmediatamente satanizado, aún cuando estos cuestionamientos sean, como eran los de Caín, basados en lo evidente de la realidad.
A pesar de que ninguna de estas dos obras me hizo menos creyente, creo que me sirvió para reflexionar sobre temas que, cuando uno viene de una familia Católica nunca podría ni siquiera cuestionar. Estoy de acuerdo sí, en que las mismas historias que se encuentran en la Biblia son contradictorias con las enseñanzas de la Iglesia. Y debo confesar que yo también me he preguntado más de una vez porqué Dios se quedará allá arriba en vez de venir a poner orden en este desastre de mundo.
Dejé “Intermitencias de la Muerte” (2005) para el final, porque creo de todas las obras anteriores, esta es la que menos “mensaje” tiene, aunque fue con la que más me reí. Otra vez, Saramago se va contra lo que la mayoría de nosotros pensaría sobre un tema (en este caso la muerte), y le da un enfoque distinto al que tradicionalmente tendría. El tema de la muerte, que normalmente es lúgubre y desalentador,  es abordado por Saramago con humor y sarcasmo, invitándonos a pensar que si bien la muerte es triste  un mundo sin muerte sería aún mas insoportable. Sería, quizás, que Saramago intuía que le quedaba poco tiempo?
Me faltan sus otras 12 novelas por leer. Que es bastante. Claramente, estas palabras no las digo como una gran conocedora de la obra de Saramago, simplemente las hago como una de sus lectoras que hoy se siente triste al tener una persona menos a quien admirar en el mundo. Y para contarles a todos aquellos quienes no conocen a Saramago y hoy se estarán preguntando que quien será este señor que se murió, el  porqué mi pena, y el  porqué mi profunda admiración.

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1/4 Life crisisesss

June 1 2010, 2:32 AM

Ultimamente, todas las conversaciones que tengo con gente de mi edad giran alrededor del terror absoluto a lo incierto del futuro, y al impacto que lo que hacemos ahora pueda tener en el futuro (mientras escribo esto no puedo dejar de sentir cierto cargo de conciencia por no irme a dormir cuando manana tengo clases y si estoy con suenio talvez no haga buenas preguntas y si no hago buenas preguntas el primer dia de clases el profesor ya no me va a tomar en cuenta y quizas no me considere para algun trabajo en el futuro y termine pidiendo caridad afuera del metro aaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!) Pero no! hoy decidi revelarme contra mi miedo al futuro y/o fracaso y dedicarnos unas lineas (digo "nos" porque estas palabras de aliento tambien van para mi) a mis fellow cuarto de siglo-habientes que como yo, emprenden una lucha diaria por elegir el camino adecuado en el cual sus suenios de juventud y un futuro estable logren conciliarse.

El primer sintoma de esta especie de crisis es el desbalance entre el querer y poder. Sabemos que queremos un trabajo, pero no encontramos algo en nuestra area en donde podamos trabajar, y si lo encontramos, no nos da para comer o simplemente no nos es accesible por impedimentos de iure o de facto (es mi caso por ejemplo, que no tengo visa de trabajo en EEUU). Si bien hemos superado la incertidumbre de principios de los 20 de no saber que queremos hacer con nuestras vidas,  esta certidumbre de ahora es en cierto sentido peor, porque nos pone la inmensa responsabilidad de materializar lo que queremos. Lo que no nos damos cuenta, es que muchas veces y a pesar del esfuerzo que pongamos para materializar lo que queremos, simplemente (y por razones que nos tomará mucho tiempo entender) no llega a suceder. En el colegio, estudiar por ejemplo, tenia como consecuencia directa el sacar una buena nota y pasar el anio. El exito academico estaba en nuestro control. Creemos, aun bajo esa mentalidad creo yo, que el esfuerzo en el ambito laboral es la condicion unica para que nos vaya bien o para conseguir el dream job o el puestazo. Desgraciadamente, la oferta de mano de obra, las palancas, los impedimentos juridicos y tantas otras cosas que afectan el mercado laboral no dependen de nosotros. Aun en los casos (como alguna vez me sucedio a mi) en los que una persona encuentra un trabajo ideal, se pueden presentar condiciones que hagan que esta experiencia sea mas tortuosa que enriquecedora o gratificante. La gente con quien uno debe interactuar. Los sacrificios que uno debe hacer por estar en esa posicion. Miiiiles de cosas.  El punto es, que dificilmente existira un equilibrio entre el querer y el poder. Unos encontraremos nuestros "Dream JObs", pero nos costara estar lejos de nuestras familias, o interactuar diariamente con gente dificil, o someternos a horarios sacrificados de trabajo. Otros nos conformaremos con "the next best thing", y agradeceremos tener un cheque al final del mes aun cuando no nos enriquezcamos profesionalmente. En cualquier caso, hay limitadas cosas que podremos hacer para que las cosas salgan como queremos, por lo que lo mejor que podemos hacer es aceptar que esto no depende de nosotros tanto como de otros factores. UNa vez aceptado esto, podremos navegar por la vida adulta sin derrumbarnos ante una negativa o un "Fracaso" profesional. Y lo pongo entre comillas porque realmente no lo son. No hay situacion adversa en la que no se saquen cosas buenas, aunque sea el  descubrir nuevas cosas sobre nosotros mismos que nos ayuda\'ran a tomar mejores decisiones en el futuro.

Y hablando de fracaso, ahi esta el segundo sintoma. Miedo, panico al fracaso en la vida. Whatever this is. En mi caso el Mounstro-Fracaso tiene cara de desempleo, cuerpo de situacion economica precaria y extremidades de trabajos mediocres y frustración. El Mounstro-Fracaso es mediocre, es yo formando  parte del monton que se ha conformado con las migajas que la vida le sobró (AAAAAAAAAAAA mi pulso se acelera. Respiro. Sigamos). SErá que nos han enseniado (equivocadamente) que el éxito es un titulo en un contrato, es la casa enorme, los viajes...En mi caso, me cuesta mucho pensar en el exito de otra manera. No se como podria, con un trabajo mediocre y sin realizarme profesionalmente sentirme exitosa. Pero creo tambien que en esta vision se pasan por alto otras maneras de éxito que la sociedad de ahora parece ignorar. Ser una buena persona deberia ser el ultimate success goal de todo ser humano, tener hijos y formarlos adecuadamente, tener un matrimonio estable tambien, pero de alguna manera estas, si bien son preocupaciones que se suman a nuestra cruz de miedos e incertidumbres, dificilmente las relacionamos con "exito". ESto es algo que se asocia con lo profesional y economico sobre todo. Y para paliar la angustia del éxito en su sentido actual, es importante ver si hemos tenido logros en otras areas de la vida. SOy una buena persona? Tengo a mi alrededor gente que me quiere? TEngo cosas que me apasionan y que me hacen sentir lleno? En fin, a mi me cuesta mucho. Pero en el fondo se que no esta bien auto imponerse semejantes tormentos emocionales.

La tercera cosa es el absoluto y mas cruel sentido de abandono que tenemos. "Nadie me entiende", "me siento super solo", son cosas que he oido ultimamente cuando he conversado de este tema con gente (yo mismo he llegado a sentir que soy el unico ser humano en la tierra que enfrenta el tormento diario de buscar trabajo, tomar decisiones, y renunciar a ciertos suenios). Lo chistoso es que TODOS estamso en el mismo barco. Todos tenemos miedo a no encontrar trabajo, a quedarnos solteros, a que no nos vaya bien en la vida. Pero como casi nadie lo dice (aceptar el miedo al fracaso es para muchos un reconocimiento tacito de que ya fracasó) vivimos creyendo que a todo el resto le va excelente y que solo uno es el unico al cual la vida aun no le ha bendecido con la certeza y la estabilidad en el futuro asegurado por los siglos de los siglos amen. O peor aun (y como me pasó alguna vez) forzados a vivir negando nuestros miedos y fingiendo tener absoluto control de nuestras vidas por temor a hacernos "mal marketing". Y créanme, no hay nada mas estresante que vivir la mentira de tener todo figured out cuando no sabemos ni que va a pasar de aquí a dos semanas.  Pero sonrian! TODOS estamos en las mismas. O bueno, casi todos.  Pero sepan que esos miedos, esa incertidumbre, ese hope for the best que es lo unico que tenemos, no les pasa solo a ustedes. A mi, y a muchos, en este mismo momento estamos luchando contra el no saber que va a pasar maniana. Y estamos asustados, y quisieramos que alguien venga y nos diga que todo va a estar bien ( o que todo va a estar mal, por ultimo, por lo menos tendríamos algo de certeza)  y no dormimos por la angustia del no saber. No saber es normal. Estar construyendo es normal. Tener miedo es normal. LLorar y frustrarse es normal. (yo estoy llorando mientras les escribo esto). Es parte de este momento en la vida, de ese paso definitivo entre la juventud y el mundo adulto.

Asi que ustedes, que hoy leen esto, sepan que no estan solos en la lucha. Que somos muchos los que aun no sabemos que va a pasar, somos muchos los que aun lidiamos con el trauma de darnos cuenta que nuestras utopias no pueden siempre existir en el mundo real. Con las decepciones que la gente nos da. Con las injusticias que son parte del mundo que vivimos. Y cuando se sientan asi, lloren, esta bien llorar. Pero no se sientan solos. Piensen que es una etapa, y que pronto vamos a salir de esta crisalida y hopefully, seremos mariposas y dejaremos de sentirnos como gusanos dentro un mar de algo pegajoso e incierto.

Les quiero mucho.

 

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NEW MOON FAV QUOTES (we are all a little like Bell

December 9 2008, 1:42 AM

 NEW MOON

 My favorite Quotes

 

"Change was coming. I could feel it. It wasn't a pleasant prospect. Not when life was perfect as it was"

"...You can have my soul. I dont want it without you. It's yours already!"

"...time heals all wounds for your kind..."

"Time passes. Even when it seems impossible. Even when each tick of the second hand aches like the pulse of blood behind a bruise. It passes unevenly, in strange lurches and dragging lulls, but pass it does. Even for me..."

" I dont think I can live through seeing you try harder. I've never seen anyone trying so hard. It hurts to watch..."

"...time always sped up when I was looking forward for something unpleaseant..."

"... It was depressing to realize that I was not the heroine anymore, that my story was over...."

"...Even in the begining, when death unquestionably would have been a relief, I didn't consider it (...) I had to think of them..."

"...Between pain and nothing, I'd chosen nothing..."

".... forbidden to remember, terrified to forget; it was a hard line to walk on..."

"...It was a crippling thing, this sensation that a huge hole had been punched trhough my chest, excising my most vital organs and leaving ragged, unhealed gashes around the edges that continued to throb and bleed despite of the passage of time..."

"...But what if this hole never got better? What if the raw edges never healed? If the damage was permanent and irriversible?..."

"....I was changed, my insides altered almost past the point of recognition..."

"...I was beggining to get annoyed at myself"

"...the recipe for hallucination: adrenaline plus danger plus stupidity."

"...I was horrified by the nothingness, as always, but I was also strangely impatient as I waited for the moment that would send me screaming into consciousness, I knew the nightmare had to end...."

"...I was like a lost moon (...) that continued, nevertheless to circle in a tight little orbit around the empty space left behind, ignoring the laws of gravity...."

"...One thing I truly knew (...) was how love gave someone the power to break you. I'd been broken beyond repair..."

" Breathing started to get more difficult, not because of the exhaustion, bu t because I was having truoble with the stupid hole in my chest again..."

"...There was too much pain in this empty space to bear...."

"...Not AS bad, but bad enough..."

"the hole...Holes now...are already aching..."

"...What did that said about me??? It said that there was something deeply wrong with me. Why else would my life be filled with characters from horror movies? Why elso would I care so much about them that it would tear big chunks right out of my chest when they went off along their mythical ways???"

"I'm sorry I cannot be the right Monster for you, Bella"

"...Love is irrational. The more you love someone the less sense anything made..."

"I didn't want to fight anymore. I was almost happy that it was over..."

"...I wondered what would have Juliet done if Romeo had left her, not because he was banished, but because he lost interest?? What if Rosalind had given him the time of day and he'd changed his mind? What if instead of marrying her he'd just dissapeared..."

"...and what if Juliet loved PAris? not like Romeo, but enough that she wanted him to be happy too?"

"...Juliet got dumped and ends up with Paris would have never been a hit"

"...could I betray my absent heart to save my pathetic life?"

"..I've never seen anyone so prone to life-threatening idiocy"

"...It WAS like someone had died. Like I had died..."

"...I was not a princess after all. So what was the fairy tale protocol for OTHER kisses? The mundane kind that didnt break any spells?"

"....Besides who I was betraying? Just myself.."

"...I love a happy ending...they are so RARE..."

"...After all, how many times can one heart be mangled and still be expected to keep beating?

"..It took less than a half second for me to realize that, as long as I was truly insane now, I might as well enjoy the delusions while they were pleasant...."

"...It was her overconfidence that clouded her feelings about him.."

"...If I was going to rip myself up further, I might as well get as much in trade as possible..."

"Right and wrong have ceased to mean much to me. I was coming back anyway..."

"...I haven't been able to really breathe in so long..."

"...What if you were so stubbornly sure that you were right, that you wouldn't even consider the truth?"

"...I was a danger magnet. I had accepted that about myself"...

"...so eager for eternal damnation, he muttered"

" If you stay, I don't need heaven"

"Bella, we are who we are..."

 

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"The Mandates of the Constituent Assembly of Ecuad

September 30 2008, 1:04 PM

“Legal Shields against Judicial Protection: The Mandates of the Constituent Assembly of Ecuador”
                                        By Maria Dolores Mino B.
(Word Count: 726)
 
The approval of the new Political Constitution of Ecuador on September 28th, 2008 marked the end of a rather controversial process that reformed the country’s legal and institutional structure. Particularly, the broadness of the powers given to the Constituent Assembly to perform such duty is still matter of heated debate, both nationally and internationally.
This paper explores the nature of the normative powers given to the Constituent Assembly under the scope of the rights to a fair trial and judicial protection enshrined in the American Convention of Human Rights[1] and addresses the problem of defenselessness that such powers have brought upon individuals subject to the Assembly’s jurisdiction. Finally, it presents the mechanisms available within the Inter-American System for the protection of fundamental rights in such context, and the expectations on the Judiciary in the aftermath of the reformatory process.
 
BACKGROUND: A CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY WITH ABSOLUTE POWERS:
In April 2007, the people of Ecuador agreed to call on a Constituent Assembly to draft a new Political Constitution[2], and to entitle it with absolute powers to transform the institutional structure of the State[3].
As soon as it was installed in November 2007, the Assembly passed on Mandate No. 1[4], under which it dissolved the National Congress and assumed the powers and duties of the Legislative Branch for itself[5]. The legal basis for this action was Article 1 of the Assembly' Rules of Procedure[6].
 
MANDATE No. 1: A SHIELD AGAINST JUDICIAL PROTECTION:
 
Mandate Nº1 further established that:
 
“[…] the decisions of the Constituent Assembly are above any other norm within the juridical system, and must be obeyed by every citizen or public authority with no exceptions. No decision of the Assembly can be subject to control or appeal by any public authority. The judges and courts that process any action against the decisions of the Assembly will be removed from their functions and immediately prosecuted. So will be sanctioned any other public officer that disobeys such decisions, or foster their non-compliance”[7].
 
           
            The aforementioned dispositions pose a serious problem under the scope of International Human Rights Law, since they violate the rights of individuals to a fair trial and judicial protection. Even when the Assembly’s powers are of a materially jurisdictional nature[8], they cannot be subject to judicial control, regardless if they impose illegitimate restrictions to fundamental rights or gravely threat their exercise. Furthermore, Mandate No.1 establishes sanctions for judges that, ex officio, provide such protection[9], in contradiction with international standards that enshrine the independence of the judiciary[10]. The self- executing nature of Mandate No.1, also violates per se Article 2[11] of the American Convention[12].
            Certainly, some individuals were left in a situation of defenselessness against Constituent Mandates that arguably restricted rights such as property and freedom of expression[13]. In spite of the protests raised nationally and internationally[14], it was impossible to seek for judicial protection, due to the “legal shield” created under Mandate No.1 within Ecuadorian Jurisdiction.
 
THE INTER-AMERICAN SYSTEM: A POSSIBILITY FOR PROTECTION:
 
            However, individuals affected by the Assembly´s Mandates can seek just reparations in the Inter-American System of Protection of Human Rights. Actually, the prohibitions under Mandate No. 1 constitute an exception to the rule of exhaustion of domestic remedies, a requisite that has to be met before an individual petition is lodged in the Inter-American System[15]. In this case, the exception applies since domestic remedies exist in Ecuadorian legislation but cannot be exhausted because they are not available by virtue of such Mandate[16]. Therefore, petitions may be presented directly to the Inter- American Commission, avoiding the long internal procedures within domestic courts.  Furthermore, when dealing with self executing norms, and to prevent violations from occurring, the Convention provides for provisional measures”[17] under the Court’s jurisdiction. Also, precautionary measures can be requested to the Commission[18]. Both are swift and effective mechanisms to prevent States from executing decisions that might gravely threat the exercise of fundamental rights.
            Even when the Assembly can no longer pass any more Mandates, those that were previously approved still generate legal effects. Hopefully, the changes brought by the new Political Constitution will strengthen the Judicial Branch with real independence to conduct its decisions in accordance with Ecuador’s international obligations under Human Rights Law. Meanwhile, adequate protection must be pursued exclusively through the international mechanisms of protection of Human Rights.

[1] American Convention on Human Rights; Article 8. Right to a Fair Trial: 1. Every person has the right to a hearing, with due guarantees and within a reasonable time, by a competent, independent, and impartial tribunal, previously established by law, in the substantiation of any accusation of a criminal nature made against him or for the determination of his rights and obligations of a civil, labor, fiscal, or any other nature. Article 25. Right to Judicial Protection:1. Everyone has the right to simple and prompt recourse, or any other effective recourse, to a competent court or tribunal for protection against acts that violate his fundamental rights recognized by the constitution or laws of the state concerned or by this Convention, even though such violation may have been committed by persons acting in the course of their official duties.2. The States Parties undertake: a. to ensure that any person claiming such remedy shall have his rights determined by the competent authority provided for by the legal system of the state;b. to develop the possibilities of judicial remedy; andc. to ensure that the competent authorities shall enforce such remedies when granted. See the full text of the American Convention at http://www.oas.org/juridico/English/treaties/b-32.html.
[2] The Consultation was held on April 15, 2007. See: Political Database of the Americas: “Republic of Ecuador: Electoral Results”. Available at: http://pdba.georgetown.edu/Elecdata/Ecuador/consultapop_asconst2007.html.
[3] Article 1 of the Rules of Procedure of the Constituent Assembly establishes:” The Constituents Assembly is summoned by the people of Ecuador and it is entitled with full powers to transform the institutional structure of the State, and to draft a new Constitution […]”.See the Executive Decree No. 148 published on the Supplement No. II to Official Diary No.33, March 5th 2007. Available at:http://www.sigob.gov.ec/decretos/Default.aspx.
[4] Constituent Mandate No. 1, adopted on November 29th 2007 and published in the Supplement to the Official Diary No. 223, November 30th, 2007. View the full text of the Mandate on http://www.historico.asambleaconstituyente.gov.ec/documentos/mandato1.pdf.
[5] Article 7 of Mandate No.1 establishes: “The Constituent Assembly takes over the duties and attributions of the Legislative Branch. Therefore, it ceases in office the Congressmen and Congresswomen elected on October 15th, 2006, as well as their replacements, until the results of the approbatory referendum are published […]”. See also, BBC News: “Ecuador forum dissolves Congress”. Published on November 30th, 2008, available at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7119373.stm; The New York Times: “Ecuador Congress is Dissolved in Vote”. Published on November 30th 2007, available athttp://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/30/world/americas/30ecuador.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin
[6] Supra, Note 4.
[7] Constituent Mandate No. 1, adopted on November 29th 2007 and published in the Supplement to the Official Diary No. 223, November 30th, 2007; Articles 2 and 3. View the full text of the Mandate on http://www.historico.asambleaconstituyente.gov.ec/documentos/mandato1.pdf
[8] The Inter- American Court established that: “when the Convention refers to the right of everyone to be heard by a competent judge or court to “determine his rights”, this expression refers to any public authority, whether administrative, legislative or judicial, which, through its decisions determines individual rights and obligations. For that reason,[…] any State organ that exercises functions of a materially jurisdictional nature has the obligation to adopt decisions that are in consonance with the guarantees of due legal process in the terms of Article 8 of the American Convention”. See I/A Court H.R., Case of the Constitutional Court v. Peru. Merits, Reparations and Costs. Judgment of January 31, 2001. Series C No. 71, para. 71.
[9] The Ecuadorian Constitution of 1998, still in force at that time, gave the Judiciary the power to enforce an “indirect constitutional control”, under which judges or tribunals could refuse to apply any norm that contravened the Constitution or other International Treaties.. See Article 273 of the Political Constitution of Ecuador; approved on June 5th, 1998. Available at http://www.ecuanex.net.ec/constitucion/titulo13.html#1.
[10] Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary; Article 2: “The judiciary shall decide matters before them impartially, on the basis of facts and in accordance with the law, without any restrictions, improper influences, inducements, pressures, threats or interferences, direct or indirect, from any quarter or for any reason”. Available at http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/h_comp50.htm.
[11] Article 2 of the American Convention establishes: “Where the exercise of any of the rights or freedoms referred to in Article 1 is not already ensured by legislative or other provisions, the States Parties undertake to adopt, in accordance with their constitutional processes and the provisions of this Convention, such legislative or other measures as may be necessary to give effect to those rights or freedoms.”
                [12] The Inter- American Court has so defined such norms that violate the Convention upon their sole promulgation. In the Suarez Rosero case, in which an article of the Ecuadorian Criminal Code prohibited the writ of habeas corpus for people detained for crimes under the Law on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, the Court held that “this exception deprives a part of the prison population of a fundamental right, on the basis of the crime of which it is accused and, hence, intrinsically injures everyone in that category. This rule has been applied in the specific case of Mr. Suárez-Rosero and has caused him undue harm. The Court further observes that, in its opinion, his law violates per se Article 2 of the American Convention, whether or not it was enforced in the instant case”. See I/A Court H.R., Case of Suárez-Rosero v. Ecuador. Merits. Judgment of November 12, 1997. Series C No. 35, para 98. See also I/A Court H.R., International Responsibility for the Promulgation and Enforcement of Laws in Violation of the Convention (Arts. 1 and 2 of the American Convention on Human Rights). Advisory Opinion OC-14/94 of December 9, 1994. Series A No. 14, para. 42-43.
[13] The most relevant case is Mandate 13, under which the Assembly ordered the Agency of Guarranty of Desposits the seizure of two TV stations property of former bank owners that owed the State large sums of money due to the 1999 Bank Crisis. The controversy arose when the News Editors of both stations were removed, and State officials spoke about changing the station’s editorial line. See Mandate No. 13, available at http://www.historico.asambleaconstituyente.gov.ec/documentos/mandato_13_agd.pdf.
[14] In regard of the seized TV stations, many argued that this constituted a violations to the right of freedom of expression. See CPJ: “ECUADOR: Government seizes two TV outlets  and closes a radio station”. Published on July 8th, 2008; available at: http://www.cpj.org/news/2008/americas/ecuador08jul08na.html.; BBC News: “Ecuador state seizes TV stations”. Published on July 8th, 2008. Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7495929.stm
[15]Article 46 (1) (a) of the Convention provides that, in order for a petition or communication lodged with the Commission in accordance with Articles 44 or 45 to be admissible, it is necessary that the remedies under domestic law have been pursued and exhausted in accordance with generally recognized principles of international law. The same article, in the second paragraph, provides that this requirement shall not be applicable when the domestic legislation of the state concerned does not afford due process of law for the protection of the right or rights that have allegedly been violated; the party alleging violation of his rights has been denied access to the remedies under domestic law or has been prevented from exhausting them; or there has been unwarranted delay in rendering a final judgment under the aforementioned remedies.
[16] The Inter-American court held that “Article 46(2) is applicable to situations, in which the domestic law does provide for remedies, but such remedies are either denied the affected individual or he is otherwise prevented from exhausting them. These provisions thus apply to situations where domestic remedies cannot be exhausted because they are not available either as a matter of law or as a matter of fact”. See I/A Court H.R., Exceptions to the Exhaustion of Domestic Remedies (Arts. 46(1), 46(2)(a) and 46(2)(b) American Convention on Human Rights). Advisory Opinion OC-11/90 of August 10, 1990. Series A No. 11, para. 17.
[17] I/A Court H.R., International Responsibility for the Promulgation and Enforcement of Laws in Violation of the Convention (Arts. 1 and 2 of the American Convention on Human Rights). Advisory Opinion OC-14/94 of December 9, 1994. Series A No. 14, para. 44.
 
[18] Article 25 off the Rules of Procedure of the Inter-American Commission state that “In serious and urgent cases, and whenever necessary according to the information available, the Commission may, on its own initiative or at the request of a party, request that the State concerned adopt precautionary measures to prevent irreparable harm to persons”.
 

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