Lets stand, fight against violence and work for peace

“Ecuador, is a beautiful place to live, it is still a peaceful country” That is what I used to think and was proud of. Last week, we lived terrible events that stained with blood, pain and distrust the population. The army and the police forces rose up against the government going on a strike and leaving unprotected the security of citizens causing robberies and assaults in the cities. Besides that, the police officers committed acts of violence on the streets against people that supported the government. In response to that, at 9:00am the president, Rafael Correa, went to talk to the high command of the Police forces, but there was not an understanding, the multitude yelled and throw tear gas to the president who had to be taken to the hospital across the street, it happened to be the police forces hospital. In the hospital he was kidnapped. After all day, the army with a especial group of the police force, announced their support to the president and start a plan to rescue him. There was when the tragic things happened, polices against militaries, and police against police started shutting their weapons to kill. It is difficult to me to describe all what happened that hard day in other language, because it is still difficult to me to understand what had happened that day. The result, 6 or more killed people. The president was going to die, if there were not a group of brave and faithful policeman, he could have been killed for the hand of a police or a military.

Why this strike had to start and end in a war between brothers? The reason the police and the army had and give to the media was the cut of some benefits they have.

“Benefits”, nothing could pay the lives of the loved ones to a mother a father, a wife and children. ¡There is not a reason to kill brothers! There is not a reason to act as killers and betray your country.

Honestly, I have a feeling of frustration and impotency seeing all this acts of injustice and violence that we do not believe had happened, but now is the time to wake up, dry the tears, lift our heads and fight against violence with love and education, respecting each other, and understanding that we all are part of this country, all of us are responsible and dependent of each other. I could make change being more open minded, and saying what I feel and think, that is what I am doing now, taking a first step, telling you this through this way.

May we all stand and work for peace!