ECUADOR: President Rafael Correa's spirit cleansed by shamans during indigenous ceremony ahead of his swearing in for a second term
Record ID:
1538942
ECUADOR: President Rafael Correa's spirit cleansed by shamans during indigenous ceremony ahead of his swearing in for a second term
- Title: ECUADOR: President Rafael Correa's spirit cleansed by shamans during indigenous ceremony ahead of his swearing in for a second term
- Date: 10th August 2009
- Summary: CHIMBA, CAYAMBE, QUITO, ECUADOR (AUGUST 09, 2009) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF INDIGENOUS GROUPS ARRIVING TO SHAMAN CEREMONY FOR PRESIDENT RAFAEL CORREA HELICOPTER TRANSPORTING PRESIDENT RAFAEL CORREA ARRIVING TO TOWN CAMERAMEN ECUADOR'S PRESIDENT RAFAEL CORREA WITH BOLIVIA'S PRESIDENT EVO MORALES PARTICIPANTS OF SHAMAN CEREMONY VARIOUS OF SHAMAN CLEANSING PRESIDENT RAFAEL CORREA'S SPIRIT DURING INDIGENOUS CEREMONY PRESIDENT RAFAEL CORREA AND BOLIVIA'S PRESIDENT EVO MORALES WITH SHAMAN INDIGENOUS MAN BLOWING CONCH SHELL VARIOUS OF PRESIDENT RAFAEL CORREA AND BOLIVIA'S PRESIDENT EVO MORALES DURING SHAMAN CEREMONY SHAMAN PRESENTING WOODEN CANE TO PRESIDENT RAFAEL CORREA VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS OF CEREMONY LISTENING TO BOLIVIA'S PRESIDENT EVO MORALES SPEAK (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRESIDENT EVO MORALES SAYING: "Yes, when we work in a transparent manner, when we try to agree with the various social movements, when we try to unite, to respect each others' differences, but above all else, working for dignity, unity and the equality of our people, it is possible to advance our people from Latin America." GENERAL VIEW OF PEOPLE LISTENING TO PRESIDENT RAFAEL CORREA (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ECUADOR'S PRESIDENT RAFAEL CORREA SAYING: "We will not use bullets to radicalize this authentic revolution, nor rocks nor boots. We are going to use pencils, schools, pathways, dignity, patriotic passion, lucid thoughts, songs because this will also be the revolution of happiness." GENERAL VIEW OF PEOPLE LISTENING TO PRESIDENT RAFAEL CORREA PRESIDENT RAFAEL CORREA GREETING BOLIVIA'S PRESIDENT EVO MORALES AND GUATEMALAN HUMAN AND MAYAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST RIGOBERTA MENCHU
- Embargoed: 26th August 2009 06:37
- Keywords:
- Location: Ecuador
- Country: Ecuador
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA8R4DN9Y0ZNDRC21KDK50NZZ6L
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: Ecuador's President Rafael Correa will start a second term promising "21st century socialism" for Ecuador, promising to give priority to the country's poor and indigenous groups.
Ecuador's President Rafael Correa participated on Sunday (August 09) in an indigenous ceremony filled with symbolism and included a cleansing of the reelected leader's spirit by shamans.
President Correa traveled to the indigenous community of Chimba in the municipality of Cayambe some 120 kilometres north of Quito where hundreds of indigenous people gathered to participate in the ceremony.
Bolivia's President Evo Morales along with Guatemalan human and Mayan rights activist Rigoberta Menchu were among the invited guests to the indigenous ceremony.
"Yes, when we work in a transparent manner, when we try to agree with the various social movements, when we try to unite, to respect each others' differences, but above all else, working for dignity, unity and the equality of our people, it is possible to advance our people from Latin America," President Evo Morales said during the ceremony.
President Correa reiterated that he would mark his peaceful revolution by giving priority to the poor, the youth and indigenous groups.
"We will not use bullets to radicalize this authentic revolution, nor rocks nor boots," President Correa said. "We are going to use pencils, schools, pathways, dignity, patriotic passion, lucid thoughts, songs because this will also be the revolution of happiness."
Correa, a popular former economy minister, was re-elected in April for a four-year term under a new constitution that expanded presidential powers.
His new term will start on Monday August 10 and marks the first re-election of a president since democracy was restored 30 years ago is a sign of stability in a nation where three presidents were toppled in the last decade.
Correa's heavy social spending and frequent outbursts against business elites, who he blames for the OPEC country's sharp divide between rich and poor, have helped consolidate popular support, pollsters say.
Correa will struggle however with falling oil revenues, the mainstay of government's finances, and fallout from a foreign debt default that shut Ecuador out of international capital markets.
The U.S.-educated economist could also face resistance in Ecuador's legislature where his party managed to cobble together an alliance. That majority may crumble, some analysts say, unless Correa tones down his confrontational style.
But after winning re-election, Correa said he would steer Ecuador toward his new brand of socialism by "radicalizing" and "accelerating" changes introduced after he first took office in January 2007. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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