Quito, September 15 (teleSUR-RHC)-- President Rafael Correa has called on citizens to exercise their right to resistance, urging them to speak out against “extremely violent minorities,” referring to the mobilizations called for this week by opposition factions.        

“This week, the same people as usual, will be back with their meetings, marches and strikes.  This is their way of life, while we are working hard for the love of our country,” said Correa.   

Last June, right-wing opposition demonstrators began holding regular protests, mainly in the country's two largest cities, Quito and Guayaquil.  They were later joined by some opposition Indigenous factions, calling for changes to land and water laws.

The protests were originally called in response to two bills presented by President Rafael Correa aimed at addressing inequality in the country.  The bills would see the wealthy and upper middle classes paying higher taxes on inheritances and capital gains.  However, many protesters also openly start calling for the ousting of President Correa.

“They speak in the name of the ‘people,’ but they hardly receive three percent of the vote,” he added on Twitter. “They speak in the name of ‘resistance,’ but they don't defend any right.  All they want is to impose their way at all cost, transgressing democracy and the rights of the masses.”     

The president concluded his message by calling on supporters of democracy and not just his own “supporters,” to mobilize.
    
In an effort to promote dialogue, President Correa had opted to temporarily withdraw the bills and lead a conversation in the country around equity, wealth redistribution, and other mechanisms to address inequality. But sectors of the opposition, including Indigenous groups, rejected the offer and maintained violent mobilizations.    

Ecuadorean Interior Minister Jose Serrano revealed in July that intelligence agencies had uncovered a plot to overthrow the government during protests, including a schemes to storm the presidential palace, block airports, and attack security forces.