Ecuador back-pedals on claim that the CIA was trying to destabilize government; says Correa’s comments were taken out of context

Ecuador has denied that President Rafael Correa had accused the United States of trying to destabilize his government by infiltrating it with spies, according to an official statement.

President Rafael Correa

Correa had said the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency was trying to “wear down the government” and accused it of helping to organize opposition protests.

But Ecuador’s National Secretariat of Communications (Secom) said Correa’s comments were taken out of context and misinterpreted by the media.

Correa “at no time… said the CIA was behind the marches,” Secom said on Sunday.

It denied Correa accused the CIA of waging a “campaign of attrition,” as reported in some local media after Correa’s weekly address on Saturday.

The 51-year-old economist trained in the U.S. has faced opposition protests as he seeks constitutional changes that would allow him to seek re-election next year to another four-year term.

Secom said Correa’s comments referred to previous accusations that the CIA had “infiltrated the political right,” citing diplomatic cables leaked by Wikileaks.

Correa has been president since 2007. His proposed constitutional reforms would allow unlimited re-election, setting him up to run again next year.

Irate union supporters say his plans would not respect workers’ right to unionize, and indigenous people say his land legislation would erode their rights over traditional land use.

Credit: The Daily Sun, www.thesundaily.my