Last Sunday’s two national consultations contributed to confusion, unsustainability and obvious contradictions in Ecuadorian society.

In Chocó Andino, a minority living in the area made a decision about resources that belong to all Ecuadorians. In Yasuní, the majority of Ecuadorians decided the fate of those living in the area, and in addition, the latter expressed their

an opinion contrary to that of the majority in the country.

The guarantee of our Constitution, the evident improvisation of Montecristi, the experiment to which we Ecuadorians were subjected by a group of foreigners who used us as guinea pigs, show once again that we are not ruled by a magna carta, but by a single hand, and also a miserable one, because it did not add additional restrictions.

The territory of Ecuador is one, undivided. Provinces have no territory and are administrative units. Natural resources belong to all Ecuadorians, especially minerals that can create so much wealth.

The Constitution guarantees the right to education, health and a dignified life. This requires financial resources. Well, in Chocó, a minority of Ecuadorians who do not own the territory they live in, or what is underground, made a decision not to allow Ecuadorians to be given and guaranteed the right to education, health and a dignified life. Because all that reducing resources means in this troubled country is that it goes directly against these needs of the population.

And if the citizens of Chocó had that right, why didn’t those from the Amazon province, who clearly declared themselves in favor of continuing the exploitation of Yasuní oil?

If some could do what they did with all Ecuadorians, why didn’t they give that right to those who will lose their jobs, their small companies and their long-term activities that they carried out with effort and sacrifice?

Voters of Chocó who did not risk anything, are not dependent on any business related to the matter they voted on, did not start any business related to that activity, declared themselves against the exploitation of mining. In Yasuní, on the other hand, those who already have the risk, invested money, effort and lifestyle related to the question of voting, were overpowered by the majority who have never set foot in Yasuní, do not know where they said the park is national, how big it is and not knows the reality of that area. This majority has never seen the alleged contamination and cannot name the three most important animal species in the park.

Two extremely negative public consultations for the future of Ecuador, and apparently contradictory, because of which the idea is growing abroad that Ecuador is simply an illogical and unsustainable country, a country without a sense of reality and with an extraordinary ability to destroy itself. (OR)