general strikes in ecuador

1997, february 5-6 - 48 hour general strike ousts president bucaram

20,000 indigenous people and peasant farmers set up roadblocks early in the morning on the country's main highways in support of the strike called by the patriotic front, made up of the coordinator of social movements, the sole workers front and women's, indigenous and student organisations. the strike is the culmination of a month of street demonstrations against the government's economic adjustment plan. banks remained closed wednesday in quito, public transport services were suspended on the order of municipal authorities, and the local chamber of commerce urged its members not to open their doors.

under pressure from the ecuadoran people, the congress voted on february 6th (after only six months in office) that bucaram (nicknamed "el loco") was mentally unfit to govern.