Ecuador Eco Volunteer

Yesterday there was an huge amount of political unrest in Ecuador that saw the country collapse into chaos. If you are worried then I can tell you with 100% certainty its all over now, order has been restored and its perfectly safe to travel. The unrest started when elements of the police force started nation wide strikes to protest against a new law passed on Wednesday that changed the way public servants are paid. President Rafael Correa tried to negotiate with the police at their headquarters in Quito yesterday morning to explain the new laws which to my understanding means they will lose a bonus that gives them $1,000 USD for every year they have worked in the force given to them on their 25th year as well as a bonus for any police decorations they may receive. In compensation the police and military will see their salary triple: a police officer that earned $450 in 2008 will now earn $1200. The compensation was not enough to stop the police protests however and as the President left the police headquarters after the failed negotiations a crowd surrounded him that turned violent as elements of the police fired teargas bombs at their own president. Correa was forced to flee to a military hospital which the police forces surrounded and kept him their against his will for twelve hours.