An indispensable measure—elimination of fuel subsidies that benefited the rich at the expense of the poor—has served as a pretext for violent riots in Ecuador and a coup attempt by radical left-wing groups acting under the umbrella of indigenous organizations that have little trouble finding solidarity in the media, civic groups, and governments of western liberal democracies.
Although among the protesters were people with legitimate claims and peaceful citizens exercising their free expression, several groups demanding the overthrow of President Lenin Moreno were acting with the explicit support of Ecuador’s former president, Rafael Correa, a corrupt demagogue who is now a