The Strength of Banians`

Okay although this is the second entry in one day, it is a completely different topic than the previous so I couldn't justify being on the same page. This story is from what I have heard and gathered from the locals about the Evacuation of Banos during the major eruption. I have to say that some of this may be hearsay, but I will let you know. I find this story amazing really, because it shows the characters of Banos called Banians.
When the eruption happened in Banos and it was evacuated, the army was called in for the "protection" of its citizens. They were evacuated for 2-3 months and the highways and streets to the city were closed with military force, they had 12 hours to get out and they were told it would only be fore a few days. After a while, I had several friends who had dressed in "camo" so check on things and their property, it was of course looted. There were also people that hid in their homes and wouldn't leave to protect their property and they didn't beleive the evacuation was neccessary. If they were found, they were taken out of the city. So people were very careful about hiding here. People were trying to get back as they had left their animals here and were concerned for them and of course all those animals died, it was very sad. They of course also wanted to check on their property, which was either gone, damaged or destroyed. But after a while, people were starting to worry and get concerned for their property after all there were no longer eruptions and everything was stable. So why were they being kept out of their city. This is what transpired. The people that had stayed had taken videos of the military actively looting the homes and business and discussing and talking about it where the goods would go who was selling and buying what. Then they then snuck out with the videos and had them shown on public television. As you can imagine, this enraged all of Ecuador and started to question their military. I beleive this was also the past president, which Ecuador didn't like and ousted with a good old heave ho'. Then during those programs, the investigation, supposedly said, that the Japanese were planning on buying Banos. There is a law here in Ecuador if you abandon your property for a certain time it becomes property of the state and the military was forcing Banos to be closed for 2 years which would make Banos open for the taking. Now we really have some hot latins. So during the new year celebrations, the Banians planned that when the military were partying and getting drunk, some brave banians would sneak back into town into the radio station and call for the take over of their city by its citizen. With a pig to bar-b-que and beer, they would wait for their return of its citizens. They snuck over the mountains with all this, you have to remember these mountains are tall and steep and they did this with a pig and beer and they did it successfully. They did in fact, sneek into the city and into the radiostation, and the military were as predicted, drunk. Anyway, when the hi-jacked radio station announced it was time, the Banians stormed the highways from all directions with everything they could: machetes, pitchforks, knives and whatever they could find. (Sounds like a frankenstein movie) However, one of the military shot a young man, tempers roars, peacefullness was out of the question and the riot ensued. The Banians took over with fervor. With television cameras forced to take live video, the Banians had tied up 2 young soldiers, hands behind their backs, and covered them with gas and held a live match and told the president to remove the military immediately or this would be the first of the human torches to go up. Because this was live, and with the president watching, he called out the military. Sadly, the young man who was originally shot by the military did die and as a result the military was not allowed into the town for 3 years. The young soldiers were of course let go, but I am sure their lives have been changed with that experience. The military still to this day are still nervous to come to Banos, for obvious reason. If the military was not withdrawn, it is said that all of Ecuador would have been involved in removing its own military as Banians have family all through out Ecuador. The military to this day denies any looting dispite the video proving otherwise. It is now said , Don't f--k with Banians. Apparently, this is not the norm for Ecuadorians they are normally passive and very loving but times are a changing and certain behavior is not tollerated. I have heard of other intollerances met with equal violence in other parts of Ecuador but none of it seems without just cause. Often it has been done when the prisoners are in police custody and the law would normally protect the violators. Ecuador still have a vigilante fervor here that supercedes its police. In Canada, we are much more passive about injustices that our government has done and still does, without permission, or sudden convenient law changes, but here no. Also the legal hand tying that the law has done to the police. Here, Absolutely no. No is no. Unless you have a good lawyer and lots on money to "deal" with it. The protests are supported, active and real with real consequences. It is not unheard of to have entire roads shut down because of governmental injustices. After all there have been 12 presidents in 6 years. Interesting..... I think that various prime ministers of Canada would have only lasted minutes here. I have to say that they like this president, he has just been voted in again with much support from its citizens. I don't think there has been a big protest since we have been here in over a year. Oh yeah, happy anniversary to us, although we missed celebrating it by....... um I think 2-3 months, whatever not important anyway...... Life still continuing on over here in its slow and lovely way.
Remember you have to go through what you have to go through. Unless you go over it with a pig and beer.
Robin