MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Indigenous candidate runs for president in Ecuador

The political branch of Ecuador's major indigenous organization, the Pachakutik movement has nominated its leader presidential candidate for the country's coming election next October.

Luis Macas, following on similar events in other Andean countries promises to nationalize hydrocarbon resources and redistribute land and water among Indians and peasants.

Mr. Macas currently leads the Confederation of Ecuador's Indigenous Nationalities, CONAIE, an organization that is actively involved in politics and has played relevant roles in the country's recent political events.

Humberto Cholando, head of Ecuarunari, an affiliate of CONAIE said that the main objectives of Mr. Macas administration would be "naming a government of honest people; nationalizing oil; redistribution of land and water among the poor; voting for a constitutional assembly and promoting peoples integration and fair trade among countries of the Andes".

This is the second time in the 176 years of independent Ecuador that an indigenous is presidential candidate.

The first was Antonio Vargas, from the Amazon region who participated in the 2002 presidential election but did not muster much support.

Last December for the first time in Bolivia's history an Indigenous candidate became president.

Ecuador which has a turbulent political past lives mainly from hydrocarbons, with oil representing the bulk of exports and budget revenues.