Ecuador Declares State of Emergency

Ecuador has declared a state of emergency in three of its provinces following a widespread strike by contract oil workers. The north-eastern oil-producing provinces of Napo, Sucumbios and Orellana are now under the jurisdiction of the military. Last month, protestors shut down two oil pipelines in the region causing the temporary disruption of oil exports. And in August last year, locals shut down production when they demanded more economic investment from central government and foreign investors operating in the zone. State-owned Petroecuador saw foreign earnings hit by the general strike.