Aztra massacre facts for kids

The Aztra massacre was a sad event that happened in Ecuador. On October 18, 1977, police attacked workers at the Aztra sugar factory (called an ingenio). This factory was in La Troncal Canton, Cañar Province. The workers were on strike because they wanted better pay. Many workers, most of them Indigenous, were killed.

No one was ever punished for this terrible event. The massacre was a big reason why the Ecumenical Commission for Human Rights was created. This group helps protect people's rights. Later, in 2016, a play called Tazas rosas de té was written about the massacre. It helped people remember the victims.

What Happened Before

Before the massacre, Ecuador was ruled by a military government. This government, called the Supreme Council of Government, made new rules. These rules were against workers' groups, known as unions. They even said that strikes were illegal. Some leaders of worker and student groups were put in jail.

In 1976, workers at the Aztra sugar factory made a special agreement. The factory was mostly owned by the government. The agreement said workers would get 20% of any money made from sugar price increases. Later, the government raised the price of sugar. But in September 1977, they changed the rule. They took away the workers' share of the extra money.

Because of this, about 2,000 workers went on strike. This happened in the early hours of October 18, 1977. They stayed at the factory to demand their fair share. Throughout the day, the workers' wives and children came to the factory. They brought food for the strikers.

The Attack

On the afternoon of October 18, 1977, police officers arrived at the Aztra factory. About 100 police officers were there. They used a loudspeaker to tell the workers and their families to leave. They gave them only two minutes. The workers were eating dinner at the time.

The workers refused to leave. They showed their machetes as a sign they would resist. Then, the police started shooting at them. They also threw tear gas bombs. People tried to run away in a panic.

People from the nearby town of La Troncal heard about the attack. They came to help. But the police also shot at them. The attack lasted for about three hours. After it was over, a police major sent a message saying, "The order has been fully carried out."

In the days that followed, the government tried to blame the workers' leaders. They said the leaders were part of a terrorist plot. Many of the bodies of the workers and their families were never found. This included women and children. Some people from La Troncal believe that some bodies were put into the factory's boilers.

This event caused protests all over the country. The military government stopped these protests. They put people in jail and raided the University of Guayaquil.

See also

In Spanish: Masacre de Aztra para niños