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General Information
On September 30, 2010 from an early hour there was a
work stoppage by the Police of Ecuador and the Air Force.
PresidentRafaelCorrea inabid toconfront thepolicedirectly
rebels from the outbreak of the revolt. For 12 hours, Presi-
dent Rafael Correa was detained by force. At night, special
forces andmilitary policepulledhimfromthePoliceHospital.
Symbols
Flag
When Gen. Eloy Alfaro was president, the Congress
of 1900 established the country´s flag by decree of
October 31. The second article stated: "The National
Flag will, without any alteration, be the one adopted
the Ecuador since proclaimed its independence,
whose colors are: yellow, blue and red horizontal
lists, in the order they are expressed from top to
bottom, the yellow should have a height twice that of
the other colours."
The colours of our flag have the following meanings:
Yellow: gold, the abundant wealth of agriculture and
the great resources the country is endowed.
Blue symbolizes the ocean, the sky clear and clean
of Ecuador.
Red: represents the blood shed by the heroes that
gave freedom to the country.
Coat of Arms
The coat of arms went through five processes, since the
proclamation of the Independence of Guayaquil, Octo-
ber 9, 1820, until the presidency of Gen. Eloy Alfaro,
in 1900.
The Ecuadorian shield features the following symbols:
The condor, that crowns the shield is an emblem of
strength and courage.
The golden sun is positioned in the centre of the flag
alongside several signs of the zodiac, namely Aries,
Taurus, Gemini and Cancer for the months of March,
April, May and June, the period in which the battle
against General Juan José Flores occurred.
The scrubland symbolizes the Chimborazo, the river
that stems from it represents the Guayas.
The vessel that crosses the waters is also called
Guayas and is said to be the first ship built in South
America and the first to explore South American rivers
since 1841.
The vessel and the caduceus (a rod surrounded by two
snakes and topped with a hat with wings), symbolizes
the locomotion, peace and trade that developed within
the country.
The palm and laurel branches represent peace and
commemorate the glories of the nation whilst the con-
sular beams denote Republican dignity.
Coastal Ministry in Guayaquil