Ecuador Tax Agency Closes Microsoft Branch Offices

An anonymous reader writes "The Ecuador Tax Agency (SRI) has closed Microsoft branch offices for seven days. 'We have twice requested balances, payment reports and complete tax information, but the company hasn't given it to us, so in accordance with our laws we have proceeded with the closure,' the SRI official in charge of the proceeding said. Microsoft said it was a human mistake."

Comments

Re:Ecuador moving to free software

[RenderSeven]

I think it is undeniable that the USA and Microsoft are exploiting Latin America.

By that you mean they make money there? Or do you mean that every other country doing business in South America is motivated by philanthropy? Fortunately China's aggressive investment in Central and South America is all about them 'giving back to the community', right?

Just so you know where *I* stand, I think South America is doing well exploiting *us*. Nothing in history is as unifying as declaring a common enemy, and you're all smart enough to draw the obvious inferences. Casting us in that role (whether deserved or not) has well suited every corrupt tin-horn dictator like Chavez. Handing out free AK47's to his supporters to repel an farcical US invasion might be a good thing if you're a supporter, but to a small business owner facing down an armed horde of the poor bent on nationalizing your inventory, maybe not so good.

I dont care for much of Microsoft's tactics any more than the next geek, but gleefully crowing over every petty nationalist squabble involving them is absurdly naive. Ecuador and Venezuela embracing Linux dont make their governments any less corrupt or self-serving.