OAS debates situation in Ecuador

[bemildred]

Roundup of Ecuador news...

For the second successive day, the Organisation of American States (OAS) debated Ecuador's current crisis and the possible solution that could help reinstate peace in the divided country.

Panamanian OAS representative Aristides Royo proposed on Friday, sending a multi-member mission to Ecuador in order to assess the situation first hand.

A vote on the proposal was delayed as members awaited Portuguese and English translations of the original Spanish documents.

These types of delays stirred criticism from Ecuador's High Council, which arrived in Washington from Quito on Friday.

NDTV

Gutiérrez denounces his ouster as Ecuador's president
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002250663_ecuador23.html

Ecuador's ousted leader besieged

Protesters chanting "Killer, killer, killer!" besieged the Brazilian ambassador's home in Quito Friday in an effort to prevent Ecuador's ousted president Lucio Gutierrez from fleeing the country.

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"If he tries to get out of here he's getting this tomato. Me and all the other people will see to that. He deserves to be shot," said one protester -- part of a small but vociferous group -- outside the Brazilian embassy residence.

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/americas/04/23/ecuador/

Ecuador changes military, police leaders

QUITO, April 22 (Xinhuanet) -- Newly-installed Ecuadorian President Alfredo Palacio sacked leaders of the armed forces and the police on Friday, just two days after he was sworn in.

The Defense Ministry said Vice Admiral Manuel Zapatero was appointed the new joint chief of staff, in replacement of Victor Rosero, who showed hesitation in dealing with street demonstrations by the opposition which led to the ouster of former President Lucio Gutierrez on Wednesday.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-04/23/content_2867290.htm

US Embassy in Quito evacuated on security grounds

QUITO, April 22 (Xinhuanet) -- The Embassy of the United States in Quito was evacuated Friday on security grounds and only left the indispensable personnel inside, said diplomatic sources.

The sources said that the evacuation was ordered on security grounds in the face of the possibility of groups of demonstrators going to the diplomatic representation to protest against the government of the United States.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-04/23/content_2866772.htm

Ecuadoreans rebelled by radio, e-mail and text

QUITO, Ecuador (Reuters) - Fed up with politicians, Ecuadoreans turned to local radio, text messages and the Internet to whip up a street rebellion this week that helped push their president Lucio Gutierrez out of office.

Gutierrez, a former army officer elected in late 2002, was waiting in Quito's Brazilian embassy residence on Saturday for safe conduct to asylum in Brazil, three days after intense protests played their part in forcing him from office.

Buoyant protesters, including businessmen, housewives and students, described the demonstrations as a popular rebellion that grew through word of mouth, cellular telephone text messages and broadcasts on La Luna, a local radio station.

Many said the week-long rallies were a spontaneous reaction to frustration with what they saw as the government's abuse of power and disappointment with leaders of all political colours.

http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=5712709&cKey=1114273229000

[Robbien]

1. One of the articles stated that the people of Ecuador

didn't like the idea of the OAS messing in the political affairs of their state.

another article in the NYT has this interesting bit on the previous exiled president:

But it was Mr. Gutiérrez's assistance to another former president, Abdalá Bucaram Ortiz, who is wanted here on a range of corruption charges, that led to his downfall. An overhaul of the Supreme Court by Mr. Gutiérrez's congressional allies permitted an interim court to take over, which in March cleared Mr. Bucaram of charges and permitted him to return to Ecuador from exile.

Mr. Bucaram, 53, a flamboyant leader who as president recorded a CD called "Madman in Love," earlier this week sounded supremely confident that his legal troubles were over thanks to Mr. Gutiérrez and the interim court.

"I'm a happy man," he said in an interview in his home, calling the court the best Ecuador had had in 40 years.

But with Mr. Gutiérrez's government gone, Mr. Bucaram quickly abandoned his home and is believed to have fled the country.

[bemildred]

2. I don't know if you've seen this, but it describes the course of events

fairly well:

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0504/S00334.htm

It actually seems to be sourced to COHA originally, and I forget
who put it up here.