Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05QUITO871
2005-04-20 21:51:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Quito
Cable title:
ECUADOR: POLITICAL SITUATION UPDATE AS OF 2:45
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 QUITO 000871
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC EC
SUBJECT: ECUADOR: POLITICAL SITUATION UPDATE AS OF 2:45
P.M. ON 4/20/05
REF: A. QUITO 867
B. QUITO 868
Classified By: Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 QUITO 000871
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC EC
SUBJECT: ECUADOR: POLITICAL SITUATION UPDATE AS OF 2:45
P.M. ON 4/20/05
REF: A. QUITO 867
B. QUITO 868
Classified By: Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary: At 1:15 p.m., Congress voted to replace
President Gutierrez with Vice President Alfredo Palacio. The
military has announced the withdrawal of its support for
President Gutierrez. Protests, which formerly met with
police resistance, turned celebratory with news of
Gutierrez's downfall. However, there were two deaths
reported. Minister of Government Ayerve publicly called for
calm, announced ex-president Abdala Bucaram's imminent
departure from Ecuador, and offered dialogue with the
opposition as the Ambassador had recommended earlier to
President Gutierrez. This signal of conciliation appears to
have come too late. No incidents of violence have been
reported by AmCits. As of 3 p.m., the President told the
Ambassador he had left the palace and was on his way to an
unnamed city in Ecuador. He seems to have accepted that his
term is over. End Summary.
Security
--------------
2. (C) As outlined in Ref A and previous reporting, the RSO
initiated proactive security measures to protect USG
personnel and property. These security initiatives were
successful as even in the face of violent protests, there
were no reported incidents against USG personnel or property.
Embassy Actions
--------------
3. (C) The Ambassador got through to Joint Chief VADM Rosero
at noon to urge restraint. Rosero said the military had
withdrawn support to Gutierrez. The Ambassador told Rosero he
must try again to convince Gutierrez to appeal to the people.
Rosero said the situation was beyond that point and the
military was considering creating a "civic junta" to replace
the president temporarily. The Ambassador said that should
the President resign any replacement must conform with the
Constitution. Rosero said the military had no intention of
taking political control itself.
4. (C) At 1:45 p.m., the Ambassador spoke with President
Gutierrez who said he intended to appeal to the nation for
support and calm. The Ambassador told him that if the
military withdraws their support, Gutierrez would have to go.
The President thanked the Ambassador for all her support.
5. (C) At 2:45 p.m., Gutierrez called the Ambassador again
from the palace and still reluctant to resign. The
Ambassador told him that she didn't see any other way out.
He confirmed at 3 p.m. that he was leaving the palace,
possibly to his hometown of Tena or Guayaquil. He did not
request asylum and made no mention of leaving the country.
Government Response
--------------
5. (U) At approximately 1 p.m., Government Minister Oscar
Ayerve publicly called for calm, said ex-president Bucaram
would shortly depart the country, and called on all political
factions to engage in dialogue.
6. (U) Press reported at 2:20 p.m. that President Gutierrez
was seeking asylum in Panama. Other report indicate he may
travel to Chile or Canada.
Congress
--------------
7. (U) A rebel Congress, consisting of 62 opposition
deputies, voted to replace Omar Quintana as President of
Congress with Cynthia Viteri (PSC). They then voted to
relieve President Gutierrez of his responsibilities and at
2:15 p.m. swore in Vice President Alfredo Palacio as the new
President.
Military and Police
--------------
8. (U) General Marco Cuvero has replaced Jorge Poveda as
national police chief.
Economic Implications
--------------
9. (U) Dollarization continues to insulate the Ecuadorian
economy from political stability. Citibank and other
contacts tell us that no run on the banks has occurred and
that very little capital flight is underway. Citibank said
only three of its clients have moved funds out of Ecuador so
far. A very few were moving funds from local banks into Citi.
Next Steps
--------------
-- PD: We are refraining from public comment about the
evolving situation.
-- RSO: There will continue to be a curfew for Embassy
employees and dependents in Quito this evening. Post
continues to have additional ENP assets protecting the
Embassy's perimeter. There have been no reported threats
against AmCits and/or property at this time. The rest of the
country is calm.
KENNEY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC EC
SUBJECT: ECUADOR: POLITICAL SITUATION UPDATE AS OF 2:45
P.M. ON 4/20/05
REF: A. QUITO 867
B. QUITO 868
Classified By: Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary: At 1:15 p.m., Congress voted to replace
President Gutierrez with Vice President Alfredo Palacio. The
military has announced the withdrawal of its support for
President Gutierrez. Protests, which formerly met with
police resistance, turned celebratory with news of
Gutierrez's downfall. However, there were two deaths
reported. Minister of Government Ayerve publicly called for
calm, announced ex-president Abdala Bucaram's imminent
departure from Ecuador, and offered dialogue with the
opposition as the Ambassador had recommended earlier to
President Gutierrez. This signal of conciliation appears to
have come too late. No incidents of violence have been
reported by AmCits. As of 3 p.m., the President told the
Ambassador he had left the palace and was on his way to an
unnamed city in Ecuador. He seems to have accepted that his
term is over. End Summary.
Security
--------------
2. (C) As outlined in Ref A and previous reporting, the RSO
initiated proactive security measures to protect USG
personnel and property. These security initiatives were
successful as even in the face of violent protests, there
were no reported incidents against USG personnel or property.
Embassy Actions
--------------
3. (C) The Ambassador got through to Joint Chief VADM Rosero
at noon to urge restraint. Rosero said the military had
withdrawn support to Gutierrez. The Ambassador told Rosero he
must try again to convince Gutierrez to appeal to the people.
Rosero said the situation was beyond that point and the
military was considering creating a "civic junta" to replace
the president temporarily. The Ambassador said that should
the President resign any replacement must conform with the
Constitution. Rosero said the military had no intention of
taking political control itself.
4. (C) At 1:45 p.m., the Ambassador spoke with President
Gutierrez who said he intended to appeal to the nation for
support and calm. The Ambassador told him that if the
military withdraws their support, Gutierrez would have to go.
The President thanked the Ambassador for all her support.
5. (C) At 2:45 p.m., Gutierrez called the Ambassador again
from the palace and still reluctant to resign. The
Ambassador told him that she didn't see any other way out.
He confirmed at 3 p.m. that he was leaving the palace,
possibly to his hometown of Tena or Guayaquil. He did not
request asylum and made no mention of leaving the country.
Government Response
--------------
5. (U) At approximately 1 p.m., Government Minister Oscar
Ayerve publicly called for calm, said ex-president Bucaram
would shortly depart the country, and called on all political
factions to engage in dialogue.
6. (U) Press reported at 2:20 p.m. that President Gutierrez
was seeking asylum in Panama. Other report indicate he may
travel to Chile or Canada.
Congress
--------------
7. (U) A rebel Congress, consisting of 62 opposition
deputies, voted to replace Omar Quintana as President of
Congress with Cynthia Viteri (PSC). They then voted to
relieve President Gutierrez of his responsibilities and at
2:15 p.m. swore in Vice President Alfredo Palacio as the new
President.
Military and Police
--------------
8. (U) General Marco Cuvero has replaced Jorge Poveda as
national police chief.
Economic Implications
--------------
9. (U) Dollarization continues to insulate the Ecuadorian
economy from political stability. Citibank and other
contacts tell us that no run on the banks has occurred and
that very little capital flight is underway. Citibank said
only three of its clients have moved funds out of Ecuador so
far. A very few were moving funds from local banks into Citi.
Next Steps
--------------
-- PD: We are refraining from public comment about the
evolving situation.
-- RSO: There will continue to be a curfew for Embassy
employees and dependents in Quito this evening. Post
continues to have additional ENP assets protecting the
Embassy's perimeter. There have been no reported threats
against AmCits and/or property at this time. The rest of the
country is calm.
KENNEY