Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06QUITO534
2006-03-03 23:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Quito
Cable title:
EX-PRES. GUTIERREZ RELEASED FROM PRISON
how-toVZCZCXYZ0004 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHQT #0534 0622318 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 032318Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY QUITO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3792 INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA PRIORITY 5408 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 1617 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ MAR 9704 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 0391 RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL PRIORITY 0047 RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
UNCLAS QUITO 000534
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM EC
SUBJECT: EX-PRES. GUTIERREZ RELEASED FROM PRISON
REF: QUITO 320
UNCLAS QUITO 000534
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM EC
SUBJECT: EX-PRES. GUTIERREZ RELEASED FROM PRISON
REF: QUITO 320
1. (SBU) Summary: Ex-President Lucio Gutierrez has been
cleared of bogus sedition charges, and was released from
prison on March 3. Gutierrez' vindication may be partial,
however, with other charges still pending against him for
constitutional violations. Rumors of his release will
recharge the political climate, and generate debate over his
grassroots support and declared electoral ambitions. End
Summary.
2. (U) The president of Quito's Superior Court, Fernando
Casares Carrera, dismissed sedition charges against
ex-President Lucio Gutierrez. Gutierrez, who has been
detained since October 14, 2005, left prison on the afternoon
of March 3. Separate charges filed by attorney general
Cecilia Armas with the Supreme Court on February 2 against
Gutierrez (for violating the constitution while President by
dissolving the Supreme Court in April 2005, and for convoking
a special session of Congress which selected a new court in
December 2004) are still pending (RefTel). Upon his
release, Gutierrez immediately declared his presidential
candidacy for the PSP party. Presidential advisor Jose
Modesto Apolo told press earlier in the day that the Palacio
administration would not attempt to prevent Gutierrez'
release from prison. However, the chief prosecutor of
Pichincha province, Washington Pesantes, has announced that
he will appeal the dismissal.
Comment
--------------
3. (SBU) The dismissal of the sedition charges against
Gutierrez, based solely on his public statements made while
in exile, was fully justified, in our view. His release will
recharge the political atmosphere here, but the level of his
grassroots support is an open question. Though some claim a
solid core of grassroots support for Gutierrez, especially in
the sparsely-populated Amazon region from which he hails, the
number of supporters who greeted Gutierrez and have
maintained a vigil outside his prison have been small.
JEWELL
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM EC
SUBJECT: EX-PRES. GUTIERREZ RELEASED FROM PRISON
REF: QUITO 320
1. (SBU) Summary: Ex-President Lucio Gutierrez has been
cleared of bogus sedition charges, and was released from
prison on March 3. Gutierrez' vindication may be partial,
however, with other charges still pending against him for
constitutional violations. Rumors of his release will
recharge the political climate, and generate debate over his
grassroots support and declared electoral ambitions. End
Summary.
2. (U) The president of Quito's Superior Court, Fernando
Casares Carrera, dismissed sedition charges against
ex-President Lucio Gutierrez. Gutierrez, who has been
detained since October 14, 2005, left prison on the afternoon
of March 3. Separate charges filed by attorney general
Cecilia Armas with the Supreme Court on February 2 against
Gutierrez (for violating the constitution while President by
dissolving the Supreme Court in April 2005, and for convoking
a special session of Congress which selected a new court in
December 2004) are still pending (RefTel). Upon his
release, Gutierrez immediately declared his presidential
candidacy for the PSP party. Presidential advisor Jose
Modesto Apolo told press earlier in the day that the Palacio
administration would not attempt to prevent Gutierrez'
release from prison. However, the chief prosecutor of
Pichincha province, Washington Pesantes, has announced that
he will appeal the dismissal.
Comment
--------------
3. (SBU) The dismissal of the sedition charges against
Gutierrez, based solely on his public statements made while
in exile, was fully justified, in our view. His release will
recharge the political atmosphere here, but the level of his
grassroots support is an open question. Though some claim a
solid core of grassroots support for Gutierrez, especially in
the sparsely-populated Amazon region from which he hails, the
number of supporters who greeted Gutierrez and have
maintained a vigil outside his prison have been small.
JEWELL