ARMY COMMANDER CANNED; NEW MINDEF NAMED

C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 000280

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2014
TAGS: PREL MARR MASS MOPS SNAR PTER EC CO
SUBJECT: ARMY COMMANDER CANNED; NEW MINDEF NAMED

REF: QUITO 00211

Classified By: PolOff Jarahn Hillsman, Reasons 1.4 (b&d)


1. (U) Summary: Fulfilling his promise to replace deceased
MinDef Guadalupe Larriva (RefTel) with a female civilian from
the southern highland city of Cuenca, President Correa on
January 30 named Lorena Escudero as the new Minister of
Defense. Escudero, who assumed control of the Ministry of
Defense on February 2, is an academic with little government
experience and even less defense training. Before handing
control of the military over to Escudero, Acting MinDef
Ricardo Patino on February 1 fired Army Commander Pedro
Machado for his role in Larriva's death. End Summary.

Army Commander Canned
--------------


2. (U) Acting Minister of Defense Ricardo Patino fired Army
Commander Pedro Machado on February 1 for "human errors" that
lead to the death of former MinDef Guadalupe Larriva. In a
television interview on February 1, Patino said "we gave you
(the military) a minister alive and you returned her dead."
He expressed his dissatisfaction with the preliminary
accident report and said that those at fault would be held
accountable. Machado told the press that his departure was
necessary to calm tensions, but said that a commander could
not be blamed for all that happens in the army. "There are
levels of responsibility," he affirmed. Machado warned that
unspecified elements within the government were trying to
"damage" the Ecuadorian military. Machado was replaced by
Brigadier General Guillermo Vasconez.

Shaky, Unqualified MinDef Assumes Office
--------------


3. (U) President Correa on January 30 announced he would
replace Guadalupe Larriva with Cuenca native Lorena Escudero.
In a February 1 press conference in Cuenca, a nervous
Escudero told the press that she is a strong proponent of
regional integration, but said that Ecuador would not be
drawn into Plan Colombia. She said that Ecuador would not
extend the Manta FOL agreement beyond 2009, and that she
would continue Larriva's efforts to increase the military's
social role. Escudero committed to push for salary
increases, continue defense reforms, and signaled that
military divestment from the economy would also top her
agenda. Escudero quietly assumed control of the Ecuadorian
military on February 2.

Biographical Information
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4. (U) Escudero, 41, is a native of Cuenca, Azuay province.
She is divorced with two children. Escudero holds a degree
in education with an emphasis in philosophy, sociology, and
economics from the University of Cuenca. She has masters in
Latin American Studies from Mexico's National Autonomy
University and is currently working towards a doctorate in
Latin America Studies from the Spanish Alicante University.


5. (U) Escudero has worked since 2002 as director of the
Center for Social Sciences and Latin American Politics at the
University of Cuenca. She has published numerous works on
regional integration, and has worked as a consultant on
immigration related issues. Escudero reportedly worked on
Correa's presidential campaign, and served as coordinator of
the Cuenca University and Citizens' Front for a Constituent
Assembly.

Comment
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6. (C) While intelligent, Escudero certainly appears to lack
the background and qualifications to head Ecuador's military
and meet the security challenges the nation faces. Larriva
was similarly under-qualified in terms of knowledge, but had
the proven toughness and sharp elbows from political party
life to compensate. Escudero will face a suspicious military
establishment, many of whom will be hoping to see her fail.
Let's hope our friendly offers of help will resonant amid
these tensions; we will seek to engage the new MinDef early
to discuss CN/CT cooperation, and to offer, where
appropriate, USG assistance in building a more professional
and informed defense structure.
JEWELL