Cablegate: Media Reaction Removal of Ecuadorean President,

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000875

SIPDIS

INFO WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
EMBASSY QUITO

STATE FOR WHA/PD, WHA/AND, AND WHA/CEN
STATE FOR DRL/PHD, INR, AND IIP/G/WHA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KPAO PHUM PREL KDEM EC HO
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION REMOVAL OF ECUADOREAN PRESIDENT,
APRIL 25, 2005

1. On 4/22 an editorial in Tegucigalpa-based moderate daily
"El Heraldo", titled "Ecuadorian Lesson." "The fall of Lucio
Gutierrez in Ecuador is another example that many Latin
Americans are not willing to respect presidential terms if
the governors are incapable to fulfill their promises and
act as if they hold a blank authorization to do as they
please.

To maintain control of the country, he dismissed Supreme
Court judges who weren't obedient. But on May 31 that same
Court dropped the corruption charges of two former
presidents and a vice president.

To avoid more violence, Congress decided to fire Gutierrez
and swear in Alfredo Palacio, who hopefully will end his
governance January 2007. Towards this example, our
politicians should `learn from other peoples mistakes'."

The San Pedro Sula-based liberal paper "Tiempo" carried an
editorial entitled "Coup d'etat." "With the presidency of
Alfredo Palacio, it has been formally resolved
constitutional succession, even though it will not guarantee
the end of the political crisis in that country.

In reality, it seems that we are developing new ways of
`coup d'etats,' saving the constitutional appearance, and
giving an illusion of democratic evolution. If we look back
we will see that the lack of governance phenomenon will lead
us to different kinds of `coups'."

Editorial in San Pedro Sula-based liberal daily "La Prensa"
entitled, "In coma." "Ecuador came out of a political
tornado, spinning out the president Lucio Gutierrez, who
received protection from the Brazilian government, after his
frustrated attempt to abandon the country.

The demonstrations haven't stopped. The popular demand
synthesizes in the phrase: `Out to all.' The question of
the moment is how long will President Palacio last?

Due to its president's profession, Ecuador was qualified as
a country `in coma' attended by a `head doctor.'

The OAS has delayed its reaction that no doubt will demand
institutional normality, internal stabilization and
recovering of social peace and honesty in the administration
of the public resources.

2. On 4/25, the Tegucigalpa-based liberal daily "La Tribuna"
published an editorial entitled "Stepping on a government:"
"Ecuador, wins an Oscar because no one can finish a full
term, and Cuba, a star in long-film acting, for lasting
longer than any of the popes.

The last word to determine who stays and who leaves is the
army. The army ends up allying with the forces that plot
against the government and justify it as a constitutional
ouster,' the new formula that substitutes `coup d'etats.'

That is the way to step on a government, with constitutional
ousters."

Op-ed in "El Heraldo" by Roberto Valladares, titled
"Corruption and Popular reaction in Ecuador." "The recent
events in Ecuador should be a motive for worry by corrupt
governors in Latin America.

Honduras is like other countries where corruption exists,
our corruptors should `learn from other peoples mistakes',
if they want to avoid what happened in Ecuador."

Pierce

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