VARIOUS: PUBLIC HEARS FROM EX ECUADOREAN PRESIDENT LUCIO GUTIERREZ FOR FIRST TIME SINCE HIS OUSTING
Record ID:
402644
VARIOUS: PUBLIC HEARS FROM EX ECUADOREAN PRESIDENT LUCIO GUTIERREZ FOR FIRST TIME SINCE HIS OUSTING
- Title: VARIOUS: PUBLIC HEARS FROM EX ECUADOREAN PRESIDENT LUCIO GUTIERREZ FOR FIRST TIME SINCE HIS OUSTING
- Date: 24th April 2005
- Summary: (W1)QUITO, ECUADOR (APRIL 22, 2005) (REUTERS) SLV ANTI-GUTIERREZ DEMONSTRATION IN FRONT OF PRESIDENCY
- Embargoed: 9th May 2005 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: QUITO, ECUADOR / PORTO VELHO, BRAZIL / UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION IN BRAZIL
- City:
- Country: Ecuador Brazil
- Topics: General,Politics,People
- Reuters ID: LVA76R5MPKIA56MFWEBJXWLN1RHF
- Story Text: The public hears from ex-President Lucio Gutierrez for the first time since his ousting as protests against him continue.
Deposed Ecuadorean president Lucio Gutierrez, holed up in the
Brazilian embassy residence, said on Friday (April 22, 2005) he had been illegally
toppled, as regional leaders debated the legitimacy of his abrupt ousting.
Ecuador's new government and Brazilian officials were still in talks
over whether Gutierrez would be allowed safe passage to asylum in Brazil after
a week of protests ended with Congress forcing him out on Wednesday (April
20). He was replaced by his former vice president, Alfredo Palacio.
The Organization of American States opened a special session in
Washington to discuss whether the Congress had a constitutional right to oust
the president and protesters in Quito spoke out against the OAS'
intervention.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Manuel Zapater Ramos tried to quell rumours
that some members of the military were supporting Gutierrez.
"The military units of the country are strictly following the new
orders," he said in a news conference. He added that the army had not
received any orders to arrest Gutierrez.
Outside the residence of the Brazilian ambassador, police with riot
shields stood in ranks as passing cars honked horns and protesters jeered and
demanded the new government prevent Gutierrez from leaving.
On Friday, The public heard from Gutierrez himself for the first time
since the crisis exploded earlier this week.
"Friends, I want to give you a warm greeting and thank you for
your support. I have a clear conscience that I did things honestly. The
oligarchy does not want a president of the people to continue as the President
of the Republic. This message you have to deliver to the people through the
media. We us, the people were always moving forward. We worked to benefit
the forgotten provinces," said Gutierrez by telephone to supporters in
comments taped by the local La Hora newspaper.
In Brazil, a Brazilian air force jet was on standby to take the former
army colonel out of the country and Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorin
defended his country's decision to grant Gutierrez asylum.
"He [Gutierrez] is coming to Brazil because he asked to come to
Brazil. And I am certain that if it were any other country, it would've have
also considered giving asylum as well - as many Brazilians have received
asylum in other countries," he said.
The international community has wavered on accepting the legitimacy of
Gutierrez's ouster. Washington says early elections are one way to end the
crisis, but U.S. officials have been cautious on recognizing the new
government.
Protests had swelled in Quito after the new Supreme Court decided to
dismiss corruption charges against former president Abdala Bucaram, a
Gutierrez ally. The military withdrew support for Gutierrez after he refused
to step down.
Gutierrez, the third president of the oil-producing Andean nation
toppled in eight years, was elected in 2002 with the support of the poor. But
his popularity slipped after he implemented austere economic policies.
The political turmoil in Ecuador, South America's fifth largest oil
producer and the region's No. 2 exporter of crude to the United States behind
Venezuela, has rattled debt markets worried about a new left-leaning economy
minister.
Ecuador's new president faces a difficult task as protesters, empowered
by their success, are clamouring for the removal of corrupt officials and
demanding early elections.
Congress named Palacio to serve out the rest of Gutierrez's four-year
term, which expires in early 2007. Palacio, a doctor and an open critic of
Gutierrez, says he will consider a referendum on constitutional reform before
holding elections. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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