<+>=<+>KOLA Newslist<+>=<+>
 

[forwarded by Ingeborg. Thanks...]

>>From desaparecido@gmx.de  Tue Jan 25 18:23:24 2000

------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
From: cflores@hoy.net (Accion Ecologica)
To: Amigos del Ecuador
Date sent: Tue, 25 Jan 2000 16:27:47 +0000
Subject: Problems unresolved in Ecuador, arrest order requested for Indig

Dear Friends,

this is just to bring you  all up to date on the situation here in Ecuador.

On the surface things appear to have returned to normal after the
occupation on Friday of the Congress and Presidential Palace by indigenous
people, social movements, and sympathetic military, and the declaration of
a Popular Salvation Government.

However, things are not quite what they seem. The new government formed by
Gustavo Noboa, gives every indication of wanting to blindly follow the
same economic policies that lead to last Friday'suprising. The government
has also asked the supreme court to issue warrents for the arrest of
Indigenous Leader Antonio Vargas, and Carlos Solorzano who together with
General Mendoza were to form the governing triumvirate of the popular
government. Arrest warrents have also been requested for two memebrs of
the Popular Front, who took over the Supreme court.

At the same time the Congress is about to expell five members for siding
with the popular governement, amongst whom are Generals Paco Moncayo, an
honest and well respected hero of the war with Peru, and Rene Yandun. The
expulsion will probably lead to the arrest of the excongressmen, who
maintain their position in favour of the colonels who sided with the
indigenous people.

In an interview today, Antonio Vargas the leader of CONAIE, stated that if
the government wanted to arrest him, they only had to make the telephone
call and he was ready to present himself,

"I a not a corrupt Banker who leaves the country with the money of the
Ecuadorian people in his pocke. The indigenous people are fighting against
corruption and for justice. If they want to arrest me I will be here
waiting"

However, he stated that if they arrested him, the government would have to
arest all the indigneous people and all the members of the social groups
who  formed part of the movement to install the popular government.

Vargas also stated that the indigenous people now, as before, planned a
peacefull protest, and would maintain the state of alert given that the
government gave no signs of wanting a dialogue to achieve fundamental
changes in the system.

Salvador Quishpe, the leader of Ecuarunari (Quichua peoples organisation)
also denounced the new Minister of State, saying that he had been a part
of the development of policies for the Popular Parliament. According to
sources the Minister, Huerta, had participated on the condition that a
total change be achieved.
 
 

<+>=<+>
Information Pages: http://users.skynet.be/kola/index.htm
Online Petition: http://kola-hq.hypermart.net
Greeting Cards: http://users.skynet.be/kola/cards.htm
<+>=<+>
if you want to be removed from the KOLA
Email Newslist, just send us a message with
"unsub" in the subject or text body
<+>=<+>