US embassy cable - 05QUITO868

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 QUITO 000868 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, ASEC, EC 
SUBJECT: ECUADOR: POLITICAL SITUATION UPDATE 
 
REF: QUITO 854 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney, Reason 1.4 (b&d) 
 
1.  (C) Summary:  Following a night of persistent protests 
centered on the Presidential Palace, in which one journalist 
died, the situation in Quito remains extremely volatile. 
Protests are ongoing and expected to grow.  The Ambassador 
met with the President early on April 20 to urge a bold 
signal in the government's stance in favor of conciliation. 
Congress failed to make progress on April 19 to resolve the 
court issue and the opposition has united 52 deputies to 
seize control and move to destitute Gutierrez. National 
Police Chief has resigned in protest and the military high 
command has urged Gutierrez to announce a call to early 
elections.  Rumors that the military has withdrawn their 
support from the President are rampant.  End Summary. 
 
Security 
-------- 
 
2.  (C) Anti-government protests are occurring throughout the 
city, after the arrival of government supporters bused in 
from the coast.  On April 19, anti-government protesters 
gathered in Carolina Park in the north of the city starting 
at 17H00.  Entire families, including infants and 
grandparents, primarily convoked by  Radio Luna, gathered in 
the park.  Protesters later at approximately 18H15 proceeded 
south towards the Congress building to demand President 
Gutierrez' resignation.  Protesters clashed with police at 
the well-guarded Presidential Palace until approximately 
02H00 on April 20.  Newspapers estimated the group numbered 
up to an exaggerated 100,000, however RSO estimates are 
closer to 12,000.  Feared confrontations between pro- and 
anti-government protesters were avoided on April 19. 
 
3.  (U) In the city center, a 58 year-old Chilean 
photographer and Quito resident, died of a heart attack 
suffered during the protests on April 19.  His family members 
and the Red Cross blamed exposure to tear gas for his death. 
According to the Red Cross and the 911 service, as of April 
20 00H10, approximately 180 protesters suffered asphyxiation 
from tear gas, and 18 received injuries.  Many protesters lit 
small fires to help dissipate the tear gas.  Protests 
continue on the morning of April 20 with several student 
groups gathering in various sections of the city. 
 
Embassy Actions 
--------------- 
 
4.  (C) The Ambassador met with Minister of Trade Ivonne Baki 
and Ambassador-designate to the US Mauricio Pozo on April 20 
and accompanied them to the Presidential residence.  They 
urged the President to consider taking dramatic steps to 
signal reconciliation, to include: convincing ex-President 
Abdala Bucaram, whose presence has destabilized the political 
situation, to leave the country; announcing a Cabinet of 
reconciliation to replace hard-line Ministers (of Government 
and Foreign Affairs) with moderates; go on television 
immediately to urge reconciliation; and reach out to 
international organizations, to possibly include the OAS, to 
enlist help in building a new judicial system. 
 
5.  The Ambassador emphasized that it was imperative for the 
President to act now, not just to help himself, but for the 
good of the country.  In a conciliatory television address, 
the President should emphasize that he had heard the people 
and their concerns, that he is glad the people are involved, 
that a peaceful solution must be found, and that the Cabinet 
will be opening space for dialogue.  The President should 
also say that his Foreign Minister's efforts to enlist 
support from international organizations to help resolve the 
court issue.  The President said he had already sent 
intermediaries to opposition leaders (including Nebot in 
Guayquil), however the Ambassador emphasized that he needed 
to call Bucaram personally, and convince him to leave, as 
soon as possible.  The President sent Baki to meet with Quito 
mayor Paco Moncayo (ID) and Pozo meet with prefect Ramiro 
Gonzalez to ask for a call for calm.  Baki would also call 
Guayaquil mayor Jaime Nebot (PSC) though the Guayaquil 
situation is much more in hand. 
 
Government Response 
------------------- 
 
6.  (U) Government Spokesperson Carlos Polit indicated on 
April 19 that the President has no intention of resigning. 
During the height of the April 19 evening protests, Ivan Ona, 
Presidential Secretary of Communication, publicly stated that 
the government is ready to form a "government of 
conciliation."  Oscar Ayerve, Minister of Government, said on 
April 19 that he believed the public discontent was due to 
the need to form a new Supreme Court.  Ayerve said that the 
responsibility for resolving the situation was now in the 
hands of Congress. 
 
7.  (U) Renan Borbua, a Patriotic Society Party leader and 
cousin of the President, told media that beginning in the 
evening of April 19, buses filled with Gutierrez supporters 
would be leaving coastal cities for Quito.  This travel is 
reportedly financed by the Ministry of Social Welfare. 
Evangelical indigenous that had marched in Quito earlier on 
April 19 to support the President, were no longer in the city 
center during the evening avoiding feared clashes with 
anti-government protesters. 
 
Vice President 
-------------- 
 
8.  (U) VP Palacio issued a statement in "solidarity with the 
Ecuadorian people" at noon on April 20, and called on the 
police and military to "respect the democratic role they have 
played historically." 
 
Congress 
-------- 
 
9.  (C) On April 20, 52 opposition members of Congress (PSC, 
ID, Pachakutik, MPD and some independents) left the session 
to reconvene elsewhere, to vote out Congress president 
Quintana and then turn to declaring President Gutierrez 
mentally unfit to serve.  On April 19, the president of 
Congress, Omar Quintana (PRE), blocked the opposition parties 
(PSC, ID, and PK) from approving a mechanism to designate the 
new Supreme Court justices.  Quintana did not include the 
Organic Law on Judicial Functions in the day's agenda 
because, he said, there was no report for a first debate over 
the bill.  The ordinary session began at 10H50, and quickly 
disintegrated into chaos.  Quintana closed the session at 
13H30.  Quintana said that the Civil and Penal Commission, 
led by Sandra Sandoval (PRE), would present the document in 
an extraordinary session at 16H00 on April 20 for debate. 
PolOff spoke with Sandoval on the morning of April 20, 
however, and she said there would be no report today. 
 
Military and Police 
------------------- 
 
10.  (C) Early on April 20, Radio Luna spread the rumor that 
the military high command had withdrawn its support from the 
President.  The 31 members of the military high command met 
until the early hours of April 20 at the Ministry of Defense. 
 A public declaration from the high command is expected. 
Commander General of the police Jorge Poveda resigned on the 
morning of April 20 stating he did not want to be a part of 
confrontations with protesters.  It is reported that General 
Marc Cuvero Velez will be his replacement. 
 
Third Party Efforts 
------------------- 
 
11.  (U) PolChief met with Nestor Herrera Heredia, President 
of the Episcopal Conference of the Catholic Church (CEE), on 
April 19 which has offered to facilitate dialogue between the 
President and opposition.  The CEE issued a statement on 
April 19 calling for:  1) putting capable and honorable 
magistrates, independent of any political party, in the 
courts; 2) respecting the division and independence of the 
government branches to guarantee against the abuse of power; 
3) ridding political parties of opportunities; 4) permitting 
a wider participation of social movements in resolving 
conflicts.  No direct meetings between the government and 
opposition have taken place. 
 
Next Steps 
---------- 
 
--RSO will continue to monitor the security situation. 
Several tripwires have already been reached, however, there 
have been no known direct threats or incidents involving 
AmCits. 
--All non-essential activities will be curtailed to include 
TDY. 
 
--RSO will set a 20H00 curfew. 
 
--Liberal Administrative Leave will go into effect for the 
afternoon of April 20 as well as for April 21. 
 
--CONS will be sending out an updated warden message to 
AmCits. 
 
--CONS will review F77 reports. 
 
--The Consulate will be closed to the public until the 
situation improves. 
 
--No country clearances will be issued until further notice. 
 
--POL will reach out to Congress to urge restraint and 
respect for the Constitution. 
KENNEY