DATE=1/27/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ECUADOR-INDIANS (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-258488
BYLINE=BILL RODGERS
DATELINE=QUITO
CONTENT=
INTRO: The leader of Ecuador's main Indian group has
warned of protests if he is arrested for his role in
last weekend's overthrow of President Jamil Mahuad. As
VOA's Bill Rodgers reports from Quito, Ecuadorian
prosecutors have begun legal proceedings to arrest the
civilians involved in the coup.
TEXT: Antonio Vargas, who heads the Confederation of
Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador, CONAIE, says he
has no fear of being arrested. Speaking to VOA at his
headquarters in Quito, Mr. Vargas warned if he is
detained, there will be an uprising by his supporters.
/// VARGAS SPANISH ACT ///
He said I am not worried about me, I'm worried about
what could happen to the country. He said: there is a
great solidarity behind me throughout the provinces,
and if I am jailed my supporters will go to jail with
me - and may launch another uprising even stronger than
the one before.
It was a massive Indian uprising last week that
triggered the events that led the military to oust
President Jamil Mahuad. Thousands of Indians last
Friday seized the Congress and other government
buildings in Quito - prompting then-Armed Forces Chief
Carlos Mendoza to call for Mr. Mahuad to resign. Mr.
Vargas, along with General Mendoza and former Supreme
Court Judge Carlos Solorzano formed a civic-military
junta that declared itself in power.
But the junta lasted only a few hours. It collapsed
after General Mendoza resigned and threw his support -
along with that of the rest of the military high
command -- behind Vice President Gustavo Noboa. Mr.
Noboa assumed the presidency on Saturday - and was
formally inaugurated on Wednesday.
The Noboa government wants to open a dialogue with Mr.
Vargas and the CONAIE to discuss ways of addressing
their demands - including land rights, bilingual
education, and autonomy. Interior Minister Francisco
Huerta told foreign reporters his government is
sympathetic to the problems facing Ecuador's Indians.
/// HUERTA SPANISH ACT ///
He said we have to meet with Mr. Vargas. He said we
understand the reasons for their uprising, but we
oppose their methods. The Interior Minister went on to
say he has always been close to the popular sectors,
and pledged not to betray their ideals.
/// OPT /// The CONAIE head says he too wants to meet
with the government.
/// VARGAS SPANISH ACT ///
He said the prospects for productive dialogue depends
on the government, not with us. He went on to
criticize former President Mahuad for offering
promises, not action, in meeting CONAIE's demands.
Ecuador's Indians represent close to one-third of the
country's 12-and-one half million people. Made up of
11 ethnic groups, the Indians have traditionally been
marginalized, and make up the poorest sectors of
society. /// END OPT ///
Meantime, Ecuadorian prosecutors have called for the
arrest of Mr. Vargas, Mr. Solorzano and two lawmakers
who supported the civic-military junta. Military
authorities have already detained 12 officers among the
300 accused of supporting the coup. However, no
charges have been made against General Mendoza - who
instead has been praised by President Noboa for his
decision to abandon the junta and preserve what the
government has called Ecuador's constitutional order.
(Signed)
NEB/WFR/KL
27-Jan-2000 09:44 AM EDT (27-Jan-2000 1444 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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