DATE=1/27/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ECUADOR ARRESTS (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-258505
BYLINE=ALLEN GRAHAM
DATELINE=QUITO
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Authorities in Ecuador have arrested hundreds
of army officers on charges of overthrowing president
Jamil Mahuad last Friday. Mr. Mahuad was forced out
of office following an Indian protest, and replaced by
his vice president, Gustavo Noboa. We have the latest
from reporter Allen Graham in Quito.
TEXT: The new head of the joint military command,
General Telmo Sandoval, confirms the arrest of four
colonels -- Lucio Gutierrez, Fausto Cobo, Gustavo
Lalama, and Jorge Brito - and 12 lieutenant colonels.
General Sandoval says 300 junior officers have also
been detained for investigation, but have not been
charged
The colonels and lieutenant colonels face between six
to eight years in prison if found guilty of charges
ranging from insurrection to insubordination. General
Sandoval says they will receive fair trials and - in
his words -- full respect for their physical safety.
Last Friday, the four colonels and hundreds of Indians
led an insurrection of young army officers to seize
Congress and proclaim a new governing junta to fight
corruption and work to improve the lives of the poor.
The junta was initially comprised of Colonel
Gutierrez, Indian leader Antonio Vargas, and former
Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos Solorzano. The
military high command threw its support to the
civilian-military junta, with General Carlos Mendoza -
then chief of the armed forces --taking Colonel
Gutierrez's spot on the ruling council. Mr. Mahuad was
forced to abandon power.
But the next day, under pressure from Washington and
more than 20 regional commanders who rejected the
overthrow of civilian rule, General Mendoza disbanded
the junta. He turned over his post as the joint
military commander to General Sandoval, and ceded
power to Vice President Gustavo Noboa, who was sworn
in Wednesday (Signed)
NEB/ag/gm
27-Jan-2000 18:31 PM EDT (27-Jan-2000 2331 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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