Ousted Ecuadorian President Gutierrez Exiled in Brazil Following Mass Uprising

Ecuador's ousted president Lucio Gutierrez was flown to Brazil Sunday where he will live in exile after being forced out of office last week.

Gutierrez had been holed up in the Brazilian ambassador's residence in Quito for four days following Congress's decision to remove him from office amid massive anti-government protests.

He left the residence by the back entrance Sunday and was taken by a police vehicle to a helicopter. He was accompanied by his wife and one of two daughters.

In a letter requesting asylum released to reporters, Gutierrez wrote: "I feel personally threatened and unable to guarantee my liberty and physical integrity, as well as of my wife's and of my daughters."

Gutierrez took office in January 2003 as a populist, anti-corruption reformer but soon angered many Ecuadorians by adopting economic austerity measures. Many also were upset by growing accusations of nepotism and corruption in his inner circle.

He dissolved the Supreme Court a week ago in hopes of placating protesters who accused him of stacking the court in his favor. But the move backfired and set off even larger protests.

After removing Gutierrez from office, lawmakers named former Vice President Alfredo Palacio as Ecuador's new president.

His supporters contend he was removed from power illegally, and the Organization of American States has decided to send a high-level diplomatic delegation to investigate whether Gutierrez's removal was constitutional.

He is the third president of Ecuador to be removed from office in eight years.

* Chris Jochnick, co-founder of the Center for Economic and Social Rights and an adjunct Professor of Human Rights at Columbia University.
* Patricio Pazmino, Executive Director, Center for Economic and Social Rights.

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