FACTORS, PEOPLE AND GROUPS AFFECTING THE STABILITY OF THE PLAZA REGIME

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R007400450006-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 25, 1999
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: April 9, 1951
• Content Type: REPORT

I#T"L~CFAX 2
Approved For Release 1999/09/09: CIA-R Q0457R007400450006-9
CENTRA I TELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT NO.
91YFORIMATION REPORT CD NO,
SUBJECT Factors, People and Croups Affecting the
stability of the Plaza Regime
NO OF PAGES
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
1. .anuel Diaz Granados, T'inister of Defense, gave orders for certain officers
to be on duty on the evening of 26, Larch, at which time, it was :neared,
arned forces led by Carlos 1 ancheno Cajas r:ould attack the units
garrisoned in Quito, and action would be taken in Riobamba, Ambato, and
Guayaquil. The L inister of Defense had been informed that Lancheno and
his followers were not in their homes, and it was believed that action
had been planned. It later becarn apparent that their absence was due
to their plan to create small disturbances two or three times a week, in
order to harass and sufficiently confuse the government in preparation
for the revolutionary attack.
2. Information available to the 1.:inistr7;-of Defense indicates that many officers
and troops, particularly in Quito, Amhato, and Riobexnba, have promised to
assist T,ancheno?
In Guayaquil members of the Concentracion de Fuerzas Populaces (CFP) have
been holding "lightning; meetings" of the same type utilized by the
Communists in 1944 against the government of Dr. Arroyo del Rio. Only a
few peonle participate in these meetings or demonstrations, designed to
harass g ?vernnent officials, spread pro-'aganda, or create unrest in
general; and after such demonstrations, the participants disperse rapidly.
From statements made by Dr. Rafael Coello C:errano, a CF T leader imprisoned
in Guayaquil, it appears that the following plan has been adopted: to
begin a revolution in Quito with the immediate objQctive of liberating
Dr. Carlos ..1uevara T.:oreno, c.ho would then proceed immediately to Guayaquil
to direct action tyre.%,-
In connection with newspaper accounts of plans to assassinate President
!Dale Plaza Lasso, a member of the C1? has indicated that this was actually
planned b, a Liberal and Cocialist group. One of those involved was Luis
-emDortigui, a Socialist,
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 Approved For Release 1 9M A-RDP82-00457R007400450006-9
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6. The wife of Dr, Carlos Guevara Moreno was in Quito during the week of
Ii-1O Larch. She has stated that Jose Maria Plaza, the President's brother,
has threatened to liquidate Guevara. She further stated that the director
of the penitentiary had informed her that twice Jose L`.aria Plaza, when
intoxicated, had attempted to enter the prison at night, but was refused
admittance. The director of the prison discussed this with the President,
who has given orders not to admit his brother into the prison at any time.
Doe. 7. A leaflet was published on 9 March and circulated by the CDTP in Guayaquil,
denouncing the grave crime against Guevara, their great leader, and urging
all l:cuadorans to unite in protest against a government which closes its
ey:s *o infamy and crime.
.. An open letter dated 12 Larch l95l, Quito Penitentiary, addressed to President
Plaza by Guevara, has reportedly resulted in increased dissatisfaction
with the present national government in many sectors in Guayaquil. (B-2)
In this letter Guevara denounces the President for the unlawful imprison-
ment of patriotic citizens, for ignoring the mishandling of funds b`r the
Junta do leconstruccion, and for taking no measures to improve the economic
conditions of the people. The letter further states that the President has
not even hesitated to enlist the help of Marxists, thus betraying the in-
ternational future of Ecuador and her position in continental defense. In
conclusion Guevara writes that liberty and justice, scorned and exploited
by the President, will triumph and once again be er; joyed by the Ecuadoran
people. (Doc.)
Carlos Gil Quosada, uncle of Enrique Gil Gilbert, a Communist; close friend
of the Minister of Defense; and also a frequent visitor of Rafael Coello
Serrano, a CFP leader imprisoned in Guayaquil; has stated that the Minister
of Defense, Col. Octavio Ochoa Ochoa, and Lt. Col. Alberto Mittman are
planning a revolution against the government.** These officers reportedly
have the support of Army units throughout cuador except those in Riobamba,
Cuenca, and Guayaquil, According to Carlos Gil Quecada, the President's
mother has stated that she wants her son to renounce the presidency. The
President, therefore, is morally assisting the plans of Diaz, Ochoa,, and
Mittman through his mother.
10. Another generally reliable source has stated that he does not believe that
a revolution led by Diaz, Ochoa, and Littman is an immediate possibility.
This source points out that the only action which the Minister of Defense
would probably take would be to lead a counter-revolution in the event that
an attempt is made to overthrow the government. A counter-revolution led
by the Minister of Defense would probably receive the support of the
Conservatives. 25X1A
Conment: The source of this paragraph is the same as that of
paragraph two in The information has been repeated in order
to indicate the origin of source's information.
4i6limomwnt: This tends to confirm Captain Avila's statement reported
CONFtDENTIAl.
Approved For Release 1999/09/09 : CIA-RDP82-00457R007400450006-9