POLITICAL UNREST IN ECUADOR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R004000290002-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 26, 1999
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: December 20, 1949
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 1999/0@
[ InAt0457R0040002900
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CLASSIFICATION S, 'T
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT NO.
INFORMATION REPORT CD NO.
COUNTRY Ecuador
SUBJECT Political Unrest in Ecuador
PLACE 25X1 A Retum (IA UbraTy
ACQUIRED
20TROF IN
1. Government investigators in Ecuador are convinced that revolutionary
plotting has almost reached the boiling point and olaim to have heard
that a well-armed group consisting of retired servicemen, active duty
personnel and civilians are prepared to attack government forces at any
moment. The government has adopted the attitude that a coup -may as well
be faced now as later and was anticipating action during the night 18-19
December. Minister of Defense Manuel Diaz Granados believed that a poten-
tial coup would represent the joined forces of the various opposition
movements, notably that of Carlos Guevara Moreno and Carlos I1anoheno,
and possibly a group formed by Cesar Alfaro who is suspected of having
activated a movement against the government. According to Galarza.
Secretary of Congress, Alfaro is up to something. The Defense Iinister
also suspects Col. Felix Vega Davila of being involved in these plots.
2. Major Jose Suarez, who oommmnds considerable respect in the Quito tank
unit, was ordered by the Minister of Defense to lead that unit in any
attack against the government.
DATE DISTR, 20 Dec. 1949
NO. OF PAGES
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3. The government reportedly is baiting the opposition groups by granting
24-hour liberty passes to approximately half the enlisted personnel in
Quito. Plans had also been mado to have tanks on standby status at the
L'ariscal Sucre base, but they were abandoned in the hope that the opposi-
tion would think that the government was not informed about the possi-
bility of an immediate attack. The government thinks that a coup would
break in either the Mariseal Sucre Artillery group or the Vencedores
battalion since their arsenals could be utilized by insurgents to gain
strength for an attack against the tank base.
Document No.
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No Change In Class.
El Declassified
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Approved For Release 1CgMIDicSGlq-82-00457R004000290002-8