February 17, 2005

QUITO, Ecuador – The Evangelical Confraternity of Ecuador (CEE) called on people to uphold the Constitution and lobbied on the government and the opposition to dialogue and reconcile given the difficult political situation in this Andean nation.

In declaration published Tuesday it said this is necessary in order to ensure national peace and tranquility. Ecuador will never progress if we live in constant political and juridical insecurity, it affirmed.

"We strongly condemn the attacks and insults that the government and the opposition publish in different media, seeking grassroots support in favor of their interests, by manipulating the freedom of conscience of Ecuadorians, said the CEE.

"We are tired of hearing how they insult and denigrate political rivals out of hatred, revenge or disagreement with the way the political and economic power is divided up," said the document.

"The police and the government, in their respective areas, have the obligation to identify and condemn the authors of persecutions, attacks and threats that several citizens have suffered for raising their voices against the current political situation," it said.

"We still have time to stop the violence from growing and to stop the foundation of the Ecuadorian state from being undermined, as has unfortunately taken place in neighboring countries," warned the Evangelical body.

The declaration laments the fact that "despite the fact that nearly two months have gone by since a group of politicians and parties disrupted the nation's institutionalism, the authors of this act have shown no interest in making amends, despite the fact that many voices have been raised to demand a return to constitutionality, including our own."

The statement, signed by CEE President Estuardo J. López, concluded by warning: "Let us not forget that the governments and governors who identify ourselves as Christians that in a day, not far from now, we will have to render accounts for all our words and deeds before God's Court."

Latin American and Caribbean Communication Agency