April 21, 2005

QUITO, Ecuador – The Ecuadorian Evangelical Confraternity (CEE) and the Christian Political Reflection Forum criticized the support that the Evangelical Indigenous Federation of Ecuador (FEINE) gave the President Lucio Gutierrez government.

In a statement, the CEE emphasized that the "FEINE and its leaders do not represent the majority of Evangelical Churches and organizations in Ecuador." It indicated that the "actions and political statements made by FEINE are its exclusive responsibility and therefore the positions assumed by that organization do not involve Evangelical Churches."

It then stated that "we Churches, organizations, pastors and Evangelical leaders are indignant that Evangelical indigenous brothers are used for degrading political purposes."

It added that the political crisis that is wracking the country "whose effects have generated a profound economic and social instability, is the responsibility of the Gutierrez government and the elite that govern us."

"We lobby Col. Gutierrez, the National Congress and the Judicial Branch to hear the voice of the people, which is sovereign," said the statement from the Confraternity.

We call the Ecuadorian people and the Churches to reflect, to pray and to take action in favour of peace," concluded the statement, signed by Pastor Estuardo Lopez, president of the Ecuadorian Evangelical Confraternity and Jose Egas, coordinator of the Political Reflection Forum.

The crisis in Ecuador, which has been going on for more than a week and which has resulted in tumultuous street manifestations in favour and against Guterriez, some demanding his resignation, really began last December 8 when parliament, at the initiative of the president removed 27 of 31 Supreme Court Magistrates.

The re-structuring of the Supreme Court was considered unconstitutional by the opposition. The situation was further aggravated when the new Supreme Judges annulled several processes for corruption involving former President Abdala Bucaram and Gustavo Noboa and former vice president Alberto Dahik. President Gutierrez once again removed the Supreme Court last Friday but the 100-member, highly fragmented Congress has not yet decided on new Supreme court magistrates.

The situation has polarized the population, as is clearly demonstrated by the recent tensions between the Evangelical Confraternity and the FEINE.

Latin American and Caribbean Communication Agency (ALC)