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Country reports on human rights practices for 1999 volume II

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This trend was particularly notable in Latin America, where elected governments in Ecuador and Paraguay confronted attempted coups or instability, and an elected government in Peru undermined democratic governance by concentrating power in the
executive. In Ecuador, what could have been a disastrous coup became instead an unfortunate but ultimately constitutional succession. Indigenous activists, with the support of elements of the military, occupied the Ecuadorian Congress building, demanded the resignation of President Jamil Mahuad and attempted to replace him with a three-person junta that included an indigenous leader, a former Supreme Court judge, and a military officer. To end the institutional crisis,President Mahuad asked Ecuadorians to support Vice President Gustavo Noboa as his constitutional successor. The National Assembly confirmed the change in presidents the same day.In Paraguay, President Raul Cubas Grau, a protege of retired General and coup plotter Lino Oviedo, sought toundercut the constitutional authority of the legislative and judicial branches. In March, Cubas' foe and Vice President Luis Maria Argana was assassinated, allegedly by Oviedo supporters.On March 28, after widespread demonstrations against Cubas and Oviedo, Cubas resigned, and Oviedo fled Paraguay. Senate president Luis Gonzalez Macchi assumed the presidency, forming a national unity Government that included, for the first time in 50 years, the two major opposition parties. By the end of the year, however, the Government faced economic difficulties,rural unrest, and increasing opposition.
This trend was particularly notable in Latin America, where elected governments in Ecuador and Paraguay confronted attempted coups or instability, and an elected government in Peru undermined democratic governance by concentrating power in the executive. In Ecuador, what could have been a disastrous coup became instead an unfortunate but ultimately constitutional succession. Indigenous activists, with the support of elements of the military, occupied the Ecuadorian Congress building, demanded the resignation of President Jamil
Mahuad and attempted to replace him with a three-person junta that included an indigenous leader, a former Supreme Court judge, and a military officer. To end the institutional crisis,President Mahuad asked Ecuadorians to support Vice President Gustavo Noboa as his constitutional successor. The National Assembly confirmed the change in presidents the same day.In Paraguay, President Raul Cubas Grau, a protege of retired General and coup plotter Lino Oviedo, sought toundercut the constitutional authority of the legislative and judicial branches. In March, Cubas' foe and Vice President Luis Maria Argana was assassinated, allegedly by Oviedo supporters.On March 28, after widespread demonstrations against Cubas and Oviedo, Cubas resigned, and Oviedo fled Paraguay. Senate president Luis Gonzalez Macchi assumed the presidency, forming
a national unity Government that included, for the first time in 50 years, the two major opposition parties. By the end of the year, however, the Government faced economic difficulties,rural unrest, and increasing opposition.

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Availability

KP 1.00018

KP 1 GIL c

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Call Number

KP 1 INT c

Publisher

Washington : U.S. Government Printing Office., 2000

Collation

27 cm

Language

English

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Classification

KP 1

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Subject(s)

Human rights

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