[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14933]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          CONCERNS FOR ECUADOR

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DAVID RIVERA

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 21, 2012

  Mr. RIVERA. Mr. Speaker, I am gravely concerned about the 
deteriorating human rights situation, democratic shortcomings, and 
increased drug trafficking in Ecuador.
  Corruption, inefficiency, and political influence have plagued the 
Ecuadorian judiciary for many years. In a referendum held in May 2011, 
President Rafael Correa obtained a mandate for constitutional reforms 
that could significantly increase government powers to constrain media 
and influence the appointment and dismissal of judges. President Correa 
continues to weaken the democratic electoral process by appointing 
government supporters as authorities in all branches of government.
  Ecuador's Criminal Code has provisions that restrict freedom of 
expression and government officials use these laws against the ruling 
party's critics. The ``desacato'' (lack of respect) clause enables the 
Ecuadorian government to imprison and prosecute anyone who offends the 
president or a government official.
  President Correa has taken action to strengthen trade relations with 
Iran, a U.S.- designated State Sponsor of Terrorism. Iran has reduced 
tariffs for seven Ecuadorian products as well as signed an agreement to 
supply oil products during 2012 and 2013 to Ecuador. President Correa 
has expressed his desire to continue trading with Iran and bilateral 
visits between Correa and Iranian dictator Mahmoud Ahmadinejad occur 
frequently.
  With its location between the two largest cocaine producing countries 
in the world, Peru and Colombia, Ecuador is a major transit country for 
narcotics. Ecuador's porous borders and increased participation in the 
drug trade makes the country very vulnerable to organized crime. 
Counternarcotics cooperation with the United States is and should 
remain a major focus of U.S. assistance to Ecuador.
  Recently I met with Sociedad Ecuatoriana del Exterior (SEDE), an 
organization dedicated to fostering freedom and democracy in Ecuador 
and promoting the wellbeing of Ecuadorian-American citizens. I am 
asking for unanimous consent to submit for the Record the attached 
letter. This letter provides a detailed outline of the Ecuadorian 
government's failure to protect the fundamental human rights of its 
people.
  It is critical that we pay close attention to the actions of the 
Ecuadorian government as they silence political opposition, rig 
elections, and strengthen ties with Iran.

                            Sociedad Ecuatoriana Del Exterior,

                                       Doral, FL, August 13, 2012.
     Hon. David Rivera,
     U.S. Conqressman.
       Dear Mr. Rivera: Sociedad Ecuatoriana del Exterior (SEDE), 
     in an effort to be faithful to our freedom and democracy 
     principles, considered a must to let you know that there have 
     been very serious fundamental human rights violations in 
     Ecuador, which are listed right below.
       1. Freedom of expression have been severely limited 
     promoting absurd and unsubstantiated judgments against 
     prestigious national newspapers such as--``El Universol'' 
     magazines private property confiscations, such as 
     ``Vanguard'' Magazine, and the closure of radio and 
     television stations opposed to the Ecuadorian Government, 
     such as the closing of Radio Morena, a community managed, 
     government opposed radio station.
       The electoral process to choose, not only a new president 
     but also Assembly Members, and new Ecuadorian authorities has 
     been null and void from its very beginning when the 
     government simulating knowledge contests, just to end up 
     appointing government supporter as authorities in all 
     branches of government. That, in addition to disqualifying 
     the legally registered political parties due to mistakes made 
     by the National Electoral Council in a clear attempt to have 
     no political opponents in the coming presidential election.
       3. The Ecuadorian government has declared Delaware, Nevada, 
     Wyoming and Florida, as ``tax havens'', therefore seeking to 
     be able force Ecuadorian-Americans in the U.S. to pay taxes 
     in Ecuador for corporations registered in these states and in 
     Ecuador.
       4. As Ecuadorian-Americans committed to freedom and 
     democracy, we are very concerned about the Ecuadorian 
     government's announcement on `strengthening'' of trade 
     relations with Iran, including the willingness to open a 
     trade office in that country and start ``commercial 
     missions'' when Iran is considered a country that promotes 
     terrorism and money laundering.
       5. All money remittances from Ecuadorians living abroad, 
     sent to Ecuador will be channeled through the Central Bank of 
     Ecuador and then ``after making a few bucks'' to the final 
     destination, thus, restricting the speed of the process in 
     order, or so they say, to record them and tax these 
     transactions.
       All points outlined above, highly affect the already low 
     life quality and business of Ecuadorians living in Ecuador, 
     and also the lives of those Ecuadorian-Americans and 
     residents who live in this great country, who are a part of 
     it and who have sworn to love, respect and defend it, with 
     our lives if it is necessary, as we already have done in the 
     past.
       Now, and very respectfully, we would like to ask you to 
     share this document with your colleagues, and for its formal 
     presentation to the Congress of the United States of America.
           Sincerely yours,
                                                  Carlos R. Lange,
     SEDE President.

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