Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12439 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/06 1992/12
1993/10
1996/11
1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ASEC AORC AMGT APER AU AF AS ACBAQ AFGHANISTAN AFIN AR AE AMED AEMR AJ ADANA AG ATRN ADPM APECO AGAO AX AM AL ADCO AA AECL AADP ABUD AMEX ACAO ANET AODE ASCH AY APEC AID AORG ASEAN AFSI AFSN AINF AGR AROC AO AFFAIRS ASIG ABLD ASUP AND ARM ARF AC AQ ATFN ACOA ADM AUC AGMT AMBASSADOR AMG ACABQ ASEX AFU AER ALOW AZ APCS AVERY AN AGRICULTURE AORL ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AMCHAMS AIT ACS
BR BA BD BL BTIO BO BF BU BEXP BX BILAT BRUSSELS BK BN BM BT BY BIDEN BG BH BB BE BP BC BBSR BTIU BWC BMGT
CH CY CA CU CS CO CVIS CPAS CMGT CE COUNTER CASC CR COUNTRY CJAN COUNTERTERRORISM CBW CNARC CG CI CWC CB CD CDC CIDA CJUS CDG CBSA CEUDA CM CLMT CAC CODEL COPUOS CIC CW CBE CHR CFED CT CONS CIA CTM CVR CF CLINTON CSW CITEL CLEARANCE COE CN CACM CDB CACS CBC CARICOM CAN CONDOLEEZZA CV CITT COM CKGR CARSON CROS CAPC CTR CL CICTE CIS
DR DHS DEA DTRA DA DJ DPRK DEPT DO DOMESTIC DAO DCM DE DK DEAX DOE DS DEFENSE DISENGAGEMENT DOD
ECON EFIN ELAB ETRD EIND EC EINV EAGR ENRG ETTC EAID EPET ELTN EWWT EAIR EFIS EMIN EG EU ER EUN EPA ENVI EXTERNAL ECPS ENGR ETRC ECIN EN ES ELN ET EI EFINECONCS EINT ETRDEINVTINTCS ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EZ ETRO EDU ETRN EFIM EFTA EAIG EK EUREM EURN ECONCS ECONOMICS ENVR ELECTIONS EAP ERD ENIV ECONOMY ESA EINN ECONOMIC EIAR EXBS ECA ECUN EINDETRD EUR EREL ENGY EAIDS ENERG EINVEFIN EUC EINVETC EUMEM EINVECONSENVCSJA ESENV ETRA ECONEFIN ETC ECIP ENNP ERNG ETRDECONWTOCS EUNCH ECINECONCS EXIM EEPET
FR FREEDOM FTA FJ FARC FI FTAA FAC FBI FOREIGN FOI FDA FM FAO FAS FINR FOR FINANCE FMLN FO FISO
GM GV GOI GT GY GOV GL GAERC GH GG GA GR GF GCC GE GZ GTIP GANGS GERARD GLOBAL GAZA GTMO
HA HK HR HUMAN HO HU HILLARY HUMOR HI HURI HEBRON HSTC HYMPSK
IR IS IZ IAEA IO IAHRC ID IPR IC IT IRAQI IWC IN IRS IL ISLAMISTS IV ICAO INDO ITPHUM ITPGOV ITALIAN ICRC INTERPOL IQ IMO IBET INR ITRA INTERNAL ICJ INMARSAT ICTY IMF ILO INRA INRO ISRAELI IEA INRB ITALY IRC ITU IACI IBRD IIP IRAJ ILC INTELSAT IDA ICTR IA IZPREL IGAD IF IEFIN IDP ITF ISRAEL
JA JUS JP JO JOSEPH JM JAMES JOHNNIE JOHN
KN KCRM KOMC KNNPMNUC KIPR KPAL KWBG KSCA KFRD KNNP KUNR KTIP KWMN KSTC KFLU KOLY KISL KPAO KMDR KJUS KDEM KS KSTH KCOR KIRF KAWC KU KTFN KWAC KNPP KERG KSEO KACT KHLS KPRP KTDB KZ KFLO KBIO KGHG KTIA KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KCRCM KE KOCI KPKO KHDP KIFR KCIP KDRG KRVC KVPR KV KMPI KCFC KIDE KICC KSUM KGIT KCFE KG KBTS KSEP KGIC KPAI KHSA KTLA KTEX KFSC KPLS KHIV KCSY KSAC KTRD KID KMRS KOM KSAF KR KMOC KNAR KIRC KBCT KSPR KFIN KBTR KJUST KNEI KAWK KGCC KMCA KREL KMFO KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KFTFN KICA KVRP KCOM KO KLIG KPIN KAID KRAD KSCI KESS KDEV KVIR KCRS KTBT KCGC KNSD KOMS KRIM KMIG KTER KDDG KPRV KRFD KHUM KREC KWMNCS KSEC KPOA KWWMN KX KCMR KPWR KCHG KRGY KPAK KWMM KRCM KWNM KPAONZ KNUC KDEMAF KNUP
LY LE LO LG LH LI LTTE LAB LOG LA LABOR LT LU
MARR MOPS MASS MCAP MTCRE MNUC MIL MX MEDIA MEPP MA MR MO MASSMNUC MPOS MU ML MAR MP MY MERCOSUR MG MD MW MK MAS MT MI MOPPS MASC MTS MLS MILI MTRE MV MEPN MAPP MTCR MEPI MCC MZ MDC MEETINGS MQADHAFI MAPS MARAD MRCRE MILITARY MC MIK MUCN
NATO NL NZ NPT NI NSF NE NU NG NAFTA NS NDP NIPP NP NPA NO NK NRR NSC NEW NH NR NA NZUS NATIONAL NSG NC NSFO NSSP NASA NT NAR NGO NW NV NPG NORAD NATOPREL
OTRA OAS OPRC OIIP OVIP OREP OPDC OMIG OEXC OPIC OSCE OFFICIALS ODIP OFDP OECD OBSP OPCW OTR OSAC OSCI ON OIC OFDA OCII OES OPAD OIE OVP OHUM OCS
PREL PGOV PK PHUM PINS PARM PA PTER PINR PREF PHSA PBTS PBIO PO POL PE PARMS PM PGIV PROG PL PAK POLITICS PORG PTBS PNAT PUNE POLICY PDOV PCI PROP PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PP PS PAO PG PY PTERE PGOF PALESTINIAN PKFK PSOE PEPR PPA PINT PMAR PRELP PSEPC PREFA PGOVE PINF PHUMPGOV PNG PMIL PGOC PFOR PF POLINT PRAM PCUL PLN PAS PHUH POGOV PHUMPREL PRL PROV PHUMBA PEL PECON PSA PGGV PNR POV PHALANAGE PARTY PGOVLO PHUS PDEM PREO PAHO PSI PINL PU PRGOV PAIGH POLITICAL PARTIES POSTS
QA
RS RU REACTION REPORT REGION RW RP RIGHTS RO RCMP RF RM RFE RSP ROBERT RICE RIGHTSPOLMIL ROOD RELATIONS RUPREL RSO
SU SNAR SO SOCI SW SENV SMIG SCUL SP SZ SK SENVKGHG SR SY SNARN SA SI SN SPCVIS SL SYRIA SF SC SWE SARS SHUM STEINBERG SG SIPRS ST SEVN SIPDIS SSA SPCE SHI SNARIZ SH SOFA SAN SNARCS SEN SYR SAARC SANC SCRS
TRGY TBIO TU TF TERRORISM TI TSPL TPHY TH TIP TW TSPA TC TO TX TZ TNGD TT TL TV TS TRSY TINT TN TURKEY TBID TD TFIN TP TAGS TK TR THPY
UNGA UN UK US UNC UNSC USUN USTR UG UP UY USEU UNESCO USPS UNMIK UZ UNHRC UNO UNAUS UNHCR UNCHR USAID UNVIE UAE USOAS UNFICYP UV UNDESCO UNEP UNDC UNCHC UNDP UNODC UNCND UNCHS UNIDROIT UNCSD UNICEF USNC UNPUOS UE
VT VE VTPREL VM VAT VZ VI VN VTIZ VC VTEG
WS WTRO WTO WTRQ WI WZ WHO WFP WBG WHA WWARD WB WA WMO WITH WMD WIPO WHTI WEU
XA XF XM XL XW XV XB XU XR XY XS XG XT XH XE XK XX XD XI XTAG XQ XZ XC
YE YM YI YMCS
ZI ZP ZB ZO ZU ZEALAND ZK ZR ZF ZOELLICK ZN ZANU ZL ZA ZJ

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 07QUITO1350, VIDEO SCANDAL EXPANDS

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07QUITO1350.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
07QUITO1350 | 2007-06-13 12:12 | 2011-04-29 17:05 | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | Embassy Quito

Appears in these articles:
http://m.elcomercio.com/wikileaks/cable.php?c=d3d9446
http://m.elcomercio.com/wikileaks/cable.php?c=45c48cc
http://m.elcomercio.com/wikileaks/cable.php?c=c9f0f89
http://m.elcomercio.com/wikileaks/cable.php?c=8f14e45

`

    VZCZCXYZ0007
    OO RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHQT #1350/01 1641219
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    O 131219Z JUN 07
    FM AMEMBASSY QUITO
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7196
    INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA PRIORITY 6712
    RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 2581
    RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ JUN 0624
    RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 1714
    RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL PRIORITY 2438
    RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
    RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 001350

    SIPDIS

    SENSITIVE
    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: TEN YEARS
    TAGS: PGOV PREL EC
    SUBJECT: VIDEO SCANDAL EXPANDS

    REF: QUITO 1182

    Classified By: PolChief Erik Hall for reasons 1.4 (b&d).

    ¶1.  (C) Summary:  Another secretly-taped video involving
    Economy Minister Ricardo Patino has become public, extending
    the controversy over an earlier video (reftel).  The new
    video dates to February, and shows President of Congress
    Jorge Cevallos discussing his efforts toward congressional
    approval of the referendum over the national constituent
    assembly.  Media and opposition assert the video reveals
    Correa government manipulation of other branches of
    government, and claim more damaging videos will follow.
    While far short of a "smoking gun," the videos convey
    unseemly back-room dealings that have put the Correa
    government on the defensive and begun to erode public
    support.  More damaging revelations are promised in coming
    weeks.  End Summary.

    Video Content

    ¶2.  (U) The video tape contains footage of a meeting between
    Patino and Cevallos in Patino's hotel room, on the evening of
    February 12, shortly before Congress approved the
    government's controversial assembly referendum proposal.
    (Note: the referendum, strenuously opposed by the opposition,
    was approved by voters on April 15 by more than 81%.)
    Christian Democratic Union (UDC) congressman Jaime Estrada
    (like Cevallos a native of Manabi province) also appears in
    the meeting, as does Patino's political advisor Quinto
    Pazmino.

    ¶3.  (U) Most of the conversation consists of Cevallos (a
    founding member of Noboa's PRIAN) describing that day's
    session of Congress and how he planned to overcome procedural
    restrictions (and his own "problems with my own party") to
    permit a vote once passage of Correa's referendum statute was
    assured.  (Note:  Cevallos followed through and the measure
    was passed in the subsequent session).  Cevallos also
    expressed his concerns about whether Lucio Gutierrez's PSP
    party could be trusted to hold to its pledge to support the
    assembly proposal.  Patino's participation in the
    conversation is limited to asking a few questions.  At one
    point Estrada changed topics and lobbied for Patino's support
    for a $100m infrastructure project in Manabi province.  Once
    the video became public, the PRIAN formally expelled Cevallos
    and the Democratic Left (ID) has joined the PSC and PRIAN in
    calling for his resignation. The UDC is reportedly planning
    to oust Estrada as well.

    Patino's Defense Lame

    ¶4.  (U) In response to blanket press interest, minister
    Patino has counter-attacked the press, claiming it is "no
    coincidence" that the video emerged on TeleAmazonas, the
    media outlet owned by Bank of Pichincha president Fidel Egas.
     Egas' decision to broadcast the video is clearly an attempt
    to thwart the government's proposed banking reform, which he
    and other banking interests vehemently oppose, according to
    Patino.  President Correa's public support for Patino,
    meanwhile, remains solid. Correa's sister Pierina, however,
    has said publicly that Patino has become a distraction to the
    government's agenda and should step down.

    Opposition Seeking "Smoking Gun"

    ¶5.  (C) PSC national president Pascual del Cioppo and PSC
    ex-congressman Luis Fernando Torres told the DCM on June 8
    that the second video would soon be released, and that others
    would follow.  The videos would demonstrate damaging
    collusion between the Correa government and other nominally
    independent branches (judiciary, embodied by Supreme
    Electoral Tribunal president Jorge Acosta; and legislative,
    represented by Cevallos) to clear the path to approving the
    April 15 referendum over a national constituent assembly.
    While this particular video falls short of offering any
    "smoking gun," these opposition members assert that it will
    compound and extend the controversy over clandestine taping
    of sensitive meetings, and could further degrade presidential
    popularity which has dipped recently.

    ¶6.  (C) Another ex-congressman from the PSC, Alfredo Serrano,
    shed some light on the provenance of the tapes.  In a meeting
    on June 12 Serrano claimed that ex-Patino aide Pazmino
    possessed multiple tapes from sensitive sessions, and had
    flogged them with opposition-supporting members of the
    economic elite.  According to Serrano, PRIAN leader Alvaro
    Noboa paid $200K for a copy of the video (originating with
    Pazmino), only to be scooped by the release of a different
    copy by media outlet TeleAmazonas days later.  Serrano
    claimed PSC credit for acquiring and releasing the first
    video.  He said other damaging videos exist and will be
    released in turn, in the hope of damaging government
    credibility in the run-up to the assembly election in
    September.  The PSC has urged other opposition leaders to let
    the press, rather than opposition politicians, lead this
    attack.
    Comment

    ¶7.  (C) Opposition members ousted from Congress are reeling
    from what they perceive to be the Correa government's
    political persecution (although they continue to garner
    little sympathy from the public).  They see Patino as an
    increasingly vulnerable surrogate for Correa.  Impeachment
    proceedings against Patino could gather steam from this, the
    second secret video featuring Patino.  But even if
    successful, impeachment does not automatically remove a
    minister, and thus far Correa has shown no inclination to
    jettison one of his most trusted confidants.

    ¶8.  (C) The ousted opposition deputies have little hope that
    the newly re-constituted Constitutional Court will rule in
    their favor, and instead plan to appeal to the IACHR (Noboa
    is reportedly funding the legal bills for that effort).
    Judging from recent conversations, they are also willing to
    contemplate any and all means to terminate his government
    prematurely.  They justify undemocratic means with the charge
    that Correa's game plan for the upcoming constituent assembly
    is "pre-cooked" and itself undemocratic.  These opposition
    members believe Correa will use his majority to advance the
    timetable for elections in early 2008, and to purge the
    constitution of "neo-liberal bias" and consolidate his
    personal power by extending the presidential period to six
    years, with re-election permitted.  While this video is not
    particularly damaging in itself, it is certainly the case
    that were a "smoking gun" video to emerge, popular support
    for the government's reform agenda could erode.
    JEWELL

`