OAS Commission on Human Rights Holds Emergency Hearing / Wrongly Jailed Ecuadorian Financier's Safety Feared

Washington (PROTEXT) - Dr. Aspiazu's Attorneys Call Shift to Violent Prison 'LatestAttack In Campaign of Intimidation' The Organization of American States (OAS) Commission on HumanRights held an emergency hearing late yesterday in response tofears that the life of Fernando Alfredo Aspiazu Seminario may bein danger. Abducted by the Ecuadorian military in July, Dr.Aspiazu was recently moved from a minimum security facility tomaximum security Garcia Moreno Prison in Quito, one of the mostviolent prisons in Ecuador. The Ecuadorian government has offered no reason why Dr.Aspiazu was moved to the dangerous prison. A team of human rightsattorneys and one of Dr. Aspiazu's daughters presented evidenceto OAS authorities, headed by Ambassador Valencia, DeputySecretary of the Commission, and demanded his immediate release. Maria de Los Angeles Aspiazu said, "It is a violation of boththe new Ecuadorian constitution and the InterAmerican Conventionon Human Rights for an individual who has not been convicted of acrime to be incarcerated with people who have already beenconvicted and sentenced. Once again, my father's constitutionalrights have been violated." Dr. Aspiazu was kidnapped by the military in July from acourtroom where he was seeking an injunction preventing thegovernment from seizing his bank. He was subsequently detained ona military base in private quarters. Aspiazu has recentlypresented evidence that campaign finance and military procurementlaws were broken by top Ecuadorian government civil and militaryofficials. An elite Ecuadorian police unit transferred Dr.Aspiazu to the Garcia Moreno Prison last weekend. "It is absolutely unconscionable to put Dr. Aspiazu's life onthe line because he spoke out against corruption," said Aspiazuattorney Carlos Vargas. "Dr. Aspiazu is now held with the mostviolent convicted criminals that Ecuador has, although he hasnever been convicted of a single charge. This is the latestattack in a campaign of intimidation." Attorney Herman Perez-Loose added: "Our country needsinvestment and economic partners. How can we attract foreigncapital when there is no rule of law in Ecuador, when businessleaders who criticize the government are systematicallyattacked?" Aspiazu's legal team expressed hope that the OAS would issue apreliminary injunction against the Ecuadorian government forAspiazu's immediate release pending the outcome of a fairjudicial process. "Something must be done immediately," saidPerez-Loose. "Today he sits in solitary confinement at a violentfacility designed for convicted criminals while his human rightsare being violated." It is widely believed that Dr. Aspiazu's military abductionwithout a warrant and subsequent treatment is in retaliation forcriticism of the government by media organizations owned by Dr.Aspiazu, or for the filing of injunction proceedings against theEcuadorian government by Banco del Progreso S.A., of which Dr.Aspiazu is a majority shareholder. In addition to his bankownership, Dr. Aspiazu had a majority ownership stake in SI TV, alocal television station based in Guayaquil, and owns ElTelegrafo, Ecuador's oldest newspaper, which have been criticalof Ecuadorian government policies and specifically its economicpolicies. In addition, Dr. Aspiazu was until recently themajority owner of the largest private electric utility inEcuador, EMELEC. In June, 1999, EMELEC commenced proceedings inthe United States District Court for the District of Columbiaseeking judgment against the Government of Ecuador in the sum ofover $800 million on an international arbitration award and forbreaches by the Government of the electric concession agreementwith EMELEC. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Aspiazu was abducted inGuayaquil.

Background and Chronology 1998-99: Ecuadorian bank crisis March-July, 1999: Regulatory proceedings regarding Banco del Progreso June, 1999: EMELEC sues Government for $800 million June, 1999: Government terminates negotiations over re-capitalizing Banco del Progreso July, 1999: Aspiazu files for injunction against governmenttaking over the bank July 12, 1999: Court hearing on injunction July 12, 1999: Military surrounds courthouse and abducts Dr. Aspiazu (without a warrant) from courtroom over protests ofjudge July 14, 1999: Government charges Aspiazu criminally withBank's failure to pay taxes July, 1999: Government seizes Banco del Progreso July 28, 1999: Mrs. Aspiazu appeals to OAS for human rights intervention July-November, 1999: Dr. Aspiazu is held in minimum security detention facility November, 1999: Dr. Aspiazu announces that President Mahuadand his campaign did not report a legal $3 million contribution.Major national scandal. Warrant issued for campaign manager's arrest November, 1999: Dr. Aspiazu calls attention to military procurement scandal during war with Peru: current Ecuadorian Minister of Defense approved inflated payments for non-functional arms from Argentina December 4, 1999: Dr. Aspiazu is moved to maximum securityprison ots Original Text Service: Coudert Brothers, Lawyers forDr. Aspiazu Internet: http://www.newsaktuell.de Contact: CarlosMendez-Penate of Coudert Brothers, (USA) 212-626-4424; or JeffHannah of National Strategies, Inc., (USA) 202-429-8744, forCoudert Brothers

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