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index-February-2007-1.html English News Blog for  Ecuador News Blog February Archive 

Excursion Ends in Death

By Shannon at 02/21/07 19:30

While riding on top of an excursion train to Japanese tourists died when the train snagged a cable which caused a post to hit them. Mitsuyoshi Matsuo, 71 from Hyogo Prefecture and Fukuyo Fijimot, 73 from Nagasaki Prefecture were also injured in the accident.

Original source: Mainichi Daily News. 2 Japanese tourists die in train accident in Ecuador

U.S. Officials Hand Over Ponce

Thirty-Six year old Christian Steven Ponce, was a suspect in the 1999 assassination of a leftist congressman and was being held in a maximum security prison. The U.S. officials handed him over to Ecuadorean authorities in Quito. He is also wanted for other killings as well.

Original source: topix.net. [404 Check: was link to http:/ / www. topix. net/ content/ ap/ 0237767298373930642131962821181289747435, anchor: Suspect Held in Ecuador Slaying ]

Venequela Backs Ecuador for OPEC

Alberto Acosta, Ecuador's Energy Minister told reporters today that they are making a bid to rejoin OPEC in the second quarter of this year and Venequela, on of the founding members of Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries is backing them.

Original source: OneNews. Ecuador hopes to rejoin OPEC

Special Assembly could close Congress if approved

If voters approve a special assembly to rewrite the constitution, that body will have power to remake the government and dismiss elected officials. Congress approved holding a referendum on whether to create the assembly, but it stipulated that the assembly would not have authority to shut down the legislature. President Correa, however, said the assembly would be able to dismiss not only lawmakers but judges and even the president himself.

Original source: Topix. [404 Check: was link to http:/ / www. topix. net/ content/ ap/ 2902319206375957887026344255014269944882?threadid=3SO8M6I0U1Q7AGOR, anchor: Ecuador Leader: Congress Could Be Closed ]

Train accident kills 2 tourist and injures a 3rd

3 Tourists riding in seats fixed atop the tour train were hurt after the train snagged a cable, causing a supporting post to hit them. Work on telephone cables was reportedly being carried out in the area and workers had begun their job thinking no other trains were due to pass through. A man and a woman were killed and another woman was injured.

Original source: Mainichi Daily News. [404 Check: was link to http:/ / mdn. mainichi -msn. co. jp/ national/ news/ 20070217p2a00m0na018000c. html, anchor: 2 Japanese tourists die in train accident in Ecuador]

Seatbelt violation gets suspected killer deported

Christian Steven Ponce Salas was pulled over for not wearing his seatbelt. A routine check revealed he was in the country illegally after defying a previous deportation order. He has been returned to his home country to face charges he assassinated a former presidential candidate in 1999.

Original source: Syracuse Post Standard. Suspect in Ecuadorean killings deported

Ecuador hopes to improve conditions, reduce number emigrating

Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Ecuador's foreign minister, said her country is studying a plan to use foreign aid to improve the conditions of the Ecuadorean people. "We need this strategy in order to persuade Ecuadoreans to stay at home." Ecuadoreans are Spain's largest immigrant group.

Original source: International Herald Tribune. Ecuador examining how to reduce number of emigrants to Spain, foreign minister says

Economy Minister says debt restructuring could be friendly”

In an interview with Reuters, Economy Minister Ricardo Patino did not rule out a debt moratorium, but said such a decision would complicate Ecuador's plans to restructure its debt. The news caused Ecuadorean bond prices jumped more than 9 percent. Analysts welcomed the more conciliatory tone of Patino's statements, but remained suspicious.

Original source: Reuters. [404 Check: was link to http:/ / today. reuters. com/ news/ articleinvesting. aspx?type=bondsNews&storyID=2007 -01 -29T214155Z_ 01_ N29227010_ RTRIDST_ 0_ MARKETS -EMERGINGDEBT. XML, anchor: Emerging debt-Ecuador rockets in slow pre-Fed market]

Mass exodus is splitting families, child suicide rate skyrockets

13-year-old Jaime Castillo hadn't seen his father since he left for the United States three years ago. Jaime was so depressed he swallowed a packet of rat poison. Doctors were lucky to have been able to save him. The exodus of young parents has had devastating consequences for their children. "Fifteen years ago, youth suicides were unheard of," said Guido Pinos, a psychiatry professor at the university in Cuenca. Sixty percent of adult males have left the municipality. As a result, families fall apart, and youth suicide rates have risen 20 percent from the previous year.

Original source: Courant.com. [404 Check: was link to http:/ / www. courant. com/ news/ nationworld/ hc -ecuador0130. artjan30,0,200337. story, anchor: Left-Behind Children Choosing Suicide]

Interim Defense Minister named

Ricardo Patino, the current Minister of Economy will take on the duties of Defense Minister as well until the position can be filled. Minister Larriva was killed in a crash during maneuvers to mark the 53rd anniversary of army aviation Ecuador last week. President Correa said Friday at Larriva's funeral that he wanted to appoint another woman to the post.

Original source: Topix. [404 Check: was link to http:/ / www. topix. net/ content/ ap/ 0918034759148818272606593477063787748140, anchor: Ecuador Names Temporary Defense Chief ]