ECUADOR: Cabinet members begin mourning defence minister Guadalupe Larriva, killed in air crash

Ecuadorean cabinet members gather at Vice-President Lenin Moreno's house to mourn defense minister killed in air collision on Wednesday (January 24); President Correa says it's a moment of deep pain for the country. Ecuador's first female defense minister was killed in a mid-air collision of two helicopters on Wednesday (January 24) after only nine days in office, government and military officials said. The accident in the Andean nation further rattles the leftist government of President Rafael Correa, who has clashed with Congress over his executive powers and prompted street protests since taking office along with his ministers on January 15. Defense Minister Guadalupe Larriva, a 50-year-old former teacher and senior official of a socialist political party supporting Correa, died in the crash in a Pacific coastal province east of Quito, Correa told reporters. Correa gave no specific details on the cause of the collision that killed Larriva, her teenage daughter and five military personnel aboard the Gazelle helicopters. He also said that the Ecuadorean government would ask friendly countries to help with the investigations. "This is a major tragedy. The defense minister, her daughter and I believe two pilots have lost their lives. We ask everyone to join us in prayer for the soul of Guadalupe, her daughter, her family and the government of Ecuador," Correa told reporters before flying to the crash site. Ecuadorean Vice President Lenin Moreno said he received a report from the military saying it was an unfortunate accident and that a commission will carry out a deep investigation. "My understanding is that the funeral chapel will take place at the military school, with the corresponding honors in the capital Quito. After that, it seems that the family has decided to do the burials in Cuenca," said Moreno. Other Cabinet members dressed in black gathered inside Moreno's home in Quito to mourn Larriva's death. "The absence of Guadalupe (Defense Minister) is going to be a constant void. However, at the same time her memory and the example she set will be with us forever. We will always be seven female ministers in the cabinet," Minster of Foreign Relations, Maria Fernanda Espinoza, told reporters. Meanwhile, residents of Minister Larriva's hometown of Cuenca, in the Azuay region, began gathering outside her house to mourn her death as speculation started on whether the collision was intended. "I truly think that considering the circumstances, her death must be investigated. It actually looks like an attack, intended at ending the life of Guadalupe, a fighter, an example of the good that could happen to Ecuador, had she continued... I think that it was the first time in our country's history that a female socialist had such a high ranking position," Governor of Azuay, Oswaldo Larriba declared. Correa wanted Larriva, one of a few civilians to lead Ecuador's 176-year-old military, to control an institution that has played a part in the ouster of three presidents in the last decade by publicly withdrawing its support as street protests erupted. Larriva, one of the most popular members of the Cabinet, had promised to strengthen presidential control of military ranks, improve salaries for the armed forces and make the promotions system more transparent.

ITN Source | January 25, 2007

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