Cablegate: Ecuador Ex-President Noboa Now in Dominican

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 004522

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM KJUS DR EC
SUBJECT: ECUADOR EX-PRESIDENT NOBOA NOW IN DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC

REF: A. QUITO 2841
B. SANTO DOMINGO 3863
C. QUITO 2530

1. (U) SUMMARY: The GODR MFA has confirmed that former
Ecuadorian President Gustavo Noboa arrived in the Dominican
Republic on August 23 after being granted approval by the GOE
to travel. He and his spouse have been staying at the
Presidential retreat, but are arranging to rent their own
apartment here. The document granting Noboa safe passage
states that the GOE retains the right to request Noboa's
extradition. Noboa had been living in GODR diplomatic
residences in Ecuador since July 28 when he first petitioned
for asylum. END SUMMARY.

2. (U) MFA Americas Director Francia Sencion has confirmed to
us that former Ecuadorian President Gustavo Noboa was granted
asylum by the GODR and arrived in the Dominican Republic
August 23. Noboa and his wife, Maria Isabel Baquerizo, were
met by Presidential security at Las Americas airport and
taken directly to the Presidential retreat in Juan Dolio,
where they met with President Mejia. The Ecuadorians have
been staying there briefly as Mejia,s guests and are in
process of renting a &small8 apartment here, within their
limited finances.

3. (U) Noboa had been living in GODR diplomatic residences in
Ecuador while awaiting the GOE's decision on whether it would
allow him to travel to the Dominican Republic. The GOE
granted Noboa's request to leave the country, but retained
the right to request Noboa's extradition in the event an
Ecuadoran court subpoenas him. However, Sencion said the
GODR does not consider this hypothetical extradition to be a
condition of the safe-conduct.

4. (U) All Santo Domingo dailies covered the arrival of the
Noboa, noting that Presidential security forces would not
allow them access to Ex-President Noboa on orders from the
Presidential Palace.

5. (SBU) COMMENT: The arrival of Noboa comes in the same week
in which President Mejia announced his support for a bill
which would grant immunity from criminal prosecution to
former Dominican presidents. So far there has been no
linking of the two events in the press.

KUBISKE

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