In Snap Shots, in the story "Manabí in the New Century," I referred to "Alfaro Vive" leftist group as having been founded by an individual by that name. I stand corrected, the book had already gone to print before I caught that error. Yes, it was a Cuban trained Marxist-Leninist group, but it was not founded by an individual by that name, but rather it was named after the early 20th Century Ecuadorian President Eloy Alfaro, who was somewhat of a socialist reformer. The leftist guerrilla group, "Alfaro Vive, Carajo!" (Alfaro Lives, Damn it!") caused some problems in the early to mid 1980s. However, it was President Leon Febres-Cordero who took a hard stand against the guerrilla movement and in a series of military operations managed to reduce it to a point where it was no longer a relevant opposition group.
In the same story, I also mentioned Ecuadorian Air Force General Frank Vargas, and his rebellion that led to his arrest and imprisonment. As I mentioned in the story, he did not spend jail time per se, he was held under "house arrest" at the Officer's Club where he started the revolt and later transferred to another location, but not to a real prison!
Frank Vargas was unhappy with the policies of the Minister of Defense, and his rebellion was aimed at ousting the Minister of Defense. He was not an admirer of the President Leon Febres-Cordero either, so his revolt was no doubt two pronged. What he did would be equivalent to having the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force rebel against the Secretary of Defense and the President!
Vargas had a large following of misguided FAE (Fuerza Aerea de Ecuador, Ecuadorian Air Force) officers who obviously admired his lack of respect and loyalty for his boss. Discipline was not one of the strong points of that group. When they announced their rebellion, TV cameras flocked to the scene and they were all over the national TV. Although most were dressed in their uniforms, quite a few sported T-shirts (no doubt purchased in Miami) with gory graphics and the words in English, "Death Before Dishonor," as they paraded before TV cameras carrying sub-machineguns and other assortment of arms. Watching the so-called rebellion unfold, it was comical, to say the least. It was like watching a bunch of Junior High students protesting the quality of food in their school cafeteria. When interviewed by the press, Vargas announced that they would all fight "to the last drop of blood, to the last bullet," there would be no giving up!
Leon obviously knew his man. Without any negotiating, he simply sent in the army, which was loyal to him, and within hours, had the so-called rebellion squashed. No shots were fired, no one fought to the last drop of blood or the last bullet. The FAE officers with "Death Before Dishonor" T-shirts gave up without firing a shot when they saw the army troops advancing on them. Vargas disappeared, but was located hiding not far away from the Officer's Club which was his headquarters during the ill conceived coup d'état attempt. He gave up meekly, no bravado this time. All of the so-called rebels were arrested and hauled off. Vargas was kept under arrest at the Officer's Club for a period. Ecuadorian Congress, who liked Vargas, refused to allow his imprisonment. So, Leon had Vargas moved to another location, still under "house arrest." This took place in 1986.
In 1987, while Vargas was still under house arrest, a group of FAE officers kidnapped the President Leon Febres-Cordero and demanded the release and unconditional pardon of their beloved leader, General Frank Vargas. Ecuadorian Congress quickly agreed to the terms, but Leon refused at first. But finally he conceded and signed the release and pardon of Frank Vargas. Vargas was not only pardoned, but reinstated in the Ecuadorian Air Force! The FAE officers who kidnapped Leon were also given a blanket pardon! Can you imagine U.S. Air Force officers kidnapping the U.S. President and demanding the release of their imprisoned Commanding General? Such an improbable, wild scenario would only be possible in a Hollywood movie! There is such a thing known as discipline in the U.S. military, something that is obviously alien to the vocabulary of those followers of Frank Vargas!
Leon finished his term in 1988 and left the presidency. He was, perhaps, the last "normal," non-socialist president of Ecuador in the last 30 years! Rodrigo Borja, a leftist was elected into office, beginning a series of leftist and "wild" presidents, such as Abdala Bucaram.
In 1989, when U.S. invaded Panama, Frank Vargas resurfaced again. He wanted to raise a "Volunteer Battalion" to fight the "Yankees," as he put it. He was no lover of the U.S., although like other U.S. haters in Ecuador, he loved to visit and shop in Miami, and no doubt would have gladly lived in the U.S. if it was possible. Perhaps he too purchased a T-shirt that had "Death Before Dishonor" emblazoned on it, just didn't have time to put it on before he was arrested! However, despite his vitriolic anti U.S. speeches and TV appearances, there were no takers for Vargas's "Volunteer Battalion," I don't believe he got a single "volunteer" for his effort.
Later, during Ecuador's brief war with Peru, Frank Vargas again made news. However, this time he was accused of cowardly act, of refusing to defend Ecuadorian skies against the enemy. Don't know what his excuse was, but apparently he disobeyed the orders of the Minister of Defense. However, he was not removed from office or demoted in disgrace. Things aren't done that way in Ecuador.
In the next blog I will discuss the current President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, possibly the biggest U.S. hater of them all. By the way, he has a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Illinois.
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