Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12079 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/06 1992/12
1993/10
1996/11
1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/11 2002/12
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AMGT ASEC AFIN AS AMED AORC AF AM AJ AU AE AR ABLD AG AY ASIG AEMR APER AMBASSADOR ASEAN AA AL ASUP ABUD AX APECO AID AUC ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG ADANA AFFAIRS AND AN ADCO ARM ATRN AECL AADP ACOA APEC AGRICULTURE ACS ADPM ASCH AMEX ACAO ANET AODE ARF ACBAQ APCS AMG AQ AMCHAMS AORG AGAO ADM AFSI AFSN AINF AIT ASEX AORL AGR AO AROC ACABQ ATFN AFGHANISTAN AFU AER ALOW AC AZ AVERY AGMT
BEXP BR BA BRUSSELS BL BM BH BTIO BIDEN BO BT BC BU BY BX BG BK BF BBSR BMGT BTIU BE BD BWC BB BP BN BILAT
CO CODEL CASC CA CFED CH CMGT CW CVIS CI CU CONDOLEEZZA CR CSW CPAS CS CJUS CY CDG CE CG CBW COUNTER CN CKGR COUNTERTERRORISM CWC CJAN CIA CD CLINTON CT CARSON CONS CB CM CLMT CROS CNARC CIDA CBSA CIC CEUDA CHR CITT CAC CACM CVR CDC CAPC COPUOS CBC CBE COM CARICOM CDB CAN COE COUNTRY CLEARANCE CACS CF CL CIS CTM CV CICTE
DR DEA DA DOMESTIC DHS DAO DCM DEPT DTRA DPRK DEFENSE DE DJ DISENGAGEMENT DOD DEAX DOE DK DS
EAGR ECON EFIN EINV EC ETRD ELAB EPET ENRG ECPS EAID EUN EU EAIR ETTC ECIN EIND EWWT ELTN EFIS EK ES EN EG EPA ER EI EZ ET EINVECONSENVCSJA ECONOMICS EXTERNAL ELN ELECTIONS EMIN EINN EFINECONCS ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ENIV ECUN EINT ENGR ENNP EUR EAP EEPET ETRDEINVTINTCS ENVI EFTA ETRO ESENV ECINECONCS ENVR ECONOMY ECONOMIC EUMEM EAIDS ETRA ETRN EUREM EFIM EIAR EXIM ERD EAIG ETRC EXBS EURN ERNG EINVEFIN ECIP EINDETRD EUC EREL ECA ENERG ENGY ECONCS EINVETC ECONEFIN ESA ETC ETRDECONWTOCS EUNCH
FI FJ FR FTA FREEDOM FTAA FARC FAO FMLN FBI FOR FOREIGN FINANCE FO FISO FDA FAC FOI FM FAS FINR
GOV GAERC GT GG GM GV GH GOI GA GTIP GR GZ GE GCC GY GANGS GL GLOBAL GERARD GF GAZA GTMO
HR HO HA HK HUMAN HU HILLARY HSTC HUMOR HEBRON HI HURI HYMPSK
IR IWC IN IZ ICAO IV IRS IC IS IT IZPREL IRAQI IO IAEA ID ITPHUM ITPGOV ITALIAN IPR INRB IMO ITALY ICRC INTERPOL IQ ICTY INTELSAT IEFIN IA INR IRC IACI ITRA IL ICJ INTERNAL ISRAELI INMARSAT ITU ILC IBRD IMF ILO IDP ITF IBET IGAD IEA IAHRC ICTR IDA INDO IIP INRA INRO IRAJ IF
JA JP JO JOSEPH JOHNNIE JM JUS JAMES
KJUS KSCA KOLY KTFN KCRM KPAO KMDR KDEM KIDE KSTH KOMC KISL KN KNNP KS KIPR KMPI KZ KG KRVC KICC KIRC KTIA KTIP KWMN KVPR KV KHLS KU KIRF KR KACT KPKO KTDB KGHG KFRD KCOR KE KSUM KPAL KSEP KSTC KGIC KFLO KAWC KUNR KNPP KNEI KBIO KPRP KWBG KMCA KCIP KTEX KGIT KNSD KCFE KLIG KFLU KBCT KOMS KBTS KCRS KGCC KDRG KWMM KAWK KHIV KSPR KRAD KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KOCI KPAI KHSA KTLA KO KFSC KVIR KX KFTFN KHDP KPLS KSAF KMFO KRCM KCSY KSAC KPWR KTRD KID KWNM KMRS KICA KRIM KSEO KPOA KCHG KREC KOM KRGY KCMR KSCI KFIN KVRP KPAONZ KCGC KNAR KMOC KCOM KESS KAID KNUC KWAC KMIG KSEC KIFR KDEMAF KPIN KPRV KBTR KERG KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNUP KTER KDDG KPAK KREL KNNPMNUC KRFD KHUM KDEV KCFC KWWMN KTBT KWMNCS KJUST
LE LY LU LTTE LI LO LH LG LAB LA LABOR LOG LT
MARR MNUC MASS MX MOPS MCAP MIL MO MU MEPI MR MDC MPOS MEETINGS MD MTCRE MK MUCN MY MASC MRCRE ML MA MEPP MAR MAPP MP MT MAS MTS MLS MI MERCOSUR MV MEDIA MILI MG MW MIK MTCR MARAD MEPN MC MZ MOPPS MAPS MCC MASSMNUC MQADHAFI MTRE
NZ NZUS NU NL NATO NO NAFTA NDP NIPP NP NS NPT NI NATIONAL NPG NGO NG NK NSSP NRR NSG NSC NPA NORAD NT NW NEW NH NSF NV NR NE NSFO NC NA NAR NASA
OREP OTRA OIIP OPRC OVIP OPIC OEXC OAS OSCE ODIP OSAC OPDC OFDP OIE OECD OPCW OVP OPAD OFDA OIC OSCI OMIG OBSP ON OCS OCII OHUM OES OTR OFFICIALS
PGOV PTER PREL PINR PHUM PREF PROP PK PARM POL PE PINS PSOE PAK PBTS PHSA PAO PM PF PNAT POLITICS PARMS PBIO PSI POLINT POLITICAL PARTIES PL PA PO PGOVLO PORG PGOVE PLN PINF PRELP PAS PPA PRGOV PUNE PG PALESTINIAN POLICY PROG PDEM PREFA PDOV PCI PRAM PTBS PSA POSTS PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PGIV PHUMPGOV PCUL PSEPC PREO PAHO PMIL PNG PP PS PHUH PEPR PINT PU PECON POGOV PINL PKFK PY PFOR PHALANAGE PARTY PMAR PHUMPREL PHUS PRL PGOC PNR PGGV PROV PTERE PGOF PHUMBA PEL POV
QA
RS RICE RUPREL RU RIGHTS RO RW RSP RP REACTION REPORT RCMP RSO RF RFE RM RIGHTSPOLMIL ROBERT REGION
SENV SMIG SNAR SOCI SCUL SW SP SZ SA SY SENVKGHG SU SF SAN SR SO SHUM SYR SAARC SL SI SNARCS SWE SN SARS SPCE SNARIZ SCRS SC SIPDIS SEN SNARN SPCVIS SYRIA SEVN SSA STEINBERG SG SIPRS SH SOFA SANC SK ST
TPHY TRGY TBIO TSPA TW TC TX TU TI TN TS TT TO TH TSPL TIP TP TERRORISM TURKEY TD TZ TFIN TNGD TINT THPY TBID TF TL TV TAGS TK TR TRSY
UNGA UN UNSC UZ USEU US UK UP USTR UNMIK USUN UNESCO UNHRC UY UNO UG UNDC UAE UNAUS UNDESCO UNHCR UNEP UNCHC UNFICYP UNCHR USNC UNIDROIT UNCSD UNDP UNC UNODC USOAS UNPUOS UNCND USPS UNICEF UV UNCHS UNVIE UE USAID
VN VZ VT VE VTPREL VM VI VAT VC
WTO WHO WS WTRO WITH WTRQ WBG WI WHA WMD WMO WIPO WHTI WFP WB WWARD WA WEU WZ
XF XK XM XV XR XG XT XA XH XL XS XW XY XE XD XZ XX XTAG XQ XB XU XI XC
YM YI YMCS YE
ZR ZP ZI ZANU ZU ZO ZB ZL ZK ZF ZEALAND ZN ZA ZOELLICK ZJ

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 05QUITO2706, SUPREME COURT SELECTED, FIRST STEP IN DEMOCRATIC

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05QUITO2706.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
05QUITO2706 | 2005-11-29 15:03 | 2011-05-02 00:12 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Quito

`

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

` `

    UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 QUITO 002706

    SIPDIS

    SENSITIVE

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: PGOV KJUS PREL EC OAS
    SUBJECT: SUPREME COURT SELECTED, FIRST STEP IN DEMOCRATIC
    REBUILDING

    REF: QUITO 2235

    ¶1.  (SBU) Summary:  Achieving a major democratic milestone
    and goal of the mission's democracy support strategy
    (RefTel), on November 28 a new, more independent Supreme
    Court was named unanimously by the special selection
    committee, permitting an inauguration ceremony to take place
    on November 30.  The selection of the court came after tense
    final negotiations and culminates a six-month selection
    process mandated by Congress after the discredited former
    court was disbanded in the wake of the irregular change of
    government in April.  The new court will immediately face
    challenges to its legitimacy, since it was selected by
    extra-constitutional means.  The international community,
    especially USG-supported OAS monitors, played a critical role
    which helped the selection commission overcome its
    differences.  The court's first task will be to select a new
    national judicial council, which in turn will nominate a
    replacement Constitutional Tribunal.  Doing so would fill the
    current vacuum there and reconstitute a more independent
    judiciary after almost a year of judicial uncertainty.  End
    Summary.

    What Constitution?
    ------------------

    ¶2.  (U) The Supreme Court and Constitutional Tribunal were
    dissolved (unconstitutionally) by Congress shortly after the
    irregular change of government in April.  Congress then
    passed a law mandating a new (extra-constitutional) selection
    process for the new court.  This all came in the wake of an
    unsuccessful last-ditch attempt by ex-president Lucio
    Gutierrez to quell street protests leading to his ouster by
    (unconstitutionally) disbanding the court his allies had
    (unconstitutionally) packed in December, 2004.

    ¶3.  (U) Lack of political support for a return to the
    original (politicized) court caused Congress, the
    international community (UN Rapporteur for Judicial Affairs,
    the OAS, the Community of Andean National), and others to
    support the new selection process imposed by Congress with
    only minor modifications, despite it being
    extra-constitutional.  The law created a selection committee
    and included a point system for qualifying candidates.  It
    also mandated that the court's 31 members be apportioned by
    affiliation (11 to sitting members of the judiciary, 10 to
    academic legal theorists, and 10 to independent lawyers), but
    included an exceptional provision (Art. 17) to select the
    court by simple numerical rank (top 31 of over 100 qualified
    candidates) in the event of lack of consensus.

    Down to the Wire
    ----------------

    ¶4.  (U) The selection process, while relatively transparent,
    was not devoid of political pressure.  The selection
    commission president reported receiving threats.  On November
    24, the commission aborted a scheduled press event to
    introduce the new court, for lack of consensus over the
    selection method.  Political parties favored respecting the
    mandate to allocate seats by affiliation, anticipating
    challenges by a disgruntled judiciary, whose representatives
    scored poorly on qualifying exams.  OAS, UN, CAN and national
    observers worked feverishly to encourage consensus inside the
    commission.  Time was running out on the process, since by
    law, nominees needed to disclose their assets before the
    inauguration ceremony scheduled for November 30.  After a
    readjustment of the rank order of some justices after final
    reconsideration, consensus was finally achieved late on
    November 28 and the commission voted unanimously in favor of
    the application of Article 17, automatically naming the top
    31 qualified candidates to the court.

    ¶5.  (U) Of the 31 selected, only five came from the ranks of
    the judiciary, 18 hail from academia, and eight came from the
    ranks of independent lawyers.  Three of the justices selected
    had previously served on the court deposed by Congress in
    December 2004.  Only two of the 31 Supreme Court justices are
    women.

    Comment
    -------

    ¶6.  (SBU) Ecuador's democratic institutions were severely
    strained by the irregular change of government, undermining
    confidence in democracy and creating an urgency for repair.
    Now selected, the new court gains legitimacy benefits from
    its relatively transparent and independent selection process,
    but it will face predictable challenges to its legitimacy.
    To protect against constitutional challenge, some are calling
    for a popular referendum to ratify the court.  Given the
    current stand-off between the Executive and Congress over the
    government's proposed referendum, however, it is doubtful the
    court will be fortified much beyond the inauguration
    ceremony, to be attended by OAS SecGen Insulza and UN
    Rapporteur Leandro Despouy.  The Charge will represent the
    Embassy.

    ¶7.  (SBU) After its inauguration, the court will be severely
    tested, both by the backlog of high-profile cases (including
    charges pending against imprisoned ex-president Gutierrez)
    and the selection of the new national judicial commission.
    Once the commission helps reconstitute the Constitutional
    Tribunal, Ecuador will have filled a dangerous vacuum in its
    judiciary.  We believe this overall effort, despite the
    recourse to extra-constitutional procedures, merits
    international support.

    Suggested Press Guidance
    ------------------------

    ¶8.  (U) We offer the following suggested guidance for press
    inquiries:

    -- We congratulate Ecuador for the re-establishment of the
    Supreme Court.

    -- We were proud to support OAS oversight of the selection
    process.

    -- A well-qualified and independent judiciary is essential
    for effective democratic governance and economic
    competitiveness.

    -- (If asked) We do not presume to interpret Ecuador's
    constitution.  That is for Ecuadorian institutions to decide.
    BROWN

`