Ecuador defense minister dies in air crash: sources

[arcos]

Ecuador defense minister dies in air crash: sources

QUITO (Reuters) - Ecuadorean defense minister Guadalupe Larriva was killed on Wednesday in an air crash, military and government sources told Reuters.

<snip>

A university professor and leader of the country's small Socialist party, she was also one of only a few civilians to hold the post.

She had promised to strengthen presidential control of military ranks, improve salaries for the armed forces and make the promotions system more transparent in a country where the military had helped oust three presidents in the last decade.

http://ca.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2007-01-25T030348Z_01_N24164332_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-ECUADOR-MINISTER-COL.XML





News from just a month ago:

Ecuador's president-elect appoints first female defense minister

QUITO, Ecuador – President-elect Rafael Correa appointed seven women to his Cabinet on Wednesday, including Ecuador's first female defense minister, saying he wanted to promote gender equality in his South American nation.

The new defense minister, Guadalupe Larriva, will also be the first armed forces chief who has never served in the military.

“Ecuador will really become a democracy when all the institutions of the state are clearly subject to civilian society,” Correa told reporters. “That is why it is very important to break the tradition of putting an ex-officer in charge of the Defense Ministry and put in a civilian, and if possible a woman.”

<snip>

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20061227-1521-ecuador-correa.html

[Say_What]

1. Spanish article says that two helicopters collided accidentally and that

the minister's daughter, who accompanied her was also killed. She was the head of the Ecuadoran Socialist Party.

Military commanders were in the other helicopter.

Accident happened at the airport in Manta.

http://www.oem.com.mx/elsoldemexico/notas/n146554.htm

[ellisonz]

2. Not to be paranoid but it needs to asked...

Whacked?

:tinfoilhat:

[arcos]

3. I totally agree....

I am not paranoid, and even though it looks like an accident....

:tinfoilhat:

She was recently named to take over the defense department, she's a socialist, refomer and progressive. And then she's dead? Sure, it could be coincidence, but it is kind of weird. And it sucks whether it was an accident or not.

[Say_What]

5. Doubtful.... BBC: Crash kills Ecuador defence chief

Two military helicopters collided--all died, including three or four milicos in the other helicopter. Doubtful that she was 'whacked', but Correa is asking 'friendly' countries to help investigate.

<clips>

Ecuador's Defence Minister Guadalupe Larriva has been killed in a crash involving two military helicopters, officials have said.

Ms Larriva's 17-year-old daughter, who was with her in one of the helicopters, and five army officers also died.

The aircraft collided during a night-time exercise near the city of Manta on the Pacific coast.

Ms Larriva, 50, took office on 15 January, and was the first woman to serve as Ecuador's defence minister.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6297093.stm

[ellisonz]

8. Who was flying the other helicopter? How many on board?

What was this "nightime exercise" supposed to be doing? How can these accidents be prevented?

[Say_What]

9. Ecuador probes deadly chopper crash

<clips>

QUITO, Ecuador - Ecuador's president said Thursday he had ordered an exhaustive investigation into the collision of two army helicopters that killed the country's first female defense minister, her daughter and five members of the military.

President Rafael Correa flew to an army base near the site of Wednesday's crash that shook the government just 10 days after Correa's inauguration.

''It appears to have been an unfortunate accident but so that there is no doubt'' the government has formed a special commission to oversee the investigation, Correa told reporters in the port city of Manta.

The commission will include outside experts from the makers of the French-designed Gazelle helicopters involved the crash as well from Chile's air force.

Defense Minister Guadalupe Larriva, 50 and her 17-year-old daughter Claudia Avila were killed when two helicopters collided during maneuvers held to mark the 53rd anniversary of army aviation in Ecuador at base near Manta. A colonel, three captains and a lieutenant also died in the crash.

In a televised interview, Vice President Lenin Moreno said the helicopters were performing a night flight test ``and in a bad maneuver it appears that the blades collided and the helicopters fell to the ground.''

No top ranking commanders were on board the helicopters, Moreno said.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/16548479.htm

[arcos]

4. kick nt

[BayCityProgressive]

6. LOOK

UP HOW MANY LATIN AMERICAN REFORMERS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN PLANE OR AIR ACCIDENTS....PRETTY BIG COINCIDENCE IF YOU ASK ME...

[goforit]

7. Pretty impresive to have women

[NuttyFluffers]

10. rule of thumb 1: if you are a positive leader of the people NEVER FLY IN SMALL AIRCRAFT

always, always, always fly on big jumbo jets or trains or buses or some other massive transit. because there's always someone who'd always be willing to sacrifice a few "pawns" to get rid of you, but would feel rather loathe to murder several 100 which could accidentally be seen as an act of war (or accidentally kill someone they care about). don't care if it's a copter, a private jet, etc. just don't get in it. safety in numbers folks. if they are going to make an attempt, make 'em think real hard and work for it.

ps: this may have been an accident. this also may have not been an accident. we won't really know for a while, if ever. but the rule of thumb still stands. if you are trying to do good in the world obey this guidance. don't think about it, don't doubt about it, just stop and take the basic simple precaution of travelling en masse. and if you're really smart you can parlay that as being "one with the people" and "being available to listen to their needs." with phones, teleconferencing, video feed, etc. mass transit options, and political cred, there's really zero reason to do anything else.