Word: rodriguezes
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...than the rest of OPEC, the country suddenly found itself losing $20 million a month in foreign currency. The government slapped a 60% tax on luxury imports, such as automobiles; the levy has been so unpopular that it helped spur on plotters who attempted a coup against President Guillermo Rodriguez Lara a month...
...start. When General Soils visited one of the capital's garrisons to get its support, a startled guard heard his request and then sent him off to jail−where he still remains. Gonzalez, meanwhile, distributed manifestoes proclaiming the rebellion before it had begun. As it happened, President Rodriguez was one of the recipients of a copy. He quickly escaped to a friendly garrison 120 miles south of the capital, leaving his wife and five children behind in the palace...
...meant mostly for display. Ignoring all the basic rules for carrying out a coup, Gonzalez neglected to close down Quito's airport and take over its radio stations−one of which refused to broadcast his manifesto on the ground that it sounded unbelievable. He also generously allowed Rodriguez's wife and children to leave the palace, thereby giving away one of his few bargaining cards. Early Monday morning, Quito stations began broadcasting a roll call of officers who remained loyal to Rodriguez. Air force planes buzzed the occupied palace, which was soon surrounded by troops...
Motley Mob. In the wake of the attempted coup, a motley mob of Quito citizens ransacked the palace, carrying off rugs, lamps and other portable goodies. Otherwise, there was little popular support for the coup even though Rodriguez's regime has lately been in considerable economic trouble. In the first half of 1974, Ecuador exported $444 million worth of goods, primarily oil from its jungle wells, coffee and bananas. But then hypernationalistic government ministers raised the price of oil 54&#cent; per bbl. above OPEC's price. In protest, the oil companies severely limited production. Although revenues plummeted...
Belatedly bowing to reality, Rodriguez in July fired his Natural Resources Minister and dropped the price of oil 43? per bbl., whereupon the companies began pumping again. Recently the President announced the imposition of a stiff 60% tax on imported luxuries. That drew howls of complaints from shopkeepers in Quito and their customers, but it may be enough to get Ecuador back in the black...