León Febres Cordero
Encyclopedia
León Esteban Febres-Cordero Ribadeneyra (9 March 1931 – 15 December 2008) was President of Ecuador
for a four-year term from 10 August 1984 to 10 August 1988. During his Presidency he sought to introduce market-oriented reforms, and also led a security crackdown on a guerilla group, ¡Alfaro Vive, Carajo!
..
in Maryland
, then Mercersburg Academy
in Pennsylvania
for high school, and then graduated as an engineer from the Stevens Institute of Technology
in Hoboken, New Jersey. Upon his return to Guayaquil, Febres-Cordero entered business, dealing variously in paper, electrical parts, chemicals and textiles. Eventually he became an executive in the Noboa Group, a large agribusiness.
Febres-Cordero was first married to Eugenia Cordovez, and they had four daughters. Later he married Cruz Maria Massu, but they had no children. During the time he was President many groups of guerrilla movements came to life, one of them was "Alfaro Vive". It is believed that Febres Cordero ordered the killings of members of this group.
A smoker, he died aged 77 in Guayaquil
, on 15 December 2008 at 4:30pm, of lung cancer
and emphysema
.
, was impeached by Congress.
Febres Cordero, a close ally of US President Ronald Reagan, was sharply criticized for an increase in human rights violations, including torture and extrajudicial killings. Current President Rafael Correa
established a truth commission
to investigate human rights violations, particularly those that occurred during Febres Cordero's administration.
In 1987 Febres Cordero was kidnapped for 11 hours by members of the air force demanding the freedom of General Frank Vargas Pazzos
, who had been imprisoned after leading two uprisings in March 1986, aimed at toppling the Minister of Defense. Congress approved a resolution granting Vargas amnesty, but Febres Cordero refused to publish the resolution, thus denying it the force of law. It was only after his January 1987 kidnapping that he signed the amnesty and released Vargas.
for two terms (1992–2000) and then ran successfully for a seat in Congress
. He was a member of the centre-right Social Christian Party
.
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
for a four-year term from 10 August 1984 to 10 August 1988. During his Presidency he sought to introduce market-oriented reforms, and also led a security crackdown on a guerilla group, ¡Alfaro Vive, Carajo!
¡Alfaro Vive, Carajo!
The Eloy Alfaro Popular Armed Forces , also known as ¡Alfaro Vive, Carajo! was a clandestine left-wing group in Ecuador, founded in 1982 and named after popular government leader and general Eloy Alfaro.- History :AVC first received national attention in 1983, when it...
..
Background and personal life
Febres-Cordero was born to a well-to-do Guayaquil family on 9 March 1931. His father sent him to study in the United States, where he first attended Charlotte Hall Military AcademyCharlotte Hall Military Academy
Charlotte Hall Military Academy, located at Charlotte Hall, Maryland, was established as Charlotte Hall School in 1774 by Queen Charlotte to provide for the liberal and pious education of youth to better fit them for the discharge of their duties for the United States...
in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, then Mercersburg Academy
Mercersburg Academy
Mercersburg Academy is an independent, coeducational boarding school for grades 9-12 located in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, United States. The school's mission is:...
in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
for high school, and then graduated as an engineer from the Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology is a technological university located on a campus in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA – founded in 1870 with an 1868 bequest from Edwin A. Stevens. It is known for its engineering, science, and technological management curricula.The institute has produced leading...
in Hoboken, New Jersey. Upon his return to Guayaquil, Febres-Cordero entered business, dealing variously in paper, electrical parts, chemicals and textiles. Eventually he became an executive in the Noboa Group, a large agribusiness.
Febres-Cordero was first married to Eugenia Cordovez, and they had four daughters. Later he married Cruz Maria Massu, but they had no children. During the time he was President many groups of guerrilla movements came to life, one of them was "Alfaro Vive". It is believed that Febres Cordero ordered the killings of members of this group.
A smoker, he died aged 77 in Guayaquil
Guayaquil
Guayaquil , officially Santiago de Guayaquil , is the largest and the most populous city in Ecuador,with about 2.3 million inhabitants in the city and nearly 3.1 million in the metropolitan area, as well as that nation's main port...
, on 15 December 2008 at 4:30pm, of lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
and emphysema
Emphysema
Emphysema is a long-term, progressive disease of the lungs that primarily causes shortness of breath. In people with emphysema, the tissues necessary to support the physical shape and function of the lungs are destroyed. It is included in a group of diseases called chronic obstructive pulmonary...
.
Presidency (1984-88)
The Febres Cordero government promoted a conservative economic policy. While some praised Febres Cordero's economic policies, they became largely unpopular with most Ecuadorians. Several of his ministers were accused of corruption. His Finance Minister, Alberto DahikAlberto Dahik
Alberto Dahik Garzozi is an Ecuadorian politician of Lebanese ancestry.Dahik was educated in economics in Princeton University. He served as Finance Minister from 1985 to 1987 and member of Congress from 1988 to 1992....
, was impeached by Congress.
Febres Cordero, a close ally of US President Ronald Reagan, was sharply criticized for an increase in human rights violations, including torture and extrajudicial killings. Current President Rafael Correa
Rafael Correa
Rafael Vicente Correa Delgado born is the President of the Republic of Ecuador and was the president pro tempore of the Union of South American Nations. An economist educated in Ecuador, Belgium and the United States, he was elected President in late 2006 and took office in January 2007...
established a truth commission
Truth commission
A truth commission or truth and reconciliation commission is a commission tasked with discovering and revealing past wrongdoing by a government , in the hope of resolving conflict left over from the past...
to investigate human rights violations, particularly those that occurred during Febres Cordero's administration.
In 1987 Febres Cordero was kidnapped for 11 hours by members of the air force demanding the freedom of General Frank Vargas Pazzos
Frank Vargas Pazzos
Frank Vargas Pazzos was a commander of the Ecuadorian Air Force and Chief of the Joint Armed Forces Command of Ecuador.-Early life:...
, who had been imprisoned after leading two uprisings in March 1986, aimed at toppling the Minister of Defense. Congress approved a resolution granting Vargas amnesty, but Febres Cordero refused to publish the resolution, thus denying it the force of law. It was only after his January 1987 kidnapping that he signed the amnesty and released Vargas.
Post-Presidency
Later he became the mayor of GuayaquilGuayaquil
Guayaquil , officially Santiago de Guayaquil , is the largest and the most populous city in Ecuador,with about 2.3 million inhabitants in the city and nearly 3.1 million in the metropolitan area, as well as that nation's main port...
for two terms (1992–2000) and then ran successfully for a seat in Congress
National Congress of Ecuador
The National Congress was the unicameral legislative branch of the government of Ecuador prior to November 2007....
. He was a member of the centre-right Social Christian Party
Partido Social Cristiano
Partido Social Cristiano can refer to:* Social Christian Party * Social Christian Party * Nicaraguan Social Christian Party* Christian Social Party...
.