Frank Vargas Pazzos
Armed Forces of Ecuador , 1983–1986 | |
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Battles/wars |
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Awards | Best graduate of the Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies at the University of Guayaquil, 1981 Great Cross of the Venezuelan Air Force, 1984 |
Other work | Representative in National Congress of Ecuador, 1996 Minister of Government of Ecuador, 1997 |
Frank Vargas Pazzos (born July 15, 1934) is a former commander of the Ecuadorian Air Force (FAE). He also served as Chief of the Joint Armed Forces Command of Ecuador.
Early life
He was born in
Insubordination
In 1986 general Vargas aired in public grievances and denounced actions of the president's inner circle of power in the procurement of a
"Taurazo"
After a legislative resolution of amnesty for Vargas that president Febres Cordero refused to publish in the Official Registry, tensions in the political landscape were high. During a routine visit of the president to Taura a group of commandos kidnapped the president, minister of defense, commander of the air force and several other high officials in order to negotiate for the release of general Vargas and an amnesty for the events of that day. As a result of the actions two of the president's protective detail were killed and several wounded. Many of the arrested officers were assaulted both verbally and physically. The country and the region were placed in a general alert and throughout the day many notable personalities attempted to negotiate a peaceful resolution. As the hours passed on many other technical and support elements of the base pleaded their support for the group of commandos who placed all the detainees inside an area under construction in the Base clinic and the president and his close lieutenants in the office of the base command. In the last hours of the evening the president had ordered by telephone the release of General Vargas and through his personal secretary in the capital Quito had authorized public statements of the events.
With the last hours of light, the detained officers were released and transported by bus to Guayaquil.
Political career
Upon his release, general Vargas joined a center left political party called APRE mainly out of the fact that the party lacked candidates to the presidency.
- He was a candidate to the presidency in 1988, 1992 and 1996 for Partido Acción Popular Revolucionaria Ecuatoriana (APRE)
- During the presidency of Minister of Interior).
- In the 2002 presidential elections he was candidate to the Vice-presidency for Partido Roldosista Ecuatoriano(PRE).