ECUADOR-COLOMBIA BORDER PROGRESS REPORT - JAN-MAY

C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 001400

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2014
TAGS: PREL MARR MASS MOPS SNAR PTER EC CO
SUBJECT: ECUADOR-COLOMBIA BORDER PROGRESS REPORT - JAN-MAY
2006

Classified By: PolMilOffJarahnHillsman, Reasons 1.4 (b&d)


1. (C) Summary: Ecuadorian northern border military and
anti-drug police units scored several successes against
narco-terrorists in the first half of 2006. The Ecuadorian
military made multiple FARC camp busts, seizing arms,
communication devices, and military equipment, as well as
capturing two FARC trainees. Anti-narcotics police seized
1.95 metric tons of cocaine and 14 kg of heroin in the
northern provinces. These successes underscore the
Ecuadorian military and anti-narcotics police capacity to
fend off FARC infiltration of Ecuadorian territory, when
provided adequate financial and political support.
Nevertheless, the FARC's covert sphere of influence in border
towns remains a serious concern, and continues to hinder
Ecuadorian military and police efforts.


2. (C) The Ambassador visited the province of Carchi on May
18 to demonstrate USG support for security and development.
WHA Andean Affairs Director Philip French and the DCM
delivered a similar message on their April 17 visit to Lago
Agrio and General Farfan, Sucumbios province. NAS continued
support for anti-narcotics police and military units by
funding equipment, infrastructure, and capacity building
courses. MILGP supported military units operating in the
northern border region with funding for food rations, fuel,
radios, vehicles, communication devices, and training.
Meanwhile, USAID pushed forward with development programs,
completing 20 water treatment facilities, 17 sewage systems,
and will complete work on 10 bridge and road construction
projects. USAID also supported civil society development
programs and increased public outreach to highlight USG
support in the northern border region. End Summary.

Ecuadorian Military Ramps-Up FARC Camp Search
--------------


3. (U) Ecuadorian military units on February 18 dismantled a
FARC encampment in Santa Rosa, Sucumbios province. Two FARC
trainees were captured during the raid, along with weapons,
ammunition, and other logistical support items. Ecuadorian
military units on May 7-14 conducted "Operation Clean" in the
Cuembi Triangle border region around the Putumayo and San
Miguel Rivers in the Sucumbios province. The units, which
included over 1,100 troops from the army, navy and air force,
dismantled five FARC camps near the towns of Santa Rosa and
Santa Elena. Arms, mortar fabrication equipment, ammunition,
mobile telephone antennas, military supplies, uniforms, and
revolutionary literature were confiscated in the raids.


4. (C) Embassy sources estimate that Ecuadorian military
units discovered at least 25 camps. However, they informed
the public about only five them. These five camps had been
abandoned within 24 hours of the raids, and were found in
areas of limited GOE presence and few access roads. The
remaining twenty camps had either been cleared previously by
the Ecuadorian military, or had been abandoned for some time.


5. (U) Minister of Defense OswaldoJarrin held a press
conference on May 29 to announce the camp discoveries, and to
highlight Ecuadorian military efforts to control the troubled
northern border region. Jarrin said that his forces are
dedicated to protecting the nation's borders, and that
Ecuadorians should have confidence in the professionalism and
commitment of its military. Jarrin told the DATT and PolOff
on June 2 that the five camp discovery had generated the
opportune moment for him to reinforce the need to revise the
nation's defense strategy, and confirmed reports that the
Ministry was shifting priorities to the northern border
region. He said that the Ecuadorian public is finally
starting to understand the difference between national
defense efforts in the north, which includes cooperation with
the Colombian military, and involving the nation in Plan
Colombia. Jarrin will be in the U.S. the week of June 11 to
discuss northern border challenges and successes with DOD
counterparts.

Ecuadorian Military Increases Border Presence
--------------


6. (C) The 13th Brigade conducted a security sweep in the
Carchi province near the town of Lita in early May. The area
has very little GOE government presence and few access roads.
Although there were no major finds, increased Ecuadorian

military presence will hopefully deter future activity.


7. (C) Ecuadorian military units in the Esmeraldas province
tightened efforts to stop fuel sales to FARC and other
narco-terrorist groups, confiscated illegal arms, eradicated
four coca plantation sites (each over 1.5 hectares),and
increased unit patrols in areas where FARC/narco-terrorist
training camps were suspected. The 19th Jungle Brigade,
located in El Coca, Orellana province, seized 72,337 gallons
of petroleum ether, found and destroyed 22 petroleum robbery
sites, seized 57 kg of cocaine from routine checkpoint
inspections, apprehended 20 individuals for illicit
trafficking of precursor chemicals and cocaine base, and
destroyed four coca plantations. The 19th Jungle Brigade was
also a key participant in "Operation Clean".


8. (C) The Ecuadorian army increased the 39th Army Infantry
Battalion's (Tulcan, Carchi) personnel strength to 90% of its
capacity (approximately 500 troops). The Army is considering
moving part of the 38th Battalion, located in the central
province of Pichincha, to the northern border region. The
MOD sent another infantry battalion from Guayas Province to
the western border province of Esmeraldas, and is considering
increasing the number of troops in the city of General
Farfan, Sucumbios province by building a navy riverine
outpost. MILGP and NAS provided funding for food, radios,
vehicles and other basic logistical necessities, which
allowed border units to conduct more frequent border patrols.
MILGP and NAS-funded training programs also helped
Ecuadorian military units better prepare for the border
security threat.

Counter-Drug Initiatives Move Forward
--------------


9. (SBU) The Ecuadorian National Police have been very
responsive to the narco-terrorist threat. With NAS support,
the elite anti-narcotics unit improved border drug inspection
efforts and increased overall capabilities to combat
narcotics trafficking. This directly aided in the seizure of
1.95 metric tons of cocaine and 14 kg of heroin between
January and May 2006 in the northern border region.


10. (SBU) NAS counter-drug efforts in the northern border
region remained steady during the first half of 2006. In
Baeza, Napo province, NAS funded improvements to an
anti-narcotics base for the elite mobile narcotics unit.
MILGP delivered $3 million in communication radios to
anti-narcotics police and military officials, and NAS donated
18 trucks to the anti-narcotics police. Construction bids
were sent out for the new $1.8 million anti-narcotics
inspection center in Tulcan, Carchi province and the $650,000
port inspection facility in the port of Esmeraldas. NAS also
funded two intelligence gathering
courses in Quito. Fifty police and military officials
attended.


11. (C) In Sucumbios province in May, 12 special mobile
anti-narcotics police (GEMA) recently trained by the U.S.
Customs and Border Patrol (BORTAC) tactical team, were
ambushed by local citizens as they attempted to take away
three vehicles loaded with petroleum ether, a drug-processing
chemical precursor likely robbed from local petroleum
pipelines. The heavily-armed police were attacked and their
vehicle doused with gas by dozens of men, women and children,
who accused them of interfering with their "honest" labors.
The police returned the vehicles to the mob, but later
re-captured one and were able to obtain information leading
them to a large petroleum ether storage facility and tapping
valve, which they destroyed. The unit's commander credited
BORTAC training for enabling them to handle the incident
without bloodshed. They plan a large follow-on operation to
act on intelligence gathered during this incident.

Ecuadorian-Colombian Military Cooperation Good, But Tenuous
-------------- --------------


12. (C) Ecuadorian military officials at the operational
level report that cross-border communication between
Ecuadorian and Colombian military units is improving, with
regular intelligence sharing for force protection needs.


13. (U) The press on May 27 reported an airspace violation
by two or more Colombian helicopters in Puerto Nuevo,

Sucumbios province on May 26. The Ministry of Defense,
seeking to defuse a potentially volatile issue, on May 26
issued a statement claiming that Ecuador's air defense system
had not registered the presence of Colombian helicopters in
the region, and that the GOE therefore concluded that there
had been no violation of Ecuadorian airspace.

Development Projects and Bi-national Plan Progress
-------------- --------------


14. (U) USAID completed 20 water treatment facilities, 17
sanitation systems, and will soon finish 10 bridge and road
construction projects. Three municipalities were added to
the local government strengthening program. The Third
Northern Border Survey on Development, Security and
Narco-trafficking, released in February, found that a growing
number of northern border residents have a more favorable
image of USG support in the region. This increase was aided
by USAID's successful public outreach campaign, "JUNTOS"
(together). Five of the six major regions that constitute
the province of Carchi, however, took to the streets on May
30 to demand additional funds for infrastructure projects.
The central government met these demands on June 2, agreeing
to transfer $2 million to the disgruntled province.


15. (U) USAID reports that this year has marked continued
successful generation of new jobs in several crop sectors,
which has significantly increased income and productivity for
many farmers. USAID project associates organized a regional
workshop on cacao, held in Quevedo, Los Rios province.
Producers and processors from Peru, Bolivia, Colombia and
Ecuador participated. They found that there is a strong
global demand for cacao, and are working to help actors
access markets. USAID funded similar events for Ecuadorian
coffee growers and potential U.S. buyers.


16. (U) Ecuadorian and Colombian government officials met in
Quito on April 24-25 to advance plans for an integrated
development zone along their common border. The plan aims to
increase public services in the area of health, education,
water, and transportation, while encouraging licit economic
growth and sound environmental management. High-level GOE
and GOC officials met in Bogota in mid-May to discuss the
draft text. Foreign Ministers Barco and Carrion are
scheduled to sign the agreement in June.

Comment
--------------


17. (C) Country Team members agree that operational
cooperation from military and police officials on security
matters continues to be strong. However, unit commanders
remain constrained by limited resources and resistance at the
political level to more publicly aggressive engagement
against FARC and other narco-terrorist groups operating in
Ecuador. Jarrin's recent announcement that Ecuador must
review its northern border security strategy demonstrates
that he intends to raise public awareness of the growing
threat, making more aggressive engagement politically
feasible. His comment that international financial support
would be sought opens possibilities for increased USG
security cooperation. The Foreign Ministry, however, remains
very cautious about actions that could be criticized as
drawing Ecuador into Colombia's internal conflict.


18. (C) Meanwhile, cooperation with the GOE on development
programs remains strong, with local and national officials
routinely requesting increased support. Greater development
funding is needed, however, to more effectively encourage
licit economic activity.
JEWELL

=======================CABLE ENDS============================