THE HUNT FOR RAUL REYES ANGERS GOE

S E C R E T QUITO 002616 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2014 TAGS: PREL MARR MASS MOPS SNAR PTER EC CO SUBJECT: THE HUNT FOR RAUL REYES ANGERS GOE REF: QUITO 02557 Classified By: PolOff Jarahn Hillsman, Reasons 1.4 (b&d) ¶1. (S) Summary: Colombian President Alvaro Uribe's public declaration that FARC leader Raul Reyes is hiding in Ecuador has sparked a media frenzy in Quito, heightening bilateral tensions. Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Francisco Carrion demanded evidence of Reyes' presence, and asked the Ambassador to get the USG to encourage future restraint on public comments that they feel put them on the spot. Meanwhile, presidential candidate Rafael Correa slammed Colombia and the U.S. for seeking to drag Ecuador into Plan Colombia, and again defended his position not to classify the FARC as a terrorist organization. Colombian military attaches expressed concern that the Ecuadorian civilian leadership may not be fully aware of the growing FARC threat, while the GOE considers Uribe's comments inopportune and would like to quickly resolve the issue. On that line, they now appear to be backing off their public demands for proof. However, their compulsion to respond to every statement only prolongs the public spat, potentially affecting USG interests. End Summary. Uribe Remarks Spark Fire -------------- ¶2. (C) Colombian President Alvaro Uribe's October 20 declaration that FARC leader Raul Reyes and others are hiding in the Ecuadorian jungle without GOE knowledge has sparked a firestorm here. Uribe reportedly made the comments while touring the site of a recent FARC bombing in Bogota. The Ecuadorian press began running the story on October 21 and has continued fueling this unnecessarily public dispute. Colombian Ambassador to Ecuador Carlos Holguin confirmed Uribe's remarks to local press, and said that FARC rebels routinely enter Ecuador. He reportedly asked for GOE cooperation to more effectively combat terrorism and narco-trafficking in the region. ¶3. (C) Colombian Political Counselor Rodrigo Burgos on October 25 confirmed the Reyes reports to PolOff, and said that the Colombian military would soon provide evidence to the Ecuadorian government. Burgos said he was unsure of Uribe's motive for announcing the Reyes issue publicly, but stated that the Ecuadorian leadership needs to acknowledge the scope of the problem. ¶4. (C) Burgos expressed GOC concern that should he win, a Rafael Correa government would likely be unhelpful on bilateral security issues, and said that he believed that many in the current government are supportive of his presidential bid. On a more positive note, Burgos reported constructive military-to-military cooperation and said that he believes that the Ecuadorian military understands the threat. Unfortunately, he said, the MFA often tells the public what they want to hear, reinforcing nationalistic sovereignty rhetoric. GOE Compelled to Respond -------------- ¶5. (C) Foreign Minister Francisco Carrion phoned the Ambassador on October 24 to ask for USG assistance to get the GOC to stop making comments that "require" a GOE response. Publicly, Carrion called for the Colombian government to provide proof of Reyes' whereabouts, and objected to reports of GOC intelligence collection in Ecuador. President Alfredo Palacio on October 26 denied that the GOE had requested proof of Reyes' location, and said "not one square inch" of Ecuadorian territory is open to illegal armed groups. ¶6. (C) Director General for Border Relations with Colombian Ambassador Claudio Cevallos on October 25 expressed to PolOff strong GOE discontent with President Uribe's remarks. Cevallos questioned Uribe's motives for going public, and suggested that it might be a GOC attempt to distract attention from the October shooting of two Ecuadorian civilians on the San Miguel River by Colombian military units (reftel). Citing the 2004 apprehension of Simon Trinidad in Ecuador, Cevallos noted that cooperation on high-level FARC captures had been successful. He then expressed concern that any significant proof provided by the GOC would likely force the GOE to publicly question GOC intelligence collection activity in Ecuador. ¶7. (C) According to Cevallos, Ecuadorian Ambassador to Colombia Alejandro Suarez believes that President Uribe's remarks might have been an emotional reaction to the recent car bombing in Bogota. However, he expressed concern that his comments might inadvertently help Correa's campaign and discussed the need to quickly quell the very public and untimely spat. Colombian Military on FARC Watch -------------- ¶8. (S) Colombian military officials told Embassy DATT on October 25 that FARC activity in Ecuadorian territory is on the rise. They reported that the Ecuadorian military is aware of the spike in infiltrations, but that it appears as if they are not fully briefing the civilian leadership, namely Foreign Minister Carrion. They eluded a question on GOC motives for the public intelligence outing. The officers confirmed reports that the Colombian military is conducting intelligence gathering against the FARC in Ecuador, and expressed concern over Ambassador Holguin's public affirmation of their activities. Holguin has received instructions to tone down his public commentary and consult with Bogota on future statements, they reported. Correa Defensive; Attacks GOC & USG -------------- ¶9. (C) Presidential candidate Rafael Correa warned the Ecuadorian public that the Colombian and U.S. governments were "aggressively trying to involve Ecuador in Colombia's civil conflict." Using the opportunity to further clarify previous declarations, Correa said that as president he would not permit FARC activity in Ecuador, but following the lead of the United Nations and other Latin American governments, would not classify them as terrorists. He reaffirmed his commitment to deny any foreign military access to Ecuadorian territory, including the FARC, paramilitary units, and the Colombian military. Correa also charged that Colombia and the U.S. are trying to impact the November 26 presidential results. Comment -------------- ¶10. (S) FARC activity in Ecuador continues along the Northern border region. Although military cooperation remains excellent, the GOE's public denial of the scope of the problem and untrue assertions that it has secured the border region are unhelpful. We will continue to push the GOE to acknowledge the problem and respond accordingly. On the campaign front, we do not believe Correa's camp will gain much traction from the Uribe comments, as long as the war of words is resolved promptly. Prolonging the public debate could damage Colombian military intelligence gathering operations in Ecuador as well as the climate for discreet USG cooperation with Ecuadorian counterparts. JEWELL