Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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06QUITO995 | 2006-04-24 22:03:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Quito |
1. (SBU) Summary: On April 17, WHA Andean Affairs Director Philip French and Embassy officials visited the towns of Lago Agrio and General Farfan on Ecuador's northern border with Colombia. At the USG-funded Lago Agrio police base, the province's narcotics chief described challenges with informants and evidence. Ecuadorian military officials of the 24th Special Forces Group told us of FARC and other drug-related activity in the border region, highlighting the permeability of the border and lack of a permanent Colombian government presence. In General Farfan, a known FARC R&R spot, USAID projects help strengthen the town's infrastructure. On April 18 in Quito, opinion makers and Congress members shared uniformly pessimistic views on Ecuador's and neighboring countries' elections. End Summary. Police Combat Drugs Transiting Ecuador -------------------------- 2. (U) Taking advantage of a visit by WHA/AND Director Phil French, on April 17 Embassy officials visited Ecuadorian Narcotics Police installations in Lago Agrio, the capital of Sucumbios province and a hub for Ecuador's petroleum production industry. The town is located 20 minutes from the border, adjacent to Colombia's FARC-infested Putumayo province. Lago Agrio's National Anti-Narcotics Police base has new offices, dormitories, and police dog kennels, all built with NAS and SOUTHCOM funds. Police LTC Victor Hugo Londono, Sucumbios province narcotics chief, told us his biggest challenge was not having resources to compensate informants. Another problem was that the head of CONSEP, the government agency responsible for combating narcotics trafficking, was not present in the same province. Until this representative visited Lago Agrio, police were unable to do anything with the drug evidence they seized, he said. Londono said the unit had seized chemicals and cocaine paste, coming from Colombia through Ecuador, to be smuggled back towards Ipiales, Colombia. Military Concerned About Lack of GOC Border Presence -------------------------- -------------------------- 3. (SBU) At a visit of the 24th Special Forces Group of the 19th Jungle Brigade, 4th Division Military Command in Lago Agrio on April 17, Group CDR LTC Narvaez and other Ecuadorian military representatives described the lack of a permanent Colombian military presence on the Colombian side of the border in recent decades. The Colombian military utilizes mobile units for 15-30 day periods in the border area (often prompting FARC to seek refuge on the Ecuadorian side), and then pulls its soldiers out. Insurgents then return across the border. Ecuadorian military representatives said that in January they had detained two Colombians using Ecuador as an R&R point. There is only one legal border crossing in the 24th Special Forces Group operation area, but military contacts acknowledged that the entire border is permeable. Ecuadorian military representatives described the Center for Border Attention, a checkpoint built five years ago to comply with an agreement signed with Colombia to control migration and commerce. Colombia has yet to build an equivalent center on its side of the border and meanwhile, the Ecuadorian center remains unoccupied. AID Projects Help Border Town -------------------------- 4. (U) USG officials also visited USAID-funded projects in General Farfan, a parish town of over 1,200 residents 20 minutes north of Lago Agrio on the San Miguel River and Colombia border. The town is frequented by FARC militants, who use it as an R&R spot; one local official reported spotting FARC militants in the town on April 17. During a tour of town water system facilities, General Farfan officials described how they were maintaining the water system. A town representative said the user fees are successfully collected and meet operational costs of the system, guaranteeing its long term sustainability. At a riverfront esplanade, built as a retention wall to prevent flooding, the town's denizens turned out with pride to showcase the project, which has also boosted the town's appeal as a weekend and nightspot destination. Ecuadorian Leaders Pessimistic About Elections, Stability -------------------------- -------------------------- 5. (SBU) In Quito on April 18, Congressional deputies Luis Fernando Torres (Social Christian Party), Hugo Ibarra Parra (Liberty Movement), and Hugo Ruiz (Democratic Left) shared their views on the southern border, including Ecuadorian views on pending elections in Peru. The congressmen agreed that Ecuador's relations with its southern neighbor would worsen should Ollanta Humala be elected. They predicted that in a run-off between Humala and Alan Garcia, a large portion of Lourdes Flores' supporters would nullify their votes, benefiting Humala. On Colombia, Ruiz claimed that Uribe's popularity had reportedly dropped significantly recently. 6. (SBU) If Rafael Correa (former MinFin and populist presidential pre-candidate with alleged ties to Venezuela's Chavez) gains indigenous support, the deputies agreed, he might become a contender to enter the second round run-off. Should Correa make it to the second round, he would have the advantage as a populist, and the only candidate with an anti-system message. All agreed that if Correa won, he would be a disaster for Ecuador's development prospects. Nobody thought former President Gutierrez would be permitted to run for president, due to constitutional prohibitions. 7. (SBU) All agreed, however, that the next elected President is destined to fail. With Ecuador heading into the abyss, many Ecuadorians may be tempted to turn to an authoritarian leader, according to Torres. The Congress members thought a political alliance to pursue a minimum agenda was unlikely, given existing long-standing rivalries. They also doubted there was any chance for an FTA with the U.S. to be signed this year. Similar pessimism was expressed in a separate meeting by a group of thinkers and opinion makers. Comment -------------------------- 8. (SBU) The lack of a Colombian official presence on Ecuador's border remains striking, and clearly complicates GOE efforts to prevent penetration by irregulars. Progress developing the Ecuadorian side was apparent, during our visit, but there is clearly a need for more. 9. (SBU) Ecuadorians are generally a pessimistic bunch when talking about their own political system, which only makes it harder for them to seize opportunities to advance. We refuse to buy into the notion that nothing can be done by Ecuadorians of goodwill to strengthen Ecuador's democracy, and value the opportunity presented by high-level visits by Washington officials to encourage key leaders to play a responsible role. JEWELL |