ECUADORIANS SUPPORT CORREA BUT WANT FARC OUT

id: 144243 date: 3/4/2008 21:11 refid: 08QUITO219 origin: Embassy Quito classification: CONFIDENTIAL destination: header: VZCZCXYZ0198 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHQT #0219/01 0642111 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 042111Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY QUITO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8584 INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 7399 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 2445 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ MAR BRASILIA 3852 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 2926 RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL 3367 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL -------------- header ends -------------- C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 000219 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2014 TAGS: PREL PTER MOPS EC CO SUBJECT: ECUADORIANS SUPPORT CORREA BUT WANT FARC OUT Classified By: DCM Jefferson Brown for Reasons 1.4 (b&d) ¶1. (SBU) Summary. A day after President Correa announced that Ecuador cut diplomatic relations with Colombia, the Constituent Assembly suspended its normal business to discuss the Colombian incursion. The Assembly is expected to adopt a resolution condemning the Colombian incursion. The text is also expected to rebuke the United States for allegedly assisting Colombia in the operation. Amidst much nationalist rhetoric in favor of Correa's position of protesting the violation of Ecuadorian sovereignty, some opposition members of the Assembly and other commentators called for the GOE to focus on expelling the FARC, and others called for an investigation into the Colombian accusations of GOE ties with the FARC. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) With President Correa traveling in the region and FM Salvador at the OAS on March 4, attention shifted to the Constituent Assembly. The Constituent Assembly put aside its constitutional drafting on March 4 to discuss the Colombian incursion, and has announced that it would adopt a resolution criticizing the GOC. Minister of Internal and External Security Gustavo Larrea visited the Assembly the morning of March 4 to explain the details of the incursion, which included charts and lasted over two hours. ¶3. (C) According to a statement by Cesar Rodriguez, President of the legislative committee, the resolution will include two main components: an exhortation to Latin American countries and to the world to respect peace, and a repudiation of the violation of national sovereignty. Patriotic Society Party (PSP) Assembly member Fausto Lupero told us that the resolution also includes language critical of U.S. assistance to the Colombian military operation. ¶4. (SBU) Alberto Acosta, President of the Assembly, appeared to express the opinion of the majority of Assembly members. He called the Colombian action "unacceptable" but added that this is also true of the presence of any "irregular force" in Ecuador. Proud and Sovereign Fatherland (PAIS) bloc members backed the GOE's statement denying any inappropriate ties between the Executive branch and the FARC. ¶5. (SBU) The opposition blocs demanded further explanation of interaction between the GOE and the FARC. Galo Lara of the PSP questioned, "How can the Assembly say no to an American base (sic) but have armed insurgents sleep in their pajamas in Ecuador as if it were their home?" Cesar Rohon of the Social Christian Party (PSC) and Mae Montano of the New Option movement (UNO) insisted that the Colombian accusations warrant investigation and that the GOE not only direct its criticism at the Colombian military but also at the FARC. Rafael Esteves, ex-PSP member, provided a letter to Acosta requesting the replacement of Minister of Defense, Wellington Sandoval, declaring that "Intelligence and the Armed Forces should have known about and provided a warning about the presence of the FARC." ¶6. (SBU) During the Assembly discussion, members also questioned the U.S. role in the Colombian military operation. Eduardo Zambrano asked why "information supplied via satellite is used for an attack on Ecuadorian soil, but can't be used to locate and eradicate coca fields," and said that it is time to rid Ecuador of the presence of foreign troops at Manta. Pedro de la Cruz was among those calling for an investigation of the U.S. "base" in Manta. ¶7. (SBU) Before departing Ecuador, President Correa spoke in a national broadcast on the evening of March 3 to explain to the Ecuadorian people why the GOE had cut diplomatic relations with Colombian and to calm concerns about travel between the two countries. He asserted that the incursion occurred at a time when the GOE was negotiating the released of FARC-held hostages, and that Uribe was aware of this. Minister Larrea called Colombian accusations about FARC links a "smoke screen" attempt by the GOC to divert attention from its incursion into Ecuadorian sovereignty. ¶8. (U) A poll taken on March 3 in Ecuador by Cedatos Gallup International and the National Consulting Center of Colombia, showed that 80 percent of respondents support President Correa's position, when asked about the incursion, the resulting deaths of Reyes and other FARC members, as well as Correa's protest regarding the lack of respect to Ecuadorian sovereignty. BROWN =======================CABLE ENDS============================