ECUADOR MILITARY MOBILIZES TO NORTHERN BORDER

S E C R E T QUITO 000330 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2014 TAGS: MOPS MCAP MASS PTER PREL EC CO SUBJECT: ECUADOR MILITARY MOBILIZES TO NORTHERN BORDER REF: A. 07 QUITO 2570 ¶B. QUITO 0053 Classified By: Ambassador Linda Jewell for Reasons 1.4 (b&d) ¶1. (S/NF) Summary: Despite the break in diplomatic relations with Colombia which has suspended bilateral cooperation with the GOC, the Ecuadorian military has not reduced the intensity of its operations against the FARC near the northern border, which it began in November 2007. To the contrary, since early March the GOE has further increased its presence, mobilizing troops and equipment to key positions along the northern border, and launched another set of operations capitalizing on these assets. Embassy Quito has provided increased assistance to the Ecuadorian military's northern border operations. (End Summary) ECUADOR STEPS UP MILITARY OPERATIONS ¶2. (C) Beginning in November 2007, the Ecuadorian Army's Fourth Division has increased its efforts against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in a series of operations along the border with Colombia (Ref A). In 2007, the Ecuadorian military conducted a total of 17 battalion-sized operations (compared to just ten in 2006),a third of which occurred in the last 45 days of the year, destroyed 47 FARC camps, and eradicated 36 hectares of coca. In 2008, this commitment continues with six operations to date, and the destruction of three FARC camps. These operations demonstrate previously uncharacteristic resolve and coordination by the Ecuadorian military to press the attack and to continue surveillance and patrolling its border to eliminate additional FARC camps. PREVIOUS UPSWING IN COOPERATION WITH COLOMBIA ¶3. (S/NF) Prior to the March 1 Colombian incursion, unprecedented levels of cooperation between Ecuadorian Army intelligence and Colombian security forces had been developing for months and resulted in key seizures. For example, FARC deserters who turned themselves into Colombian authorities provided information on FARC camp locations in Ecuador, leading to the seizure in January of two FARC camps in Sucumbios province, Ecuador. On January 24, the Ecuadorian military seized an abandoned camp, locating barrels of precursor chemicals and detaining an important Colombian bomb-maker for the FARC 48th Front who arrived by boat during the operation. On January 25, the same deserter guided the Ecuadorian military to a major FARC munitions factory, seizing a machine shop that included an industrial-sized lathe and munitions (120 mm mortars, hundreds of pounds of black powder, 20-40 hand grenades, etc.). ECUADORIAN MILITARY NOT RELAXING FIGHT AGAINST FARC ¶4. (SBU) Since March 1, the Ecuadorian military has continued the same level of intensity in operations in the northern border, although without bilateral cooperation with Colombia. On March 6, the Ecuadorian military detained five armed FARC members in the Cofanes sector of Sucumbios province. On March 11, the Ecuadorian military discovered a multi-ton cocaine processing lab in the Puerto Nuevo sector of Sucumbios province, 800 meters from the Colombian border. Although no one was captured, the military seized precursor chemicals as well as mines and explosives. ¶5. (SBU) In Carchi province, also since March 1, the Ecuadorian Army 13th Brigade's 36th Cavalry Regiment and 39th Infantry Battalion conducted nearly 30 days of continuous patrolling operations in their assigned sectors (from El Chical, in western Carchi, to El Carmelo, in the East). During these patrols, the units destroyed several FARC operational support bases and captured many different types of chemicals used as precursors in cocaine processing. In Esmeraldas province, also in March, the Ecuadorian Army seized a precursor chemicals camp. GOE BOOSTS PRESENCE ALONG NORTHERN BORDER ¶6. (S/NF) Ecuadorian Army Fourth Division Commander General Narvaez told us that during March, the Ecuadorian military realigned units to reinforce the Fourth Division based in El Coca with operations throughout Sucumbios province. As part of this realignment, the Ecuadorian Military has taken the following steps: -- The Ecuadorian Army began movement of a helicopter squadron, from Pastaza province, north to Orellana province. So far it has six of its eight expected helicopters. -- In Sucumbios province, the Ecuadorian military stationed an 80-man Marine contingent at an Army detachment near General Farfan to patrol the San Miguel River, and a 100-man Air Force infantry contingent with the 56th Army Battalion to serve as the Fourth Division's Quick Reaction Force unit. -- The Ecuadorian Military has reassigned the 24th Special Forces Brigade as the 53rd Special Forces Brigade, exclusively dedicated to conducting 19th Jungle Brigade operations in Sucumbios. -- The 19th Jungle Brigade occupied USG-constructed detachments in Cooper (80 personnel) and Sansahuari (80 personnel) on March 24, which affords the 19th Brigade better control of a border area of Sucumbios province where the government had no previous presence. BIGGEST OPERATION YET ¶7. (S/NF) On April 5, the Ecuadorian Military began its largest operation of the year, mobilizing the 19th Brigade and some attached units, focusing on two targets in Sucumbios province: the area surrounding a bridge across the San Miguel river and a site approximately 12 miles northeast of Lago Agrio moving north. Both sites were designated as targets as a result of recent reconnaissance exercises by the Fourth Division's Long Range Reconnaissance and Surveillance unit. The Director of Operations (E3) of the Ecuadorian Army's Fourth Division Colonel Perez traveled to Quito on April 4 on orders from Fourth Division Commander General Narvaez to inform USG personnel about this operation. NORTHERN BORDER SECURITY ASSISTANCE ¶8. (SBU) The Military Group is pursuing several programs to equip, train and assist the Ecuadorian military, which receive critical funding from the Embassy's Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS) and the Southern Command. For example, the Military Group is building a third barracks near General Farfan, to be completed in December 2008, as well as a forward area refueling point in Puerto El Carmen and developing Ecuadorian riverine infrastructure. The Military Group is providing jet fuel for the operation of Ecuadorian helicopters, and is actively pursuing the acquisition of the following: 20 Excess Defense Article (EDA) helicopters, 15 locally built pyranha boats, four Boston whalers, 45 boat engines, radar parts, tools, and technical assistance. The Military Group also provides training, including in the use of Harris radio equipment and of night vision goggles, and to identify and handle precursor chemicals, among others. ¶9. (C) Embassy Quito reestablished a Northern Border Working Group (NBWG) in December 2007, chaired by the DCM, as an interagency effort to coordinate information and resources within the Mission targeted at the northern border region. The NBWG has formed three sub-groups that address specific issues and formulate policy recommendations: Operations/Intel, Information Operations/Public Affairs, and Development/Humanitarian Assistance. Jewell