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