CIA Help in FARC Attack, Snowden,
Worsen Ties with U.S. (El Comercio, Ecuador)
"What explains this new point of contention between Quito
and Washington? ... The issue may be related to the last episode to fuel
bilateral tensions: CIA participation in Colombia's 2008 attack on a FARC camp in Angostura. ... In addition, Ecuador unilaterally
renounced the Andean Trade Preference Act due to 'pressure' being exerted by
Washington for Quito not to grant asylum to Edward Snowden."
The corpse of FARC commander Raul Reyes: Killed in a CIA-assisted Colombian attack on Ecuadorian territory, the episode figures into the country's dipleasure with the United States. The government of President Rafeal Correa is now demanding that Washington cut the number of military personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Quito, and wants the Inter-American Center for Human Rights moved out of Washington.
While
the government said Wednesday it will ask the United States to reduce the
number of soldiers at its embassy in Quito, it has taken no specific action.
And
as of Thursday afternoon [Jan. 23], the U.S. diplomatic mission said it hadn't
received a formal request the Foreign Ministry.
U.S.
Embassy spokesman Jeffrey Weinshenker said no
official document had arrived at the U.S. legation on the subject.
Neither
was there any new information from the government. The Ministry of Foreign
Affairs has issued no decision on the issue, which is the latest chapter in the
rarefied atmosphere that has been etched into bilateral relations for the past
eight months.
President
Rafael Correa's discomfort resides in the number of U.S. soldiers in the
country. According to the him, there are about 50 - which is a figure many
consider an exaggeration.
Washington
contrasted his statement with their figures. Spokesman Weinshenker
reiterated that there are "about 20" military and defense department
civilians working in Ecuador - and all of them have the appropriate
documentation from the Chancellery in Quito.
This
figure isn't far from the number of at the Ecuador Embassy in the U.S., where
at least 11 people who work as representatives of the armed forces and police.
According
to the Web site of the diplomatic mission, the military attaché of Ecuador's
land forces has two aides, an assistant and a secretary. Naval and air forces
have two aides and two assistants. Also, the police have two aides and an
assistant. Only the attaché to the secretary of the navy is a civilian.
What
explains this new point of contention between Quito and Washington? President
Correa argues that the subject is in itself outrageous, and one on which we
must act.
The
subject was noted
by The Washington Post on
December 23. As a result, Foreign Minister Ricardo Patiño
met with U.S. Ambassador Adam Namm.
Yet
according to President Correa, there has yet to be a satisfactory response from
the U.S. State Department on CIA cooperation in the operation, which triggered
a rupture of relations with Bogota.
Former
Foreign Minister Francisco Carrion says it's possible that demands for the U.S.
to reduce its military presence are connected to the Angostura attack. Carrion
also believes that if this logic is followed, Ecuador should also seek
information from Colombia. The attack was conducted under Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos,
who was defense minister at the time.
Beyond
that, over the last eight months there have been a number of developments that
have deepened differences between the Carondelet Palace and
the White House.
This
past May, Ambassador Namm took part in a ceremony on
the Day of Free Expression organized by the National Union of Journalists (UNP). This triggered Chancellor Patino's
first call to Namm, who he called a "graffiti
artist."
In
June, the Ecuadorian government didn't appreciate U.S. State Department
criticism of the passage of the Communications
Law.
For
the Correa Administration, this was an interference in Ecuador's internal
affairs, and even more offensive, it was a second rank official making such
comments on behalf of Barack Obama.
At
the time, Ecuador unilaterally renounced the Andean Trade Preference Act due to
"pressure" being exerted by Washington for Quito not to grant asylum
to Edward Snowden, who has revealed classified information.
And
in December, the Agency for International Development (USAID)
announced it
was pulling out of Ecuador. In addition, at an economic forum, Ambassador Namm referred to the risk Ecuador runs with its relations
with countries like Iran.
Despite
these points, Correa has also shown signs of not seeking a break in relations.
Indeed, this week he told
El Telégrafo
that he would have no problem meeting with Barack Obama, who he described as a
"good person."
