Ecuador Hit from
Colombia Again
The raid carried out by
alleged Colombian
paramilitaries on a
bordering Ecuadorian
locality revives Friday
the diplomatic crisis
between both countries,
which have severed
diplomatic relations
since March.
The nation's Foreign
Minister Maria Isabel
Salvador said Thursday
night that the country
is preparing charges
against Colombia for the
entry of an armed group
from that territory to
the locality of San
Martin, in Barranca
Bermeja, province of
Sucumbios, and the
kidnapping of three
refugees.
"We will send our demand
through the
corresponding channels,
once we have all
information from
investigations carried
out by the Armed Forces
and the Police," she
pointed out.
In addition of the
minister, Deputy Defense
Minister Miguel Carvajal
alerted that although
they are not official
groups, Bogota is also
responsible for the
action.
After the accusation,
new troops were sent to
San Martin to step up
security, stated
Carvajal.
According to inhabitants
from that locality,
about 30 camouflaged
soldiers entered the
town Monday night and
after intimidating and
threatening people, they
captured three Colombian
refugees, generating
panic among inhabitants.
Security Minister
Gustavo Larrea said this
new incident evidences
that the Colombian
government does not
control or protect the
border with Ecuador.
Although they were
paramilitary groups, the
neighboring country
violated once more
Ecuador's sovereignty,
he noted.
This military raid takes
place amid a crisis
between Quito and Bogota
due to the Colombian
bombing on March 1 of a
secret camp of the
Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia (FARC)
in this territory,
considered a deliberate
transgression of this
country's sovereignty.
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