Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela crisis: 4-5 March 2008 (updated I)

Caracas, Venezuela, 4 March 2008. The Americas crisis continues. It was ignited by Colombia on 1 March 2008 when its military and police forces entered Ecuadorian territory to kill No 2 FARC leader, Raul Reyes,  and other guerrilla members. Colombian President Alvaro Uribe lied to his Ecuadorian counterpart by telling him there was a combat and his forces acted in self defense when killing FARC members in an area near their common border. After in loco investigations, the Ecuadorian military forces found otherwise.  Colombia had entered its territory unsolicited to launch night air raids 10 kms inside Ecuador and kill FARC members in their sleep. Pictures clearly show they were shot in their backs. Then, Colombian forces visited the temporary FARC camp and took the dead bodies of two FARC leaders to parade them in Bogotá; the left behind three injured  guerrilla women who were rescued by the Ecuadorian army. One of these women is Mexican. There is unconfirmed information another one is the daughter of FARC chief Marulanda. The role played by American bases in the area is still unclear.  As the crisis escalated, Venezuela shut off its Embassy in Bogotá and sent tanks to the common border with Colombia. Ecuador had sent troops to its Colombian border earlier. As the evidence of its infringement of International Law emerged, Colombia said both Ecuador and Venezuela had supported FARC which it considers a terrorist group. New evidence emerge that contact with FARC was done in the frame of humanitarian negotiation lo liberate Colombian hostages. Ecuador unveiled it was very close to achieve liberation of 14 hostages including ailing French Colombian citizen Ingrid Betancourt. France confirmed Colombian knew of those contacts which also included Spain and Switzerland.  According for a FARC communiqué, No 2 FARC leader, Raul Reyes, was negotiating an encounter with Franc President Sarkozy when he was killed.   Ecuador called for an urgent meeting of American State Organization (OAS) for today. It will gather at 15:00 when Ecuador will present a case for the illegal violation of his sovereignty.  Brazil and Chile are working hard for a diplomatic solution to the regional crisis. Quito cut off diplomatic relations with Colombia and Venezuela expelled Colombian Ambassador and staff. US has backed Colombia.

Today, Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa visited Lima, Peru, to explain the position of his country and ask for diplomatic support against Colombia. Correa will be visiting four other Latin American countries shortly.

After paying a short visit in Bogotá to just liberated hostage Gloria Polanco, Colombian President Avaro Uribe promised to take Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for  financing genocide. Colombian government is using information found in an undamaged computer supposedly belonging to Raul Reyes and that survived the air raid. The Colombian Venezuelan border has experienced increased control and commerce is disrupted. Petrol is not being sold to Colombians at the Venezuelan side of the border.

Updates: During the 34-member-OAS meeting this afternoon, most OAS members agree Colombia should give a satisfactory response to Ecuador. They also stress the inviolability of sovereignty and call for a Foreign Minister gathering before 11 March 2008. Ecuador asked for an investigation in situ for OAS and a peaceful solution of the controversy with Colombia. It concluded, Colombia had violated its sovereignty and the very OAS charter.  On the other hand, Colombia continued to link Ecuador and Venezuela to FARC as justification of its violation of International and Regional Law. Venezuela rejected allegations submitted by Colombia. It also stated the violation of Ecuador sovereignty was the outcome of a Colombian policy of genocide and war.

Speaking from Caracas, Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affair, Nicolas Maduro, also rejected as baseless the legal thread by Colombian President Alvaro Uribe against President Chavez. Uribe said he would be taking action against Chavez at the ICC.

Worried over the impact of this crisis on regional integration, Uruguay asked for an urgent meeting of Mercosur. The Rio Group is expected to analyse the crisis too at its gathering on 7 March 2008 at Dominican Republic. Bolivia asked for an UNASUR urgent meeting of Minister of Foreign Affairs on Thurday at Dominican Republic too.

At the end of the day, it seems that the diplomatic crisis among Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela has been brought to a temporary halt. It is now up to OAS to further the peace process and settle the issue before 11 March, 2008. Otherwise, the crisis might continue its path towards confrontation. It is very unlikely, Quito or Caracas would resume their formal diplomatic dealings with Bogota. Commercial relations might continue at a slow pace though. Humanitarian negotiations to release more Colombian hostages could take place if there is a satisfactory solution to the regional crisis by 11 March, 2008.

On 5 March 2008, 90% Venezuelan troops have made it to the border with Colombia. Ecuador continues to deply its troops slowly. OAS will continue to debate the crisis and the wording of a resolution today.  However,  an OAS investigation in site is underway. Other regional mechanism are also discussing the crisis. It is now clearer Ecuador is asking for a strong and quick regional condemnation of Colombian invasion of its territory as diplomatic apologies from Bogotá were not enough. President Correa contiues his 5 leg tour in the region. Correa is now in Brazil where he asked President Lula Da Silva to support his country by condemning the invasion of Colombia. From Buenos Aires, President Cristina Fernandez demanded a condemnation of Colombian invasion of Ecuador.

 After hearing some expert advice, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe decided to revise his legal thread against President Chavez for sponsoring and financing genocide. Some analyst find it a very difficult case as Colombian government had agreed at ICC to enter negotiations with paramilitaries and FARC to find peace. Evidence from a undameged computer might be disputable is not backed by other substancial evidence.  

Sources: Globovision, unionradio, BBC mundo, Caracol, RCN, El Comercio, LATimes, Hoy, El Universal, El Tiempo.ec, Le Figaro, La Hora,  El Universo, Liberation, Telesur, PrInside, PressTV, El Tiempo.co, Prensa Latina, RFI,

Related stories: Number 2 FARC guerrilla leader Raul Reyes killed (updated III), Chavez sends tanks to Colombian border,  Chavez closes Venezuelan Embassy in Colombia (Updated VII),