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

Rahul: Thanks for your report, I am keeping an eye on the situation.

Nice article, though some of the facts conflict with other news reports I have read. The largest figure for the raid is around 3 km, not 10. Colombian helicopters flew south from Colombia (Though there is a lot of uncertainty on this fact), and the supposed links of Ecuador with the FARC were not the "justification" for the invasion of territory, they were rather mentioned as a complain to the OAS after the finding of documents on Reyes' computer. FARC leaders' bodies have not been paraded anywhere; I have not read anywhere else that Uribe lied to Correa about the raid being an act of self-defense, Colombian reports suggest that Colombian generals contacted Ecuadorian authorities before the raid (although I am not sure if they indicated the possibility of entering Ecuadorian territory) although Ecuadorian authorities deny this.

Bugmenot123. Thanks for your comments on my story.

• May I bring to your attention that on many occasions, the Ecuadorian government insisted Colombian forces entered its territory more than once. (Please read my relates stories) According to their official findings, an air raid was launched 10 km inside Ecuadorian territory. That explained why the air raid took place in a South North direction and not an East West one. The role played by American bases is to be investigated yet. I am glad you have mentioned it because it is precisely the reason why Ecuador insisted OAS should investigate the facts and make an official and impartial report. That is also the reason behind the rejection of a Colombian diplomatic note as a final explanation of the violation of Ecuadorian sovereignty.


• The body of two FARC leaders were taken to Bogota and paraded to the press and Colombian audiences. That is why a picture of a dead Raul Reyes in sleeping garment appeared in the Colombian newspaper own by the family of the current Defense Minister. Worse of all was the fact that three injured women were left behind unattended at the FARC camp in Ecuador. This shows the most striking fact about the invasion. It was brutal and inhumane. As you might be aware, even most dangerous prisoners have their human rights protected. No wonder, Justice is depicted as blind jus because it does not make distinctions.


• Regarding the arguments mentioned by Colombia against Ecuador and Venezuela, I invite to read or hear the Spanish version. You may find it at the OAS site. You may also read the Spanish Ecuadorian newspaper and governmental sites to learn that Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa was rather hurt by the lies of President Uribe. As you might have read already, Quito cut off diplomatic relations with Bogotá.    


• Bugmenot123, please feel free to write you own version or story on this crisis. Your profile does not contain any story yet. So, I very much hope you enrol in citizen journalism fully. Commenting on others stories is just one part of this great experience. Researching, writitng your own piece and publishing it are also geat. Perhaps, you may find that my way of citing sources is a bit overwhelming but it could be of help on your writing and when answering readers.