• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

DATE=10/05/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-267532

TITLE=ECUADOR / COLOMBIA (L ONLY)

BYLINE=GREG FLAKUS

DATELINE=QUITO, ECUADOR

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: In Ecuador, there is growing concern about the civil war in neighboring Colombia and the effect it is having in the two South American nations' border region. As V-O-A's Greg Flakus reports from the Ecuadoran capital, Quito, there also is concern that U-S anti-drug efforts could further increase the risk for Ecuador.

TEXT: As the fighting intensifies in southwestern Colombia, the number of Colombians seeking refuge in Ecuador is on the increase. There are plans to build camps for as many as five-thousand refugees in areas close to the nearly one-thousand-kilometer-long border.

In many ways, the war has already spilled over into Ecuador. Crossings by armed groups from Colombia are frequent and some Ecuadorans have been victims of the violence. At the same time, however, merchants and, in particular, bar owners in some border towns are doing a thriving business with Colombian guerrillas who cross the border for rest and recreation.

Under a US-sponsored aid program for the region, called "Plan Colombia," Ecuador and other nations bordering Colombia will receive financial assistance for social programs in the border region. But Ecuador also is being directly involved in the fight against drug trafficking through what is called a Forward Operating Location for U-S military personnel assisting Ecuadoran forces in interdicting drugs.

One former Ecuadoran military man says this is a dangerous step.

/// ECUADORAN MAN - IN SPANISH - FADE UNDER ///

He says he is against allowing U-S military personnel to use the air base, located near the coastal city of Manta, because it could become a target for Colombian guerrillas, who rely on the cocaine trade for much of their financial support. Most of Ecuador's 12-million people favor the U-S assistance, but express the same worry about involvement in Colombia's troubles.

U-S officials say the Manta base is not related in any way to the Colombian conflict. It was established here in Ecuador after U-S forces left Panama last year under the terms of the 1977 Panama Canal Treaty. There are between 20 and 40 U-S military personnel on the base at any given time as they rotate in and out. Their job is to locate and identify vessels and planes carrying drugs, which are then apprehended by Ecuadoran forces.

The Manta base is seen by many people in the coastal area as an economic benefit because construction of the enlarged runway there has created jobs and the base itself is expected to generate employment. But as many Ecuadorans watch the nightmare continuing in Colombia, they remain nervous about any activity that could draw their nation into the violence. (Signed)

NEB/GF/JWH