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Reporter's Notebook: Christopher Fee

Pointing Fingers and Guns: Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela

Posted by Christopher Fee - March 3, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Raul Reyes and Julian Conrado, both high ranking FARC commanders, were killed in Ecuador, Saturday March 1, after the Colombian Military entered Ecuadorian territory bombing and raiding Reyes' location. The information on Reyes encampment was apparently provided by informants. A 5 million dollar reward for the capture of Reyes was being offered by the U.S.; this may have played a major role in the raid.
“According to Noticias Uno, which based its report on official sources, the report was a ploy to force Reyes to use his satellite phone again, which he did, enabling the Colombian military to pinpoint his location. Another phone call made by Reyes indicated that he would be at a specific spot on Feb. 29, Noticias Uno reported. The government added that it also obtained information from two individuals, in exchange for large rewards.” - ISPNEWS.net
Tensions have continued to rise as both Ecuador and Venezuela are now sending troops to their borders with Colombia, while recalling Ambassadors from Bogota, and warning against further incursions. Colombia claims they were in pursuit of the rebels within 1,800 meters of their border, though Ecuador has claimed Colombian forces went as far as 10 kilometers inside Ecuadorian territory, and killed the rebel leaders and 18 others while they slept. Ecuadorian President Correa stated: “this was a massacre, not a hot pursuit.”

More en español: Video News from Colombia announcing the death of Raul Reyes, and video of Ecuador's President Correa condemning the military incursion violating Ecuador's sovereignty.

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Possible Motive for Colombia's Military Incursion

Submitted March 4, 2008 - 2:24 am by Christopher Fee
According to Ana María Sanjuán, director of the Centre for Peace and Human Rights at the Central University of Venezuela believes a possible motive for Colombia’s military incursion into Ecuador this weekend may have been to disrupt the humanitarian exchange of hostages between the FARC and Venezuelan President Chavez, which led to the release of four hostages last week. She stated:

“What was Colombia’s objective? Clearly the whole operation was meticulously planned and executed. I think it has a lot do do with the humanitarian exchange,” she said, suggesting that Colombia’s aim might have been to prevent any further involvement for Mr Chávez in the resolution of Bogotá’s ongoing hostage crisis.-FT.com

Both France and President Correa had been negotiating with the FARC for the release of twelve more people, including former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, who is also a French citizen. Correa stated the Colombian Government was aware of the ongoing  talks, and France said they're contact was Raul Reyes, now deceased.

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