

Currently released so far... 12553 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/08
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
APECO
ASEC
AMGT
AFIN
APER
ACABQ
AORC
AEMR
AF
AE
AR
AGMT
AU
AY
ABLD
AS
AG
AJ
APCS
AX
AM
AMEX
ATRN
ADM
AMED
AFGHANISTAN
AZ
AL
ASUP
AND
ARM
ASEAN
AFFAIRS
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
AODE
APEC
ACBAQ
AFSI
AFSN
AO
ABUD
AC
ADPM
ADCO
ASIG
ARF
AUC
ASEX
AGAO
AA
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
AIT
AADP
ASCH
AORL
AROC
ACOA
ANET
AID
AMCHAMS
AINF
AMG
AFU
AN
ALOW
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
ACS
ADANA
AECL
ACAO
AORG
AGR
BEXP
BR
BM
BG
BL
BA
BTIO
BO
BP
BC
BILAT
BK
BU
BD
BRUSSELS
BB
BF
BBSR
BIDEN
BX
BE
BH
BT
BY
BMGT
BWC
BTIU
BN
CA
CASC
CFED
CO
CH
CS
CU
CE
CI
CM
CMGT
CJAN
COM
CG
CIS
CVIS
CR
CKGR
CHR
CVR
COUNTER
CIA
CLINTON
CY
CPAS
CD
CBW
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CDG
CW
CODEL
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
COE
CN
CARICOM
CB
CONDOLEEZZA
CWC
CACS
CSW
CIDA
CIC
CITT
CONS
CL
CACM
CDB
CDC
CAN
CF
CJUS
CTM
CBSA
CARSON
CT
CLMT
CBC
CEUDA
CV
COPUOS
CTR
CROS
CAPC
CAC
CNARC
CICTE
CBE
ECON
ETRD
EIND
ENRG
EC
ELAB
EAGR
EAID
EFIS
EFIN
EINV
EUN
EG
EPET
EAIR
EU
ELTN
EWWT
ECIN
ERD
EI
ETTC
EUR
EN
EZ
ETC
ENVI
EMIN
ET
ENVR
ER
ECPS
EINT
EAP
ES
ENIV
ECONOMY
EXTERNAL
EINN
EFTA
ECONOMIC
EPA
EXBS
ECA
ELN
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENGR
ECUN
ENGY
ECONOMICS
ELECTIONS
EIAR
EINDETRD
EREL
EUC
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
ENERG
EFIM
EAIDS
EK
ETRDECONWTOCS
EINVETC
ECONCS
EUNCH
ESA
ECINECONCS
EUREM
ESENV
EFINECONCS
ETRC
ENNP
EAIG
EXIM
EEPET
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EUMEM
ETRA
ERNG
ETRO
ETRN
EINVEFIN
ICTY
IN
IS
IR
IC
IZ
IA
INTERPOL
IAEA
IT
IMO
IO
IV
ID
IRAQI
IEA
INRB
IL
IWC
ITU
ICAO
ISRAELI
ICRC
IIP
IMF
IBRD
ISLAMISTS
ITALY
ITALIAN
ILO
IPR
IQ
IRS
IAHRC
IZPREL
IRAJ
IDP
ILC
ITF
ICJ
IF
ITPHUM
INMARSAT
ISRAEL
IACI
IBET
ITRA
INR
IRC
IDA
ICTR
IGAD
INRA
INRO
IEFIN
INTELSAT
INTERNAL
INDO
ITPGOV
KWMN
KSCA
KDEM
KTFN
KIPR
KCRM
KPAL
KE
KPAO
KPKO
KS
KN
KISL
KFRD
KJUS
KIRF
KFLO
KG
KTIP
KTER
KRCM
KTIA
KGHG
KIRC
KU
KPRP
KMCA
KMPI
KSEO
KNNP
KZ
KNEI
KCOR
KOMC
KCFC
KSTC
KMDR
KFLU
KSAF
KSEP
KSAC
KR
KGIC
KSUM
KWBG
KCIP
KDRG
KOLY
KAWC
KCHG
KHDP
KRVC
KBIO
KAWK
KGCC
KHLS
KBCT
KPLS
KREL
KCFE
KMFO
KV
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFTFN
KVPR
KTDB
KSPR
KIDE
KVRP
KTEX
KBTR
KTRD
KICC
KCOM
KO
KLIG
KDEMAF
KMRS
KRAD
KOCI
KSTH
KUNR
KNSD
KGIT
KFSC
KHIV
KPAI
KICA
KACT
KHUM
KREC
KSEC
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCMR
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KNAR
KNUC
KPWR
KENV
KWWMN
KWMNCS
KPRV
KOM
KBTS
KCRS
KNPP
KWNM
KRFD
KVIR
KTBT
KAID
KRIM
KDDG
KRGY
KHSA
KWMM
KMOC
KSCI
KPAK
KX
KPAONZ
KCGC
KID
KPOA
KIFR
KFIN
KWAC
KOMS
KCRCM
KNUP
KMIG
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KTLA
KCSY
KJUST
MOPS
MARR
MASS
MNUC
MX
MCAP
MO
MR
MI
MD
MK
MA
MP
MY
MTCRE
MOPPS
MASC
MIL
MTS
MLS
MILI
MAR
MU
MEPN
MAPP
MTCR
MEPI
MZ
MEETINGS
MG
MW
MAS
MT
MCC
MIK
ML
MARAD
MV
MERCOSUR
MTRE
MPOS
MEPP
MILITARY
MDC
MQADHAFI
MUCN
MRCRE
MAPS
MEDIA
MASSMNUC
MC
NZ
NZUS
NL
NU
NATO
NP
NO
NIPP
NE
NH
NR
NA
NPT
NI
NSF
NG
NSG
NAFTA
NC
NDP
NEW
NRR
NATIONAL
NT
NS
NASA
NAR
NV
NORAD
NSSP
NK
NPA
NGO
NSC
NATOPREL
NW
NPG
NSFO
OPDC
OTRA
OIIP
OREP
OVIP
OSCE
OEXC
OIE
OPRC
OAS
OPIC
OTR
OMIG
OSAC
OFFICIALS
OECD
OSCI
OBSP
OFDA
OPCW
ODIP
OFDP
OES
OPAD
OCII
OHUM
OVP
ON
OIC
OCS
PHUM
PREL
PGOV
PINR
PTER
PARM
PREF
PM
PE
PINS
PK
PHSA
PBTS
PRGOV
PA
PORG
PP
PS
PGOF
PL
PO
PARMS
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PAK
POL
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PREFA
PALESTINIAN
PBIO
PINF
PNG
PMIL
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PAO
POLITICS
PHUMBA
PSEPC
PTBS
PCUL
PROP
PNAT
PNR
POLINT
PGOVE
PROG
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PROV
PHUMPREL
PGOC
PY
PCI
PLN
PDOV
PREO
PGIV
PHUH
PAS
PU
POGOV
PF
PINL
POV
PAHO
PRL
PG
PRAM
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POLICY
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PGGV
PHUS
PSA
PHUMPGOV
PEL
PSI
PAIGH
POSTS
PBT
PTERE
RS
RU
RW
RM
RO
RP
REGION
RSP
RF
RICE
RCMP
RFE
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
ROBERT
RUPREL
RELATIONS
ROOD
REACTION
RSO
REPORT
SENV
SNAR
SCUL
SR
SC
SOCI
SMIG
SI
SP
SU
SO
SW
SY
SA
SZ
SAN
SF
SN
STEINBERG
SG
ST
SIPDIS
SNARIZ
SNARN
SSA
SK
SPCVIS
SOFA
SAARC
SL
SEVN
SARS
SIPRS
SHUM
SANC
SWE
SHI
SYR
SNARCS
SPCE
SYRIA
SEN
SH
SCRS
SENVKGHG
TRGY
TSPL
TPHY
TSPA
TBIO
TI
TW
THPY
TX
TU
TS
TZ
TC
TH
TT
TIP
TO
TERRORISM
TRSY
TINT
TN
TURKEY
TBID
TL
TV
TNGD
TD
TF
TP
TFIN
TAGS
TK
TR
UNSC
UK
UNGA
UN
US
UNHRC
UG
UP
UNMIK
UNHCR
UE
USTR
UNVIE
UAE
UZ
UY
UNO
UNESCO
USEU
USOAS
UV
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNEP
UNIDROIT
UNDESCO
UNDP
UNPUOS
UNC
UNAUS
USUN
UNCHC
UNCHR
UNCND
UNICEF
UNCSD
UNDC
USNC
USPS
USAID
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 09QUITO233, POLICE UNIT INVESTIGATED WHILE CHAUVIN CASE INCHES
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09QUITO233.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
09QUITO233 | 2009-04-02 22:27 | 2011-04-07 07:30 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Quito |
Appears in these articles: http://www.eluniverso.com/2011/04/07/1/1355/cable-200475.html |
VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHQT #0233/01 0922227
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 022227Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY QUITO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0227
INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 8080
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 4135
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 3488
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ APR LIMA 3139
RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL 4240
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHDC
RHEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 000233
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: TWENTY YEARS
TAGS: SNAR PTER PREL PGOV KCRM EC CO
SUBJECT: POLICE UNIT INVESTIGATED WHILE CHAUVIN CASE INCHES
FORWARD
REF: A. QUITO 227
¶B. QUITO 177
¶C. QUITO...
id: 200475
date: 4/2/2009 22:27
refid: 09QUITO233
origin: Embassy Quito
classification: CONFIDENTIAL
destination: 09QUITO103|09QUITO153|09QUITO177|09QUITO227
header:
VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHQT #0233/01 0922227
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 022227Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY QUITO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0227
INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 8080
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 4135
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 3488
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ APR LIMA 3139
RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL 4240
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHDC
RHEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
----------------- header ends ----------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 000233
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: TWENTY YEARS
TAGS: SNAR PTER PREL PGOV KCRM EC CO
SUBJECT: POLICE UNIT INVESTIGATED WHILE CHAUVIN CASE INCHES
FORWARD
REF: A. QUITO 227
¶B. QUITO 177
¶C. QUITO 153
¶D. QUITO 103
Classified By: Ambassador Heather M. Hodges for Reasons 1.4 (b&d)
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Ecuador's "narco-politics" scandal is
playing out in perverse ways. The good guys ) key personnel
of a specialized police unit that was responsible for most of
the GOE's success against narco-traffickers ) are under
investigation by the GOE for returning USG computers and fear
FARC reprisals. Government Minister Jalkh has taken a few
steps to restore the integrity of the unit, but its future
effectiveness remains highly in doubt. Meanwhile, the case
against one of the bad guys ) former Under Secretary
Chauvin, whose ties to FARC narco-trafficking were uncovered
by the police unit ) is at least inching forward due to the
courage of the prosecutor. But President Correa is
threatening reprisals against the prosecutor and intends to
bring another bad guy, Chauvin ally and former minister
Gustavo Larrea, back into the cabinet. END SUMMARY.
GOVERNMENT MINISTER INTERVENES IN ADMINISTRATION OF SPECIAL
POLICE UNIT
¶2. (C) After two very bad months, the Special Police
Investigative Unit (UIES), formerly supported by the USG,
experienced a mixed bag of changes over the past two weeks.
This is the unit that uncovered former Government Under
Secretary Ignacio Chauvin's alleged ties to narcotraffickers
(Ref C) and carried out many other operations critical to the
success of Ecuador's fight against narcoterrorism. However,
the UIES lost its leadership and key personnel on February 4
when Police Commander Jaime Hurtado transferred them out of
the unit (Ref D), replacing the unit chief with Major Rafael
Perez. Due to his failure to pass a polygraph test and the
GOE's refusal to vet Perez and other personnel for the elite
unit, the USG was forced to end its support, which the press
reports amounted to approximately $2 million annually and
essentially financed its operations.
¶3. (C) One positive development was Minister of Government
and Police Gustavo Jalkh's request on March 25 that Police
Commander Hurtado remove Perez as UIES Chief because he did
not have the "profile appropriate to manage a special police
unit," explaining that it should be led by an officer with
the rank of at least colonel. Two days later, Hurtado
announced that the unit would be led by Colonel Juan Carlos
Rueda, who was trained in tactics under the Group of
Intervention and Rescue, served as the Chief of the Judicial
Police of Guayas province, and most recently worked in the
Commission of Police Reforms. Rueda is someone we think we
may be able to work with.
¶4. (C) In another constructive move, Minister Jalkh on March
24 criticized transfers ordered by Hurtado in early February
and requested that all transfers be suspended for 60 days,
saying that "constant transfers of police personnel have
provoked a lack of continuity in the work they perform, which
has had an effect on the efficiency of their work."
¶5. (C) On the negative side of the ledger, however, Minister
Jalkh announced plans for the unit to report directly to the
General Directorate of Intelligence (which will report to the
Presidency). The impact of other decisions is less clear:
Jalkh said the unit would be funded by national resources and
"countries that want to support the work of this group
against organized crime," and include the use of Ecuadorian
polygraph testing in the recruitment of personnel. Hurtado
decided to change the name of the unit to the Fight Against
Organized Crime Unit.
FORMER UIES CHIEF SUBJECT TO INVESTIGATION AND THREATS
¶6. (C) Major Manuel Silva, who had served as the UIES Chief
until February 4, responded on March 24 to accusations of
improper conduct, specifically regarding the controversial
"handover of sensitive information" to the U.S. Embassy upon
the unit's return of Embassy-donated computers and equipment.
He stated that Police Commander Hurtado had authorized the
return of all the equipment. (Note. The information
contained in the computers has been jointly shared and
collaborated upon between the unit and the Embassy for
several years. End Note.)
¶7. (C) Major Silva filed a formal complaint on March 24 with
the Prosecutor General's office, urging it to investigate the
alleged burning of critical documents in the UIES unit
ordered by Major Perez. According to Silva, Perez ordered
the burning of the documents with the intent of alleging
their "disappearance" in order to implicate Silva further.
¶8. (SBU) In early February, the newly appointed UIES chief
Major Perez had accused former UIES chief Major Silva and
three other former UIES officials with the rank of captain of
delivering the computers to the U.S. Embassy. Following
review and a decision by a Council of Generals, the case
against Silva and the three captains was handed to the
Ministry of Government and Police on February 16. Based on a
subsequent report from Minister Jalkh and Minister of
Internal and External Security Miguel Carvajal, a prosecutor
of the Miscellaneous Crimes Unit opened a case on March 18 to
investigate Silva and the UIES unit. Meanwhile, the
Legislative Commission accepted a request by the Popular
Democratic Movement to conduct its own investigation of the
UIES unit.
¶9. (C) Attorneys for the captains have complained that the
investigation has violated their defendants' rights and that
the review process by the Council of Generals was unjust and
did not allow for an appeal and was not transparent. Family
and friends of Major Perez protested in front of the
Ecuadorian National Police headquarters on March 31 demanding
that the case against Silva be transparent and fair.
¶10. (C) As a consequence of the very public nature of the
transfer and investigation of former UIES chief Silva and
others in the unit, including the daily appearance of Silva's
name and photo in the press, Silva and the others have had
their personal security put at risk as potential FARC
targets. Silva is currently in hiding and has been promised
security by the GOE, but his family reportedly has not yet
been contacted to coordinate this protection.
WHO HAS THE CASE?
¶11. (C) Guayas province Prosecutor Antonio Gagliardo decided
March 24 to allow cases to proceed against Chauvin and 25
others implicated in the UIES's Border Hurricane operation
against narcotraffickers. This allowed the cases to advance
to the next stage in the judicial process, namely a court
hearing. Gagliardo held back three cases for further review.
Counternarcotics Prosecutor Jorge Solorzano had filed
charges against all 29 on March 9.
¶12. (C) Attempts to change the judge and jurisdiction in the
Chauvin case failed. A Guayas province judge had earlier
reviewed a complaint filed by one of the defendants regarding
the jurisdiction of the case and announced that the original
judge Zoila Alvarado would no longer hear the case, and that
it would be transferred to Esmeraldas. However, the Guayas
district court returned the case to Judge Alvarado on March
13, so she still has jurisdiction, at least for now.
IS LARREA COMING BACK?
¶13. (C) A Political Control and Oversight Committee of the
interim Legislative Commission, responding to a call by Julio
Logrono of former president Lucio Gutierrez' Patriotic
Society Party (PSP), decided to carry out an investigation
into former minister Gustavo Larrea's authorization of or
consent to Ignacio Chauvin's seven admitted meetings with the
FARC. The committee began its ten day review on March 31.
The investigation will stretch well past the April 26
elections.
¶14. (C) Defending Larrea, President Correa announced during
his March 14 weekly radio/TV address that he would request
that the Prosecutor General investigate Prosecutor Solorzano,
"because what he has done is just a show. As a result, what
they have done is accuse Chauvin of being an accomplice, as
well as Gustavo (Larrea), but haven't found anything."
Correa then added that he intended to reintegrate former
Security Minister Larrea back into his cabinet. To date,
however, he has not appointed Larrea to any cabinet position.
¶15. (C) Responding to statements by PSP and the Commission
questioning Larrea's ties to the FARC, Larrea held a press
conference on March 26. He stressed that the Correa
government's efforts in the northern border region were
unprecedented and that there was a campaign to link the GOE
to the FARC. He refuted any allegations of his own ties to
the FARC. Larrea accused expelled diplomat Mark Sullivan of
being the point-man of a structured USG system of
intelligence for the region and the CIA of participating in a
plot against the Correa government.
¶16. (C) Larrea's appointment (if it happened) would be his
third rise to Correa's cabinet, having served first as
Minister of Government and Police and then as Coordinating
Minister of Internal and External Security. However,
Correa's recent comments in defense of Larrea are likely just
an attempt to persuade voters that the GOE is clean and to
appease Larrea supporters.
COMMENT
¶17. (C) Despite a couple of steps forward, effective
prosecution and sentencing of those accused of
narcotrafficking as a result of the UIES's Border Hurricane
operation will likely be stymied by Ecuador's ineffective
legal system. Meanwhile, the ability of Ecuador's police to
combat and investigate other narcotrafficking cases is
suffering, at least in the short term. For example, due to a
lack of training and experience, Ecuadorian polygraphing will
not likely be carried out in an effective or reliable manner.
Even more problematic is the fact that the UIES and other
special investigation units will now be managed by political
appointees in the General Directorate of Intelligence. In an
environment of slow-moving investigations and increasing
political control, the door is open for the Correa government
to shape the outcomes and divert public attention away from
any suggestion of GOE narco ties.
HODGES
=======================CABLE ENDS============================