'Ecuador incursion' into Colombia

[Judi Lynn]

Page last updated at 00:49 GMT, Tuesday, 1 April 2008 01:49 UK
'Ecuador incursion' into Colombia

Colombia's government has condemned what it called an incursion into its airspace by an Ecuadorian helicopter.

The Ecuadorian military helicopter was intercepted on Sunday by two Colombian helicopters before it returned to Ecuador, a Colombian statement said.

Relations have been tense since a Colombian raid into Ecuador on 1 March killed a senior Farc rebel leader.

The charge came after Ecuador sued Colombia in the international court at the Hague over anti-drug fumigation.

More:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7323715.stm

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Colombia accuses Ecuador of violating airspace
www.chinaview.cn 2008-04-01 10:02:14

BOGOTA, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Colombia Monday accused an Ecuadoran military helicopter of violating its airspace Sunday.

An Ecuadoran Air Force Gazelle helicopter entered Colombia at 11.10 a.m. local time (1610 GMT), and Colombian Black Hawk helicopters had tried and failed to establish radio contact with it, said a statement issued by the Colombian presidency.

Colombian soldiers identified two pilots and two passengers aboard the Ecuadoran aircraft, all in military uniform.

"The Ecuadoran craft descended suddenly and flew low to the south, not completing the instructions given," the statement said, adding that the Colombians had not chased the aircraft and that Ecuador's government had been informed.

More:
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-04/01/content_7896038.htm



_{George W. Bush} and his South American ally, Colombia's Álvaro Uribe

http://www.zefrank.com.nyud.net:8090/web/64.jpg http://www.zefrank.com.nyud.net:8090/web/75.jpg http://www.zefrank.com.nyud.net:8090/web/69.jpg

Why, oh why, did Ecuador's helicopter invade Colombia?

[Judi Lynn]

1. Ecuador sues Colombia in world court

The Associated Press March 31, 2008, 4:31PM ET
Ecuador sues Colombia in world court
By JEANNETH VALDIVIESO

QUITO, Ecuador

Ecuador is asking the International Court of Justice to force Colombia to halt spraying herbicides on coca fields along its border, Foreign Minister Maria Isabel Salvador announced Monday.

Salvador said Ecuador had tried to get Colombia to stop the spraying close to the border for seven years, and "the diplomatic process was exhausted."

The suit filed before the world court at The Hague comes at a time of tension between the South American neighbors because of a cross-border Colombian raid on a rebel camp -- an attack that Ecuador says violated its sovereignty.

Salvador told a news conference Ecuador has "overwhelming evidence" that the aerial spray has crossed the border "and as a result the health and economics of numerous Ecuadoreans have been seriously affected." The country says crops and livestock have been harmed.

Ecuador is asking the world court to rule that Colombia has violated its sovereignty. It wants the court to order Colombia to halt spraying within six miles of the border and pay for damages it has caused.

More:
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8VOKLPO0.htm



Drawing by Colombian children in Putumayo of the before and after effects of fumigation on their lands
(photo courtesy of Witness for Peace-Colombia).

[Judi Lynn]

2. Leave no editor behind:"Colombia lodges complaint against Colombia over spraying of coca fields near

Colombia lodges complaint against Colombia over spraying of coca fields near border
JEANNETH VALDIVIESO, Associated Press Writer

March 31, 2008 1:36 PM

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) - Ecuador is asking the International Court of Justice to force Colombia to halt spraying herbicides on coca fields along its border, Foreign Minister Maria Isabel Salvador announced Monday.

Salvador said Ecuador had tried to get Colombia to stop the spraying close to the border for seven years, and ''the diplomatic process was exhausted.''

The suit filed before the world court at The Hague comes at a time of tension between the South American neighbors because of a cross-border Colombian raid on a rebel camp - an attack that Ecuador says violated its sovereignty.

Salvador told a news conference Ecuador has ''overwhelming evidence'' that the aerial spray has crossed the border ''and as a result the health and economics of numerous Ecuadoreans have been seriously affected.'' The country says crops and livestock have been harmed.

More:
http://www.newspress.com/Top/Article/article.jsp?Section=WORLD&ID=565271920384542421