Colombia accused Ecuador of xenophobia after the latter announced it
took measures to limit the number of criminal Colombians entering the
country.
Colombians that want to enter the leftist neighbor will now have to show their police credentials. The measure, according to Ecuadorean authorities is to tackle the instability in the country Colombians have caused. Quito says Colombia’s violent conflict is spilling over to its territory.
“We are concerned that there is discriminatory, stigmatizing and maybe even xenophobic treatment from Ecuador,” Colombian Foreign Minister Jaime Bermúdez said.
According to Bermúdez, the measure is in violation of treaties signed by the two neighbors.
“Within the Andean Community countries can only ask for identity papers to allow entry,” Colombia’s foreign Minister added.
Ecuador and Colombia have strain relations after the Colombian army attacked a FARC camp on Ecuadorean soil on March 1, 2008.