Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa on Saturday vowed to increase state presence in the border region and so “erase” all influence of Colombian left-wing guerrillas in the area.
The Ecuadorean Head of State called on his government to not only focus on the increase of troops in the northern region, but also increase access to public services.
Correa, speaking on his weekly television broadcast, stressed Ecuador has done a lot to increase the number of police and soldiers in the region, but now needs to “improve the presence of the State, not just with security forces, but with public services.”
According to the Ecudorean President, there are still many civilians living in the border region doing trade with the FARC. “Taking this into account, we must fight this influence of the FARC through public services.”
The border region has often been a reason for dispute between Colombia and Ecuador. Both Colombian guerrillas and paramilitaries are known to frequently cross the border.