The Ecuadorean Government said Monday the FARC video wherein rebel commander ‘Mono Jojoy’ confirms the guerrillas gave money
to the 2006 campaign of Ecuador President Rafael Correa was manipulated by the Colombian authorities.
In a statement Ecuador mentioned “small details” which show that the video was manipulated, local media reported. For example, FARC commander ‘Mono Jojoy’ is wearing a handkerchief and a second later he appears without it.
The Ecuadorean Government also finds it suspicious that “according to Colombian sources the video was recorded one day after death of ‘Tirofijo’ [March 26, 2008], a period in which, again according to Colombian information, ‘Mono Jojoy’ was on the verge of death. Now, suddenly, at the same time, he is in good health.”
According to Ecuador, the manipulations of the FARC video is “obvious.”
Foreign minister of Ecuador, Fander Falconi, also highlighted the fact that the video was made public on the same day Ecuador announced “the recovery of the sovereignty of the Manta base,” a military base which was in the hands of the United States Army until July 17. It was also the same day on which Colombia announced the “the installation of [U.S.] military bases on Colombian territory.”
President Correa “will present the entire content [of the video] to the public” so that the Ecuadorean people can build their own opinion, Falconi announced.
Ecuadorean government in a difficult position. The Organization of
American States and international police organization Interpol are
investigating the tape. According to Colombia’s Prosecutor General,
Mario Iguaran, there
is enough evidence to prove Ecuador’s former Minister Gustavo Larrea
and former presidential adviser Jose Chauvin were the FARC’s emissaries
in the Correa administration.