Ecuador's President Rafael Correa expels US official Armando Astorga

[Judi Lynn]

Ecuador's President Rafael Correa expels US official Armando Astorga
From correspondents in Quito | February 08, 2009
Article from: Agence France-Presse

ECUADOR'S President Rafael Correa has ordered the expulsion of a US official from the country, accusing him of treating the country like a colony.

Speaking on his weekly radio and television program, Mr Correa alleged the US official sought to link economic aid to allowing Washington to choose the head of the government's unit that counters smuggling.

Mr Correa ordered Ecuador's foreign minister to give the official, identified as Armando Astorga, 48 hours "to grab his suitcase and get out of the country! We are not going to accept anyone treating us like a colony".

Mr Correa read a letter he said was from Mr Astorga announcing the end of US aid for the anti-contraband unit.

"Mr Astorga, keep your dirty money, we don't need it. Here we have sovereignty and dignity. Keep your 340,000 dollars! Insolent fool!"

More:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25024020-12377,00.html

http://www.mef.gob.pa.nyud.net:8090/images/DSC08508.JPG

Armando Astorga, speaking

[Judi Lynn]

1. google translations of Spanish articles: Correa gives 48 hours of a U.S. embassy official to leave E

Correa gives 48 hours of a U.S. embassy official to leave Ecuador

President was outraged by a letter from Armando Astorga on the abolition of money to the police.

by EFE | 07/02/2009 - 16:30

The president of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, took 48 hours for an aggregate of U.S. Embassy leave the country after an official sent a letter to the General Command of the local police, which was described as "insolent"

"Lord Chancellor of the Republic (Fando Falconí), listen to me, gives 48 hours a gentleman Armando Astorga to take your bags and throughout this country. We are not going to accept that no one treats us as a colony," said Correa in weekly report of their work.

The president read a letter sent to the Police Command by Armando Astorga, who, as head of state, "adding he was the U.S. Embassy," but did not specify what unit.

In that letter, according to Correa, Astorga reportedly have decided to terminate "the understanding of logistical and operational support provided to the unit's operations center of the Anti National Intelligence of the National Police."

According to the Head of State, in the center, USA andalusia andalusia qualified staff and commander of the unit, which gave the order to "finish" with the situation.

For Correa, the letter of Astorga and other economic reprisals in this area respond to the decision taken by his government to end the rating on U.S. law enforcement personnel.

The letter of January 8 and made public today by Correa, Astorga reported that since January 9 2009 "are suspended $ 340,000 annual operational and logistical support" for that unit of the Police.

"Mr. Astorga, keep your dirty money, we do not need, here is the sovereignty and dignity, keep your $ 340,000, silly, rude," Correa said, adding that is returned "to the final draft" released by the United States for that dependence, because, he said, "Ecuador does not need charity from anyone."

The president noted that next Monday will be delivered to Astorga a letter to confirm that it is not required of $ 340,000 or $ 160,000 annual U.S. was to provide logistical and operational support for the national unit to combat trafficking in persons.

http://www.latercera.com/contenido/678_99798_9.shtml

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And, another one:

The president of Ecuador expels an aggregate of U.S. Embassy
20:04

The president of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, today gave a deadline of 48 hours for an aggregate of U.S. embassy outside the country, having qualified as "insolent" an official letter addressed to the General Command of the local police.

EFE In this letter, the diplomat reported that the U.S. was ended by "logistical and operational support to the Ecuadorian police, apparently in response to Correa's refusal to the United States qualified to Ecuadorian officials.

In its weekly report, said that Correa ordered the Foreign Minister of Ecuador, Falconi Fando, which "gives you 48 hours a gentleman Armando Astorga to take your bags and throughout this country. We are not going to accept that no one treats us as a colony. "

The president read a letter sent to the Police Command by Armando Astorga, who said that acting "as added by the U.S. embassy," but did not specify what unit.

In this missive Astorga reported that the U.S. was completed by "the understanding of logistical and operational support provided to the unit's operations center anticotrabando from the National Intelligence of the National Police of Ecuador.

For Correa, the letter of Astorga and other economic reprisals in this area, responding to its decision to end the rating on the U.S. police in Ecuador.

In the letter dated January 8, Astorga reported that since January 9 2009 "are suspended $ 340,000 annual operational and logistical support" for this unit of the Police.

"Mr. Astorga, keep your dirty money, we do not need, here is the sovereignty and dignity, keep your $ 340,000, silly, rude," said Correa in emphatic tone is returned to add that "until the last draft" released by State United for this unit because "Ecuador does not need charity from anyone."

The president said that next Monday will be delivered to Astorga a letter to confirm that it is not required of $ 340,000 or $ 160,000 per year that the U.S. would provide logistical and operational support for the national unity.

Correa said that the letter, Ecuador proposes giving a donation to U.S. $ 160,000 per year for a project to prevent torture in the United States because it is being tortured in prisons such as Guantanamo. "

"These gentlemen do not know who they are trying," he added to ensure that recently the U.S. Embassy, Heather Hodges, asked him to exit after this year's U.S. operations center of the Manta base (west) are allowed U.S. Coast Guard aircraft landing control drugs in Ecuadorian soil.

Correa said today that discussed the issue and said that it accepts the landing of aircraft, but with one condition: "That we have to qualify for the pilots of these aircraft to us not getting any offender in our country."

"We qualified pilots or not, I did not land any American plane," said Correa in ratifying the charter is Astorga "extremely serious".

He said this is a "spoiled and shameless intervention by an official at the U.S. Embassy in affairs of our country."

"This poor man does not have understood that Government is already here and we are not a U.S. colony, but in a dignified and sovereign country," stressed andalusia hoped that "in 48 hours this man is out of the country."

A source from the U.S. Embassy told Efe that this is an official Astorga legation, but did not specify what took charge and simply note that this is a "diplomat."

http://www.farodevigo.es/secciones/noticia.jsp?pRef=2009020700_7_295195__Mundo-presidente-Ecuador-expulsa-agregado-Embajada-EEUU

[Judi Lynn]

2. Ecuador's President Rafael Correa expels US official Armando Astorga

Ecuador's President Rafael Correa expels US official Armando Astorga
From correspondents in Quito | February 08, 2009
Article from: Agence France-Presse

ECUADOR'S President Rafael Correa has ordered the expulsion of a US official from the country, accusing him of treating the country like a colony.

Speaking on his weekly radio and television program, Mr Correa alleged the US official sought to link economic aid to allowing Washington to choose the head of the government's unit that counters smuggling.

Mr Correa ordered Ecuador's foreign minister to give the official, identified as Armando Astorga, 48 hours "to grab his suitcase and get out of the country! We are not going to accept anyone treating us like a colony".

Mr Correa read a letter he said was from Mr Astorga announcing the end of US aid for the anti-contraband unit.

"Mr Astorga, keep your dirty money, we don't need it. Here we have sovereignty and dignity. Keep your 340,000 dollars! Insolent fool!"

More:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25024020-12377,00.html

[Judi Lynn]

16. Worth noting to those of us who value the Ecuadorian president, from the last paragraph

in the AFP article:

Mr Correa, a leftist critic of the United States who enjoys a 70 per cent popularity rating, is running for a second four-year term as president in April elections.

Latin America forum DU'ers be watching, of course.

[John Q. Citizen]

3. This from google

http://www.leadershipdirectories.com/FRYBInfo/Armando_Astorga_DHS_Officer_United_States_Department_of_State.html

Armando Astorga
DHS Officer, United States Department of State

Armando Astorga is a member of Leadership® Online.

A complete Person Profile of Armando Astorga is available through Leadership Profiles on Demand® by clicking here.

A complete Organization Profile of United States Department of State is available through Leadership Profiles on Demand® by clicking here.

Armando Astorga and United States Department of State are listed in the and Federal Regional Yellow Book.

[EFerrari]

4. There is no entry for his profile. hmm.

[rabs]

5. Astorga bugged out

X-posting from LBN thread on same subject.


Article (in Spanish) today in El Comercio newspaper of Quito says Astorga left Ecuador last month, according to U.S. Embassy press attache. Suspect that Astorga got the word that he was in hot water and bugged out before he could be expelled.


Quito, EFE

El agregado de la embajada estadounidense Armando Astorga, cuya expulsión ordenó ayer el presidente de Ecuador, Rafael Correa, salió del país en enero pasado, indicó a Efe una fuente de esa legación diplomática en Quito.

Astorga, agregado del departamento de Temas de Migración, Aduana y Trata de Personas, dejó Ecuador a principios de enero como parte de "una rotación normal" de personal, dijo Marta Youth, jefa de prensa de la embajada.

Correa dio hoy un plazo de 48 horas para que Astorga salga del país, tras calificar de "insolente" una carta que este dirigió a la Comandancia General de la Policía local.

(Translation mine)

U.S. attache Armando Astorga, whose expulsion was ordered by President Rafael Correa, left the country in January, a source from that diplomatic mission in Quito indictated to Efe.

Astorga ... left Ecuador as part of a "normal rotation" of personnel, said embassy press chief Marta Youth.

Correa today gave a period of 48 hours for Astorga to leave the county ...


http://www.elcomercio.com/noticiaEC.asp?id_noticia=2557...

[Bacchus39]

6. so much for that then n/t

s

[rabs]

7. Not quite so much for that

It was my experience in Latam that when a diplomat finished his mission and was going to a new destination, that diplomat's embassy would inform that nation's foreign ministry as a courtesy. There would also be a round of farewell cocktail parties by other diplomats wishing the departing envoy good luck in his new destination.

In this case, it looks that the gringo embassy did not tell the foreign ministry and that is why Correa was not aware that Astorga had already left. I suspect that there are some red faces at the ministry but it was not their or Correa's fault; they simply were not told Astorga had bugged out.

Astorga seems to have been tipped off about his impending expulsion and he sneaked out like a thief in the night after his "insolent" letter to Ecuadoran police, in which he tried to set the terms for U.S. aid.

[Bacchus39]

8. I thought the same thing and suspect you're right but do have another angle

I find it somewhat difficult to believe that the president is aware of all the departures of all foreign diplomats particularly since they are on a rotation for the US at least. nonetheless, his foreign ministry may have been informed as I find it hard to believe that no-one in the Ecuador diplomatic community didn't know he was leaving. and that's even if the US didn't inform the Ecuadorians.

yes, kind of embarrassing. and before saying that publicly it may have been a good idea to inquire a little about the guy.


I guess the tip-off thing might be plausible but its been several weeks now so at the very least someone in Ecuador wasn't doing their homework.

[rabs]

9. I can't figure out the timeline

The U.S. ambassador was hauled into the foreign ministry yesterday, highly unusual for something like this to happen on a Sunday. Oh, to have been a fly on the wall.

What I cannot find is the timeline of when Astorga left the country after his Jan. 8 letter to police headquarters. Occurs to me two options: Astorga knew he was leaving the country so he sent his missive as a parting shot; or, he sent the letter, found out about the coming fury and left the country in a hurry.

http://www.kansascity.com/451/story/1025228.html

[Bacchus39]

10. your post number 5 cites the US embassy press director as early January

Astorga, agregado del departamento de Temas de Migración, Aduana y Trata de Personas, dejó Ecuador a principios de enero como parte de "una rotación normal" de personal, dijo Marta Youth, jefa de prensa de la embajada.

so Correa's "expulsion" order came about a month later. I would throw out a guess and say that the summoning of the ambassador was due, in part, to the fact that Astorga already left. the embarrassment factor if you will.

since Correa said he was expelling the diplomat who had already left, I find the latter of your postulations to be unlikely.

[rabs]

11. One last thought on the timeline

I tend to agree that maybe the ambassador was summoned on a Sunday and read the riot act for, as you say, the "embarrassment factor."

Just spoke to an Ecuadoran lady who lives in our town and asked her in general what did "principios de enero" mean in Ecuador. She said generally it was the first ten days of the month. "Mediados de enero" Jan. 11 to Jan. 20 and "fines de enero" Jan. 21 to the end of the month. But she said it was give or take a couple of days.

Going to try to contact someone in Quito or Guayaquil to see if someone knows the exact date. The whole thing is now kinda moot, but I am curious. If I find out, will advise you.

[Bacchus39]

12. the case itself perhaps is a preview of foreign relations to come

first, yeah principios are the early part of the month. so we are talking a good 4 weeks between his departure and Correa's expulsion order. On the Ecuadorian side, I reiterate, someone wasn't checking or even asking questions on this guy.


but the real issue is the distribution of foreign aid and how it is then used by the recipient. It seems a deal was certainly in the works for some funding to the police but Ecuadorians didn't like the terms so the US guy withdrew the offer. It strikes me as odd that Ecuador would expel the guy a month after receiving the letter retracting the funds rather than when he made the demands for who would be in charge in the first place.

so will countries willingly accept US funds provided there are no conditions attached??? shouldn't some conditions be attached?

[rabs]

13. Correa accuses Astorga of theft

Correa is definitely P.O.ed with Astorga. Today he accused Astorga of making off with computers and information regarding Ecuadoran national security.


http://www.eluniverso.com/2009/02/10/1/1355/57FE6DD8D7B64BC08502ED3066E69D28.html

[Bacchus39]

14. well, Secretary of State Clinton should personally see its investigated

although Correa compounding his embarrassment with these accusations isn't beyond belief either.

[rabs]

15. There will surely be an investigation at State

After all, a U.S. ambassador being summoned to the Foreign Ministry at 7:30 in the evening on a Sunday night surely raised red flags in the Western Hemisphere Division at the State Department. I am sure that the ambassador fired off a rocket to Foggy Bottom that same night.

Btw, the ambassador has only been in Ecuador since August of 2008. A Condi Rice appointment. The female ambassador previously was ambassador to Moldova. Moldova? It makes me wonder because U.S. (read it the Bushie's mis-administration's) relations with Ecuador were already on the downslide after Correa was elected.

The charges by Correa that Astorga absconded with information regarding Ecuadoran national security is no laughing matter for Quito. I suspect that Astorga's diplomatic career has been dealt a severe blow, if in fact he is a diplomat.