

Currently released so far... 12404 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
ASEC
AE
AF
AM
AR
AJ
AU
AORC
AG
AEMR
AMGT
APER
AGMT
AL
AFIN
AO
AMED
ADCO
AS
ABUD
ABLD
ASUP
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
APECO
AID
AND
AMBASSADOR
AN
ARM
AY
AODE
AMG
ASCH
AMCHAMS
ARF
APCS
APEC
ASEAN
AGAO
ANET
ADPM
ACOA
ACABQ
AORL
AFFAIRS
ATRN
ACS
AFSI
AFSN
ADANA
ASIG
AA
AX
AUC
AC
AECL
AADP
AGRICULTURE
AMEX
ACAO
ACBAQ
AQ
AORG
ADM
AINF
AIT
ASEX
AGR
AROC
ATFN
AFGHANISTAN
AFU
AER
ALOW
AZ
AVERY
BA
BY
BU
BR
BE
BL
BO
BK
BM
BILAT
BH
BEXP
BF
BTIO
BC
BBSR
BMGT
BTIU
BG
BWC
BB
BD
BX
BP
BRUSSELS
BN
BIDEN
BT
CW
CH
CF
CD
CV
CVIS
CM
CE
CA
CJAN
CLINTON
CIA
CU
CASC
CI
CO
CACM
CDB
CN
CMGT
CS
CG
CBW
CIS
CR
CONDOLEEZZA
CPAS
CAN
CWC
CY
COUNTER
CDG
CL
CT
CIC
CIDA
CSW
CHR
CB
CODEL
COUNTERTERRORISM
CTR
COM
CICTE
CFED
CJUS
CKGR
CBSA
CEUDA
CARSON
CONS
CITEL
CLMT
CROS
CITT
CAC
CVR
CDC
CAPC
COPUOS
CBC
CBE
CARICOM
COE
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CACS
CTM
CNARC
ECON
EFIN
ETRD
EUN
EFIS
EG
ETTC
EZ
EPET
EAID
EAGR
ENRG
ECUN
EU
ELAB
ECPS
EAIR
EINV
ELTN
EWWT
EIND
EMIN
EI
ECIN
ENVR
ELECTIONS
EINVEFIN
EN
ES
ER
EC
EUC
EINT
EINVETC
ENGR
ET
EK
ENIV
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ECONOMY
EAP
EFTA
EUR
EUMEM
EXIM
ERD
ENERG
EUREM
ESA
ERNG
EXTERNAL
EPA
EINVECONSENVCSJA
ECONOMICS
ELN
EINN
EFINECONCS
ENNP
EEPET
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ENVI
ETRO
ESENV
ECINECONCS
ECONOMIC
EAIDS
EDU
ETRA
ETRN
EFIM
EIAR
ETRC
EAIG
EXBS
EURN
ECIP
EREL
ECA
ENGY
ECONCS
ECONEFIN
ETC
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUNCH
EINDETRD
IR
IZ
IS
IAEA
INRB
IRAJ
IQ
IN
IT
IMO
INTERPOL
ICAO
IO
IC
ITALY
ITALIAN
IRAQI
ICTY
ID
IPR
IWC
ILC
INTELSAT
IL
IBRD
IMF
IA
IRC
ICRC
ILO
ITU
ITRA
IV
IDA
IAHRC
ICJ
ISRAELI
IRS
INMARSAT
ISRAEL
ISLAMISTS
INDO
IZPREL
ITPHUM
ITPGOV
ITF
IBET
IEFIN
INR
IACI
INTERNAL
IDP
IGAD
IEA
ICTR
IIP
INRA
INRO
IF
KJUS
KSCA
KNNP
KU
KCOR
KCRM
KDEM
KTFN
KHLS
KPAL
KWBG
KACT
KGHG
KPAO
KTIA
KIRF
KWMN
KS
KG
KZ
KN
KMDR
KISL
KSPR
KHIV
KPRP
KAWK
KR
KUNR
KDRG
KCIP
KGCC
KTIP
KSUM
KPKO
KVIR
KAWC
KPIN
KGIC
KRAD
KIPR
KOLY
KCFE
KMCA
KE
KV
KICC
KNPP
KBCT
KSEP
KFRD
KFLU
KVPR
KOCI
KBIO
KSTH
KMPI
KCRS
KOMC
KTBT
KPLS
KIRC
KREL
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFLO
KBTS
KSTC
KTDB
KFSC
KX
KFTFN
KNEI
KIDE
KREC
KMRS
KICA
KPAONZ
KCGC
KSAF
KRGY
KCMR
KRVC
KVRP
KSEO
KCOM
KAID
KTEX
KNUC
KNAR
KNUP
KNNPMNUC
KLIG
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCRCM
KHDP
KGIT
KNSD
KOMS
KWMM
KPAI
KHSA
KTLA
KO
KMFO
KRCM
KCSY
KSAC
KTRD
KPWR
KID
KWNM
KRIM
KPOA
KCHG
KOM
KSCI
KFIN
KMOC
KESS
KWAC
KMIG
KSEC
KIFR
KDEMAF
KPRV
KBTR
KERG
KTER
KDDG
KPAK
KRFD
KHUM
KDEV
KCFC
KWWMN
KWMNCS
KJUST
MARR
MOPS
MU
MTCRE
MNUC
MY
MASS
MCAP
MOPPS
MAR
MPOS
MO
ML
MR
MASC
MX
MD
MP
MA
MTRE
MIL
MCC
MZ
MK
MDC
MRCRE
MAPS
MV
MI
MEPN
MAPP
MEETINGS
MAS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MTCR
MG
MC
MARAD
MIK
MILITARY
MEDIA
MEPI
MUCN
MEPP
MT
MERCOSUR
MW
MASSMNUC
MQADHAFI
NZ
NATO
NG
NI
NO
NATIONAL
NU
NPT
NIPP
NL
NPG
NS
NA
NGO
NP
NSG
NDP
NAFTA
NR
NC
NH
NE
NSF
NPA
NK
NSSP
NRR
NATOPREL
NSC
NT
NW
NORAD
NEW
NV
NSFO
NAR
NASA
NZUS
OTRA
OVIP
OPRC
OPDC
OSCE
OAS
ODIP
OIIP
OFDP
OVP
OREP
OFFICIALS
OSAC
OEXC
OPCW
OIE
OIC
OFDA
OSCI
OPIC
OBSP
OECD
ON
OCII
OHUM
OES
OCS
OMIG
OPAD
OTR
PGOV
PREL
PHUM
PINR
PTER
PSOE
PINS
PARM
PK
PBTS
PEPR
PM
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PREF
PBIO
PROP
PA
PSI
PINT
PO
PKFK
PL
PAK
PE
POLITICS
PINL
POL
PHSA
PU
PF
POV
PFOR
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PARMS
PRGOV
PNAT
POLINT
PRAM
PMAR
PG
PAO
PROG
PRELP
PPA
PCUL
PSEPC
PSA
PREO
PAHO
PGIV
PREFA
PALESTINIAN
PAIGH
POSTS
PTBS
PGOVLO
PORG
PGOVE
PLN
PINF
PAS
PUNE
POLICY
PDEM
PDOV
PCI
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PBT
PHUMPGOV
PMIL
PNG
PP
PS
PHUH
PECON
POGOV
PY
PHUMPREL
PHUS
PRL
PGOC
PNR
PGGV
PROV
PTERE
PGOF
PHUMBA
PEL
RS
RU
RW
REGION
RP
RICE
ROBERT
RSP
RUPREL
RM
RO
RCMP
RSO
RELATIONS
REACTION
REPORT
RIGHTS
ROOD
RF
RFE
RIGHTSPOLMIL
SP
SA
SY
SF
SYR
SENV
SCUL
SOCI
SNAR
SO
SU
SG
STEINBERG
SHUM
SW
SMIG
SR
SZ
SIPRS
SI
SAARC
SPCE
SARS
SN
SYRIA
SANC
SL
SCRS
SC
SENVKGHG
SAN
SNARCS
SHI
SWE
SNARIZ
SIPDIS
SEN
SNARN
SPCVIS
SEVN
SSA
SH
SOFA
SK
ST
TPHY
TU
TRGY
TI
TX
TS
TW
TC
TFIN
TD
TSPA
TH
TT
TIP
TBIO
TSPL
TZ
TERRORISM
TRSY
TN
THPY
TINT
TF
TL
TV
TK
TO
TP
TURKEY
TNGD
TBID
TAGS
TR
UP
US
UNSC
UK
UZ
UE
UNESCO
UV
UNGA
UN
UNMIK
UNO
UY
UAE
UNEP
UG
UNHCR
UNHRC
USUN
UNAUS
USTR
USNC
USOAS
UNCHR
UNCSD
UNDP
USEU
USPS
UNDC
UNDESCO
UNCHC
UNFICYP
UNC
UNODC
UNPUOS
UNCND
UNICEF
UNCHS
UNVIE
USAID
UNIDROIT
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 04QUITO2612, ELECTION NO THREAT TO FOL IN MANTA
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #04QUITO2612.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
04QUITO2612 | 2004-09-28 22:10 | 2011-05-02 00:12 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Quito |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 QUITO 002612
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL EC
SUBJECT: ELECTION NO THREAT TO FOL IN MANTA
This message has been cleared by AmConsul Guayaquil.
¶1. (SBU) Summary: A pre-electoral visit to the city of
Manta and Manabi provincial capital Portoviejo confirmed that
the incumbent mayor of Manta, who has been largely supportive
of the USG presence at the Forward Operating Location (FOL),
is likely to be re-elected in local elections on October 17.
Regardless, a variety of local and provincial officials, and
other electoral observers confirmed that the USG-maintained
FOL for counter-narcotics operations located on the
Ecuadorian Air Force Base in Manta is not a campaign issue;
the base enjoys broad support at the local level for its
positive economic effects on the region. End Summary.
Background Information
----------------------
¶2. (U) PolCouns visited Manta and Portoviejo, in Manabi
province, for meetings with local election officials, party
officials, FOL commander, and independent electoral observer
on September 23-24. Manta is the second-largest city and
recently-booming commercial hub of largely rural,
agricultural Manabi province. Manabi has a total of 914,841
eligible voters (11% of the national total) who will visit
3,112 voting stations on October 17 to select a provincial
prefect (U.S. governor-equivalent), and from among 22 mayors
(19 of whom are seeking re-election), six provincial
councilors, 95 municipal councilors and 53 rural councils
representing 185,175 rural voters. Manta is Ecuador's
second-largest Pacific port, after Guayaquil. Manta's
seaside location makes its port operations substantially
cheaper than Guayaquil, causing economic competition and some
recent political strains.
¶3. (SBU) Manta has experienced an economic boom since the
GoE agreed in 1999 to host the USG-maintained FOL at Manta
airport. The city boasts has 131,166 eligible voters (second
only to provincial capital Portoviejo, located 30 km. inland)
which will be distributed among 465 voting stations.
Political power in Manabi is divided between the Social
Christian Party (PSC), which currently controls three of
seven Congressional seats and 11 of 22 municipal mayors,
including Manta's; the National Action Institutional Renewal
Party (PRIAN), with two Congressional seats; and the
Ecuadorian Roldosista Party (PRE), which currently controls
the provincial prefect and 5 mayors. The Popular Democracy
Party (DP) has 3 mayors and the last of Manabi's seven seats
in the national Congress. PRIAN presidential candidate
Alvaro Noboa swept Manabi (with 375,052 votes to Gutierrez'
180,895) in the second round of the 2002 presidential
election. Gutierrez' ruling Patriotic Society Party (PSP) is
represented in Manabi by Governor Virginia Garcia. Garcia,
who took office in June, is Gutierrez' fourth appointee to
the post; a previous appointee, Cesar Fernandez, is currently
on trial for his alleged involvement in narco-trafficking.
Garcia told PolCouns the PSP has hopes to win the prefect
race and the Portoviejo mayorship.
Electoral Preparation and Other Concerns
----------------------------------------
¶4. (SBU) Kausman Quinonez, President of the Manabi Provincial
Electoral Tribunal (representing the PSC), told PolCouns on
September 24 that arrangements for the elections were
proceeding smoothly after initial glitches due to low
participation rates by younger prospective poll workers. New
lists of poll workers targeting more stable professionals had
recently been received from the national Supreme Electoral
Tribunal. Most of the newly-named poll workers will receive
training by October 2, he said. (SepTel reports on
nationwide training of poll workers.)
¶5. (SBU) Jacqueline Terranova de Batallas, provincial
coordinator for electoral watchdog NGO Citizen Participation,
said local elections are traditionally not violent and she
does not expect violence on election day. Voters remain
largely apathetic about the elections. However, she reported
one violent incident which took place in the pre-campaign
period in Portoviejo in August, when a political party worker
was injured in a fight with rivals.
¶6. (SBU) Terranova was more concerned about misuse of public
funds for campaign purposes. She provided photographic
evidence (Manta municipal vehicles and earth-moving machines
sporting campaign material and bumper-stickers in favor of
the mayor's candidacy) and her public declarations and formal
complaints against it. She dismissed as unfounded
accusations from a rival politician against Zambrano for
using municipal resources to work on his personal property.
She put a recent challenge from a rival candidate about
Zambrano's Mexican university credential in the same
category. Press reported on September 24 that PRE
Congressional deputy Mario Coello, alleged (without
presenting proof) that several municipal councilors in Manta
are implicated in drug trafficking. According to Terranova,
most candidates have been reluctant to reveal their sources
and amounts of financing. Citizens Participation will field
90 observers throughout the province on election day.
Incumbents Hopeful, but not Secure
----------------------------------
¶7. (SBU) Congressional deputy Simon Bustamante (PSC) said he
was perplexed why the PRIAN was so weak in Manabi after
Alvaro Noboa's strong local showing in the second round of
the presidential race in 2002. The reason, he believed, was
a combination of neglect and tactical errors by the PRIAN
since then. Noboa was expected to campaign in Portoviejo on
September 26, but, according to Bustamante, had largely
abandoned the province to the PSC and PRE. Meanwhile, the
PSC is confident it may pick up two more mayorships in
upcoming elections, bringing its total to 13 of 22. Manta
mayor Jorge Zambrano is certain to be re-elected, he said.
(Most people PolCouns consulted, including in informal street
polling, said the same.) Zambrano, seeking a third term, is
credited with initiating (but not completing) major public
works projects, including a new highway from the airport to
the port and a major waterfront facelift.
¶8. (SBU) Terranova, however, cited a recent media poll
showing Jose (Tucho) Velasquez of the Popular Democracy Party
(DP), leading the race, followed by PRE candidate Ricardo
Bowin, with Zambrano trailing in third. She claimed that
criticism of Zambrano for misuse of public funds was having
an effect.
¶9. (SBU) Provincial prefect Humberto Guillen (PRE) is also
expected by many to gain re-election. Bustamante and
Quinonez, however, boosted the chances of PSC challenger
Mariano Zambrano (no relation to the Manta mayor), claiming
recent private polls revealed Zambrano taking a lead of two
points and Guillen falling dramatically. Governor Garcia
claimed the PSP candidate, Patricia Briones de Poggi, has a
real chance of winning the prefecture. Others predicted that
the PSP would not win one elected position in the province.
FOL Not An Issue
----------------
¶10. (SBU) All individuals consulted by PolCouns concurred
that, to their knowledge, the issue of a U.S. presence at the
FOL is neither unpopular nor a live political issue locally.
Critics of the FOL at the national level are motivated by
ideological concerns, they said; those critics are largely
absent at the local level.
¶11. (SBU) Bustamante credited the USG presence with Manta's
recent commercial development. The new highway linking the
airport with the maritime port will further strengthen Manta
as a regional rival to Guayaquil. The expanded runway and
facilities at the airport have also raised hopes for
international designation. The FOL Commander confirmed that
FOL fire-fighting capability will soon allow the airport to
meet ICAO standards for an international airport.
¶12. (SBU) Quinonez said the FOL was not an electoral issue
in Manabi and suggested that the current air of mystery
surrounding the FOL works in USG interests. Local people do
not have direct access to the FOL, and assume that FOL
personnel and vehicles may be monitoring local
narco-activity. This uncertainty acts as a brake on criminal
activity in the area, he suggested. For that reason,
Quinonez recommended that the FOL not take actions to
demystify its presence by opening the FOL to public events.
Comment
-------
¶13. (SBU) It was encouraging to hear the strong level of
support among local officials and others for the FOL presence
and its positive spin-off effects on the region, although the
FOL remains a live national political issue which we will
review SepTel. Given this situation, prospects are good for
continued cooperation and local support for the FOL. More
generally, the situation in Manabi will test PSC strength in
its coastal heartland.
KENNEY