Secre03
January 1, 2008

To the Comrades of the Secretariat, our brotherly regards.

1. I do believe the time has come to launch Comrade JE's proposal to request the government of Venezuela to receive the prisoners who are in the two parties' hands, until the contenders initial a swap agreement. With this proposal, (Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez) is to win greater prominence, and we are going to suffocate the unviable pressures for us to agree to visits to the ill prisoners that stemmed from the media campaign that emerged following publication of the proofs of life. Apart from strengthening the audacious Chávez's move to recognize the belligerent status of both the (Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces) FARC and the (National Liberation Army) ELN, which caused so much phobia and bewilderment in (Colombian President Álvaro) Uribe, we would be encouraging Chávez himself and (Nicaraguan President Daniel) Ortega and other amicable governments, which are likely to join the recognition of belligerence later.

2. We met with the Security Minister of Ecuador Gustavo Larrea (hereinafter Juan) who, on behalf of (Ecuadorian) President (Rafael) Correa, expressed his respects for Comrade Manuel (Marulanda) and the Secretariat, and exposed the following:

1. The President's interest in making the relations with the FARC leadership official, through Juan.
2. Willingness to coordinate social assistance activities benefiting the people living in the border, exchange of information and control of the paramilitary crimes in his territory.
3. Willingness to remove law enforcement officials who are hostile to the communities and civilians in the area, for which they are asking us to provide information.
4. They ratified their political determination to refuse to take part in Colombia's internal conflict by supporting Uribe's government.
For them, the FARC are a people's insurgent organization with social and political proposal they understand.
5. They asked whether we are politically interested in the recognition of the belligerent status, and share Chávez's proposal in this direction.
6. They are to file a lawsuit against the Colombian government and state with the International (Crime) Court for the harmful effects of the spraying (on drug crops) under Plan Colombia.
7. Next year they are to terminate the gringo license over Manta air base.
8. They have plans to tighten trade and political ties with Asia, particularly China, Vietnam and North Korea.
9. Their government plan aims at laying socialist foundations, for which they are attaching special importance to the National Constituent Assembly.
10. They are offering help to support the FARC's
efforts to achieve a humanitarian swap and political solutions. They understand that Uribe represents the interests of the White House, the multinationals, the oligarchies. They believe he poses a danger for the region.
11. They are asking our leader and the secretariat to make a contribution that boosts their efforts to achieve the swap, for example delivering to President Correa the son of professor Moncayo or something invigorating his political role.
12. They would provide documentation and protection to one of our members for him to engage in a work of building relations, which in his view should be conducted discretely, given the risks of capture or killing by Uribe's agents.
13. We have set channels for communication and suggested the possibility to meet again in one or two months to review these matters and to go deeper into these issues.

This is what we discussed in our talk to Juan.

We explained our border policies, our interest in having political relations with his government, the importance of the recognition of belligerence, our commitment to the swap and the political solutions to the Colombian crisis. We thanked for his offers and support to the mission conducted by Chávez. Regarding his petition, we told him the Secretariat would send back a reply later.