Reports of members or former members of the Air Force being targeted by their superiors or by other military personnel in the period January 2000-February 2003 could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. Please find attached three news articles that refer to a scandal over alleged fraud implicating officers of the various branches of the Ecuadorean armed forces, which led to the resignation of their respective commanding officers in 2002.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Latin American Regional Reports: Andean Group [London]. 26 February 2002. "Top Brass Steps Down En Masse," p. 5.

Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 11 March 2002. Vol. 35, No. 5. "Ecuador: Military Scandal." http://www.latinamericapress.org/main.asp [Accessed 10 Apr. 2002]

Weekly News Update on the Americas [New York]. 24 February 2002. No. 630. "Ecuador: Strikes Hit Oil, Privatization." (wnu@igc.apc.org) [Accessed 24 Feb. 2002]

Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 2000-Feb. 2003.

Latin American Regional Reports: Andean Group [London]. 2000-Feb. 2003.

Latin American Weekly Report [London]. 2000-Feb. 2003

IRB Databases.

Internet sites and search engines, including:

Amnesty International

Andean Commission of Jurists (CAJ), Lima

El Diario de Hoy [Quito]. Searchable archives

La Hora [Quito]. Searchable archives

Human Rights Watch