Document #1276423
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
Please find attached some documents that
contain references to rice and other agricultural production and to
cases of corruption. However, the only specific reference to
corruption related to rice production or marketing can be found in
the attached abstract of a 1989 article in Vistazo. A copy
of the complete article has been requested from a specialized
service and is expected to arrive within the next two weeks (by
early February 1993). Any documentation received will be
immediately forwarded to you.
The abstract referred to above reports the
disappearance of some 46,000 tons of rice and the apparent
involvement of speculators in the marketing of the grain's supplies
(Vistazo 17 Feb. 1989). Another attached abstract refers to
the commencement of a trial for embezzlement during the mandate of
President Rodrigo Borja involving his agriculture minister Mario
Jalil (El Comercio 1 Sept. 1990). Follow-up information on
this subject could not be found among the available sources,
although a copy of the original article has also been requested and
will be forwarded to you upon its receipt by the DIRB.
Please note that the two attached articles
from the Latin American Weekly Report deal with corruption
in the police and armed forces, mainly related to drug trafficking
(22 Oct. 1992; 26 Nov. 1992). These and some of the other attached
articles are provided as examples of recently exposed cases of
corruption related to the illegal trade in drugs and of arrests and
prosecution for alleged corruption, although they do not contain
references to food products. References to the prosecution of the
former mayor of Guayaquil and other figures related to the
government of León Febres Cordero for alleged corruption can
be found in previous Responses to Information Requests through the
Refinfo database. More information on corruption related to drug
trafficking can be provided upon request.
Other documents attached to this response
provide some recent background information on rice and other
agricultural products, as well as a list of the new officials
appointed to the Ministry of Agriculture. References to an official
who held office during the Borja administration under the name
provided in your request form could not be found among the sources
currently available to the DIRB.
Latin American Newsletters. 26 November
1992. Latin American Weekly Report. "Ecuador: Money
Laundering." London: Latin American Newsletters.
_____. 22 October 1992. Latin
American Weekly Report. "Imprisoned General Takes a Walk."
London: Latin American Newsletters.
The Associated Press. 23 November 1991.
PM Cycle. "Ecuador: President Accuses U.S. Ambassador of Meddling."
(NEXIS)
El Comercio [Quito]. 1 September
1990. "Alfredo Saltos, ministro de agricultura." (Abstract)
(INFOSOUTH)
_____. 2 May 1990. "Drought Reduces
Output." (FBIS-LAT-90-110 7 June 1990, p. 57)
_____. 22 April 1990. "1989 Output
Positive." (FBIS-LAT-90-110 7 June 1990, p. 57)
Latin American Newsletters. 26 November
1992. Latin American Weekly Report. "Ecuador: Money
Laundering." London: Latin American Newsletters.
_____. 22 October 1992. Latin
American Weekly Report. "Imprisoned General Takes a Walk."
London: Latin American Newsletters. Newsday. 1 September
1990. Nassau and Suffolk edition. "President May Resign."
(NEXIS)
The New York Times. 22 July 1992.
Late Edition-Final. James Brooke. "With Graft Rife, Nation Reins In
the Cocaine King." (NEXIS)
Notisur-South American and Caribbean
Political Affairs [New Mexico]. 10 June 1992. "Ecuador: Final
Official Results of May 17 Elections Postponed Due to Fraud
Charges." (NEXIS)
South America, Central America and
the Caribbean 1991. 1991. 3rd ed. London: Europa Publications
Limited, p. 263.
Vistazo [Guayaquil]. 17 February
1989. Rubén Buitrón. "Negocio de Arroz Quebrado."
(Abstract) (INFOSOUTH)
Voz de los Andes [Quito, in Spanish]. 20
August 1992. "Agriculture Minister Announces Appointments" and
"Agriculture Minister Holds News Conference." (FBIS-LAT-92-164 24
Aug. 1992, pp. 41-43)