Information on corruption of government officials, particularly in the marketing of rice and other basic food products, and government action to curb the corruption [ECU12919]

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.

References


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.

Attachments

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)