Raul Reyes

The first of March 2008 Colombia had one of the biggest successes.  Raul Reyes, one of the most important leaders of the FARC had died in Ecuador between the border of Colombia and Ecuador. The military operation was a success for the country but the conflict started a few hours later. The bombing of this leader in other territory other than Colombia brought discussions between Ecuador and Colombia, as well with Venezuela and Nicaragua. These countries made the decision to stop any economic, political, and democratic relation they had with Colombia and they made the Colombian ambassador go back to Colombia from each of the countries’ capital. Colombia’s reaction was to remain silent especially with Venezuela whose president accused Uribe (Colombian president) as a murder for killing Raul Reyes, FARC leader. SINCE Colombia was already in a conflict with Venezuela, Nicaragua took advantage and started to fight for some Caribbean islands that belong to Colombia but Nicaragua always wanted.

During this period Colombia found evidence that Venezuela’s and Ecuadorian’s presidents had contact with the terrorist leader and this evidence was presented to the international community.  However because of this, the president from Ecuador argued to the General Assembly of Organization of American States about the situation. Colombian president had to visit different places and explain the situation and why they took the decision to drop a bomb in foreign territory. At the end the General Assembly of Organization of American States accepted the apologies and understood that these operation and the drop of the bomb was for the good of Colombia and the countries around.

Finally is important to point out that Chavez ( president from Venezuela) wanted to gain external support by supporting Ecuador and the terrorist leader. Nicaragua took advantage of the situation and complained to Colombia about the Caribbean island hoping it could get some territory out of this problem.

After the conflict was solved, Ecuador which was the country affected accepted the causes why Colombia dropped the bomb, and Nicaragua stopped asking for land. However, Venezuela ordered to move Military troops to the border with Colombia and order the Colombian defense minister to leave the country. All the relationships with Venezuela stopped for a while. With dialog and slow process to get the relationships back again Venezuela, the country moved away the troops and let the minister stay in the Capital.