Cesar Gabriel Cedeño
English for Academic Purposes
21 ENE 2011
Journey to the heart of the Colombian conflict in Esmeraldas
For most people the Colombian conflict is something that can be isolated in Colombia. However what most people are not aware of in Ecuador is that the conflict has a heart in Ecuador and that heart is in northern Esmeraldas. Though forgotten to most people until the election of Rafael Correa as President, Esmeraldas is the frontline of the Colombian conflict in Ecuador.
The journey starts in Quito from where you must drive 4 hours until arriving to Esmeraldas City, the province’s capital city. You can tell how much danger this province faces when drivers refuse to make the travel at night, they prefer to depart from Quito at 4 to be at provincial borderline at dawn and avoid the dangers coming from violent gangs. From Esmeraldas you travel to the south until you arrive to Borbon. This town, with 100% of poverty according to official statistics, looks more like shantytown where people act elusively and refuse to speak about the Colombian Paramilitary forces and the FARC Guerrillas. The shock comes when you travel east of the town and you can tell there is an ongoing war that doesn’t sounds a lot: an Ecuadorian Marine Corps checkpoint where a whole heavily armed and fully prepared battalion is garrisoned and from where you cannot go forward if you do not have an official clearance.
But if you think that the image of a fully armed and prepared for combat Marine Corps garrison is shockingly enough, think again. Despised being warned that the 15 Front of FARC and several detached paramilitary groups use the area to rest and prepare themselves for combat, the road that follows in on the contrary quite easy. The real problem begins when it’s time to go back to Esmeraldas City and the voyage continues to San Lorenzo. During the road the driver reminds passengers that San Lorenzo is off limits after 6 PM but, duty comes first and the voyage continues. Night kicks in and the runway turns dark and lonely while the driver gets jumpy and you start seeing less and less lights.
After an hour San Lorenzo is in sight. The driver explains that people strange to the area avoid spending the night in the city; San Lorenzo has 60 murders per 1000 habitants rate so people are quite right about avoiding the city at night. However this is where the Ecuadorian front of the Colombian conflict can be best spotted when you see the heavy and constant presence of the Naval, Land and Marine Forces going up and down in combat formations. On top of that habitants never stop talking about a new assassination linked to the Colombian paramilitary, insurgency or organized crime. Everywhere you look or walk to there is an ongoing war product of the spillover of the Colombian conflict.
Going back to Quito, you can’t stop thinking the situation is lost. After a hopeless and rather shocking contact with the reality of Esmeraldas, and thus of how affected we are by the conflict, there is a gripping sense of just getting rid of the province. Nevertheless, after thinking that nothing can be done you go back to some things that bring back hope to your heart. Night is the darkest just before dawn.
Title: Journey to the heart of the Colombian conflict in Esmeraldas
1. Introduction
a. A relegated threat.
b. The frontline of Colombia in Ecuador
2. A dangerous and shocking reality
a. Afraid drivers and 4 am travels
b. Poverty and Fear in Borbon-Esmeraldas
c. The Marine Corps Garrison and the unheard War
3. The heart of the conflict
a. Going through the lonely road
b. San Lorenzo: Murders, Insurgents, Paramilitary and Ecuadorian Armed Forces
c. Rumor has it: A fearful city
4. Hope
a. Coming to a shocking contact of a dangerous and discouraging reality
b. Lifting back up to hope.
sábado, 29 de enero de 2011
Essay 3
Cesar Gabriel Cedeño
English for Academic Purposes
21 ENE 2011
CAUSE AND EFFECT
Nowadays, rampant crime and insecurity are the predominant issues in Ecuador. Crime and insecurity has caused many people to focus their attention on the performance of the judiciary and the police. As a result people narrow their view of security only to its legal dimension and forget their operational dimension.
Due to this attention, many people actually believe that Ecuador will improve its security but overhauling this to institutions or by increasing the weight of sentences for certain crimes. Some examples of these beliefs take form in the demands of people in the civil society and the Legislative that claim for radical increases in sentences. Some even request the introduction of death penalty.
However, Ecuador will not improve its security with any of these steps. What Ecuador needs to do is to improve the laws regulating the intelligence, police and military operations in order to give its agencies and advantage over crime. If radical improvements in these laws take place, Security Forces will be able to seek and destroy actors who pose a direct threat to the National Security of Ecuador.
PROBLEM-SOLUTION
As societies evolve, crime and it´s organization also go under drastic changes. Nowadays crime is transnational and highly sophisticated therefore being able to cloak itself into daily and normal activities. What seems to be a healthy and respectable software company might very well be a drug cartel posing a direct threat against the lives of many people.
This is the reason why Ecuador must react now and continue the overhauling, and drastic improvement, of its intelligence system. Intelligence, which is human (espionage and covert activities)-technical (Communications, Signals, Images, Electronic, Measurements) and Financial (Cash Flows-Counter laundering activities and fiscal controls) has the power of destroying the cloak of invisibility that modern organized crime looks for. With these tools, Ecuador can gain the upper hand against crime.
Many people believe that stronger sentences, more policeman and putting boots on the ground are the only solutions to our rampant crime. They are not necessarily right, stronger sentences might be in place but they are useless if you don´t purge the judiciary from judges who are bought by crime, more policemen might help you feel protected but they only see what the moment brings and cannot distinguish crime when it has cloaked and the military might be dissuasive for a time but that effect goes by really fast. This is the reason why intelligence efforts will have a powerful effect to destroy modern organized crime.
DEFINITION
Some people tend to confuse intelligence with espionage when in fact these are different concepts that are involved in the same activity. In modern society, where information is a new and more desirable asset, these to concepts need to be really defined and distinguished.
Intelligence is the cycle of collection, production and secure dissemination of pertinent, exact and revealing information to decision makers. This cycle tends to have prospective, that is a vision of the immediate and longer term evolution, of elements that configure a threat, risk and opportunity to its consumers. Consumers are not exclusively public and, in the contrary, are also private.
Espionage on the other hand is not a cycle, but rather a covert observation and human or technical data collection activity on a specific issue. This activity is secret and covert, secret because it´s not openly known and, on the contrary, tends to be classified to restricted security levels for a long time, covert because it cloaks itself within a fiction to avoid its relevance to other people. Therefore is necessary to know that intelligence and espionage are to quite different things.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST
East and West always are able to shape different cities. This is the case of Miami (East U.S.) and San Diego (West U.S.) cities that I have visited and where I’ve been able to spot peculiar difference that are worth to mention.
San Diego is a vibrant, yet non commercial city. With restaurants, cafés, boardwalks and beaches there is and odd feeling that the entertainment industry is not rampant and evident as in Miami. It will appear as if San Diego was designed for people who were running away from the noise and entertainment of Los Angeles.
Miami on the other hand is both vibrant and commercial. Entertainment is everywhere starting in the simplest Café and reaching the most exclusive clubs in South Beach. Everything in the city seems to be design to make a powerful combination between natural attractions and entertainment. However Miami does not means permanent noise but entertainment seems to have a more powerful presence than in San Diego.
English for Academic Purposes
21 ENE 2011
CAUSE AND EFFECT
Nowadays, rampant crime and insecurity are the predominant issues in Ecuador. Crime and insecurity has caused many people to focus their attention on the performance of the judiciary and the police. As a result people narrow their view of security only to its legal dimension and forget their operational dimension.
Due to this attention, many people actually believe that Ecuador will improve its security but overhauling this to institutions or by increasing the weight of sentences for certain crimes. Some examples of these beliefs take form in the demands of people in the civil society and the Legislative that claim for radical increases in sentences. Some even request the introduction of death penalty.
However, Ecuador will not improve its security with any of these steps. What Ecuador needs to do is to improve the laws regulating the intelligence, police and military operations in order to give its agencies and advantage over crime. If radical improvements in these laws take place, Security Forces will be able to seek and destroy actors who pose a direct threat to the National Security of Ecuador.
PROBLEM-SOLUTION
As societies evolve, crime and it´s organization also go under drastic changes. Nowadays crime is transnational and highly sophisticated therefore being able to cloak itself into daily and normal activities. What seems to be a healthy and respectable software company might very well be a drug cartel posing a direct threat against the lives of many people.
This is the reason why Ecuador must react now and continue the overhauling, and drastic improvement, of its intelligence system. Intelligence, which is human (espionage and covert activities)-technical (Communications, Signals, Images, Electronic, Measurements) and Financial (Cash Flows-Counter laundering activities and fiscal controls) has the power of destroying the cloak of invisibility that modern organized crime looks for. With these tools, Ecuador can gain the upper hand against crime.
Many people believe that stronger sentences, more policeman and putting boots on the ground are the only solutions to our rampant crime. They are not necessarily right, stronger sentences might be in place but they are useless if you don´t purge the judiciary from judges who are bought by crime, more policemen might help you feel protected but they only see what the moment brings and cannot distinguish crime when it has cloaked and the military might be dissuasive for a time but that effect goes by really fast. This is the reason why intelligence efforts will have a powerful effect to destroy modern organized crime.
DEFINITION
Some people tend to confuse intelligence with espionage when in fact these are different concepts that are involved in the same activity. In modern society, where information is a new and more desirable asset, these to concepts need to be really defined and distinguished.
Intelligence is the cycle of collection, production and secure dissemination of pertinent, exact and revealing information to decision makers. This cycle tends to have prospective, that is a vision of the immediate and longer term evolution, of elements that configure a threat, risk and opportunity to its consumers. Consumers are not exclusively public and, in the contrary, are also private.
Espionage on the other hand is not a cycle, but rather a covert observation and human or technical data collection activity on a specific issue. This activity is secret and covert, secret because it´s not openly known and, on the contrary, tends to be classified to restricted security levels for a long time, covert because it cloaks itself within a fiction to avoid its relevance to other people. Therefore is necessary to know that intelligence and espionage are to quite different things.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST
East and West always are able to shape different cities. This is the case of Miami (East U.S.) and San Diego (West U.S.) cities that I have visited and where I’ve been able to spot peculiar difference that are worth to mention.
San Diego is a vibrant, yet non commercial city. With restaurants, cafés, boardwalks and beaches there is and odd feeling that the entertainment industry is not rampant and evident as in Miami. It will appear as if San Diego was designed for people who were running away from the noise and entertainment of Los Angeles.
Miami on the other hand is both vibrant and commercial. Entertainment is everywhere starting in the simplest Café and reaching the most exclusive clubs in South Beach. Everything in the city seems to be design to make a powerful combination between natural attractions and entertainment. However Miami does not means permanent noise but entertainment seems to have a more powerful presence than in San Diego.
English for Academic Purposes
César Gabriel Cedeño
11 Dic 2010
Expository Essay 1
Cause: Protracted War in two fronts and commercial disadvantages are undermining US elements of national power.
Effect: This undermining is harming U.S. economy and, thus, affecting it’s geopolitical power and prestige around the world.
Thesis Statement: Protracted War and Commercial disadvantages are some of the elements causing problems to the U.S. Economy and geopolitical position in the world.
Essay:
The United States has, and surely still is, admired for many military and economical feats in its history. But now days these feats are losing ground to failures and questionable actions in the US. As a result of these failures the national power of the country has also taken a toll.
The ill fated decision of diverting resources to the so Called Operation Iraqi Freedom and the later economic recession of 2008 have been questionable acts in the US that are undermining this nation’s economy. Fall on real family incomes has led to a reduction in household consumption thus affecting the Government’s tax income. With a weak economy to keep up to the pace of rising nations such as China and a weak Government that is revising its capabilities the nation has been led to a stagnant situation.
Nowadays US economy is heavily dependent on debt acquisition from nations that had been considered as third world countries. Not only is the US trapped in increasing debt but is also experiencing a waning grip on its allies. Thus we witness a dark hour in the nation’s history
Expository Essay 2
Thesis Statement: Much of the heat coming from the Ecuadorian debate about the Media and it’s regulating law are the result of a confusion of what the Covenant of political and civil rights states about Freedom of Speech.
It’s often easy to confuse freedom of speech with freedom of press. Daily debate in Ecuador assumes that “there is no freedom of speech without freedom of press” and, even worse, equals both of these freedoms. Thus it becomes necessary to compare freedoms along it’s 1966 Covenant of political and civil rights original meanings.
According to the Pact, Freedom of Speech is recognized as inalienable right that can only be limited by the compelling necessity of a national security issue. More importantly the pact does limit Freedom of Speech to the exclusive use of any means or ways of expression whatsoever. Therefore the Covenant does not says “Freedom of Speech is only such if expressed through press”.
On the other hand the Covenant never mentions Freedom of Press. Sure this freedom is linked to the capacity to express yourself but the point is that, legally; there is no connection in this treaty between both freedoms. Although freedom of press is desirable in a healthy liberal and democratic society, not always is press as sacred as expression itself.
Expository Essay 3
Thesis Statement: Rampant crime have made politicians forget what internal security means and as a result they are taking a mix of measures that are not focusing the problem in the right way.
In Ecuador there is a recent evident confusion about the concept of Internal Security. Rampant crime, impunity and a crippling failure in our criminal justice system has led us to confuse Internal Security with Public Security or National Security. Thus it becomes necessary to remember the real meaning of Internal Security.
Internal Security represents a superior echelon of what Constitution calls Human Security. It can be defined as all those conditions that secure a stable and peaceful sociopolitical situation. Thus this term makes reference to more general and national issues that, though being highly important for governance and stability are not external but rather come from domestic conditions.
This is important because nowadays rampant crime has led decision makers to mix internal security strategies with public or citizen security strategies. Organized crime, money laundering or drug trafficking are surely modern issues of internal security but theft, grand theft auto and impunity are other kind of issues.
Expository Essay 4
Thesis Statement: The solution to the public outcry in Ecuador about crime will come from an integration of criminal investigation, policing duties, prosecution and rehabilitation capacities.
Rampant crime and public outcry in Ecuador has led the nation to debate about the viability of its criminal justice system. There’s widespread rejection and condemnation to the Judiciary’s ability to fulfill its duties to society leading policy makers to propose constitutional amendments a year after approving a new constitution. Therefore public demand for a solution to the criminal justice system is high and sound.
A solution could surely come through a constitutional amendment. Proposing a criminal justice system that integrates criminal investigation, policing duties, and prosecution and rehabilitation capacities into one single institution is a solution that should be considered. This would not only improve pre and post crime investigation but would also shorten prosecution times and efficiency.
This solution renders the advantages of integration, complementation and cost reduction. It would be a simplification of the criminal justice system shortening it to prosecution, defense and judging components. However the greatest disadvantage of the solution is its lack of sustainability in a political system as unstable as the Ecuadorian system.
César Gabriel Cedeño
11 Dic 2010
Expository Essay 1
Cause: Protracted War in two fronts and commercial disadvantages are undermining US elements of national power.
Effect: This undermining is harming U.S. economy and, thus, affecting it’s geopolitical power and prestige around the world.
Thesis Statement: Protracted War and Commercial disadvantages are some of the elements causing problems to the U.S. Economy and geopolitical position in the world.
Essay:
The United States has, and surely still is, admired for many military and economical feats in its history. But now days these feats are losing ground to failures and questionable actions in the US. As a result of these failures the national power of the country has also taken a toll.
The ill fated decision of diverting resources to the so Called Operation Iraqi Freedom and the later economic recession of 2008 have been questionable acts in the US that are undermining this nation’s economy. Fall on real family incomes has led to a reduction in household consumption thus affecting the Government’s tax income. With a weak economy to keep up to the pace of rising nations such as China and a weak Government that is revising its capabilities the nation has been led to a stagnant situation.
Nowadays US economy is heavily dependent on debt acquisition from nations that had been considered as third world countries. Not only is the US trapped in increasing debt but is also experiencing a waning grip on its allies. Thus we witness a dark hour in the nation’s history
Expository Essay 2
Thesis Statement: Much of the heat coming from the Ecuadorian debate about the Media and it’s regulating law are the result of a confusion of what the Covenant of political and civil rights states about Freedom of Speech.
It’s often easy to confuse freedom of speech with freedom of press. Daily debate in Ecuador assumes that “there is no freedom of speech without freedom of press” and, even worse, equals both of these freedoms. Thus it becomes necessary to compare freedoms along it’s 1966 Covenant of political and civil rights original meanings.
According to the Pact, Freedom of Speech is recognized as inalienable right that can only be limited by the compelling necessity of a national security issue. More importantly the pact does limit Freedom of Speech to the exclusive use of any means or ways of expression whatsoever. Therefore the Covenant does not says “Freedom of Speech is only such if expressed through press”.
On the other hand the Covenant never mentions Freedom of Press. Sure this freedom is linked to the capacity to express yourself but the point is that, legally; there is no connection in this treaty between both freedoms. Although freedom of press is desirable in a healthy liberal and democratic society, not always is press as sacred as expression itself.
Expository Essay 3
Thesis Statement: Rampant crime have made politicians forget what internal security means and as a result they are taking a mix of measures that are not focusing the problem in the right way.
In Ecuador there is a recent evident confusion about the concept of Internal Security. Rampant crime, impunity and a crippling failure in our criminal justice system has led us to confuse Internal Security with Public Security or National Security. Thus it becomes necessary to remember the real meaning of Internal Security.
Internal Security represents a superior echelon of what Constitution calls Human Security. It can be defined as all those conditions that secure a stable and peaceful sociopolitical situation. Thus this term makes reference to more general and national issues that, though being highly important for governance and stability are not external but rather come from domestic conditions.
This is important because nowadays rampant crime has led decision makers to mix internal security strategies with public or citizen security strategies. Organized crime, money laundering or drug trafficking are surely modern issues of internal security but theft, grand theft auto and impunity are other kind of issues.
Expository Essay 4
Thesis Statement: The solution to the public outcry in Ecuador about crime will come from an integration of criminal investigation, policing duties, prosecution and rehabilitation capacities.
Rampant crime and public outcry in Ecuador has led the nation to debate about the viability of its criminal justice system. There’s widespread rejection and condemnation to the Judiciary’s ability to fulfill its duties to society leading policy makers to propose constitutional amendments a year after approving a new constitution. Therefore public demand for a solution to the criminal justice system is high and sound.
A solution could surely come through a constitutional amendment. Proposing a criminal justice system that integrates criminal investigation, policing duties, and prosecution and rehabilitation capacities into one single institution is a solution that should be considered. This would not only improve pre and post crime investigation but would also shorten prosecution times and efficiency.
This solution renders the advantages of integration, complementation and cost reduction. It would be a simplification of the criminal justice system shortening it to prosecution, defense and judging components. However the greatest disadvantage of the solution is its lack of sustainability in a political system as unstable as the Ecuadorian system.
Essay 1
1. Book 1
100 Decisive Battles: from ancient times to the present
This book is an in depth analysis of the most influential battles in the recorded military history of mankind. Starting with Megiddo in 1469 BC to the Operation Desert Storm in the First Gulf War, historian Paul K. Davis analyses these battles and their military and political lessons for decision makers. Davis achieves this by first introducing the historical setting and context of the battle, analyzing its evolution and identifying how it’s outcome shaped the world as we know it. You can be sure you will find the most important battles in history because Davis selects only those with a profound political and military impact. An amazing book that empowers anyone with the necessary information advance national interests through any means possible.
Current market cost:
Barnes and Noble: $17.05
Oxford University Press: $19.95
Bibliographical data
Davis, Paul K. 100 Decisive Battles: from ancient times to the present, Santa Barbara, CA, Oxford University Press, 1999.
2. Book 2
War Made New: Weapons, Warriors and the Making of the Modern World.
Through the ages man has searched in machine a way to make life easier and, as a constituent part of life, to make war easier. Max Boot gives us a look at how technology has played and strategic and vital role in the growth of national military power and thus national power. By setting its initial look in the Gunpowder revolution and from there stretching it to the Information Revolution, Boot makes a excellent argument that strong nations do not solely posses technology but, have also mastered its military application in order to gain an upper hand in the eternal contest of international relations. An exciting analysis recommended by the Army Times, War Made New its must read book for any President, legislative representative, Security Area minister and just anyone interested in the growth of nations political power.
Current market cost:
The Penguin Group: $18.00
Barnes and Noble: $29.92
Bibliographical data
Boot, Max, War Made New: Weapons, Warriors and the Making of the Modern World, New York, NY, Penguin Books, 2006.
100 Decisive Battles: from ancient times to the present
This book is an in depth analysis of the most influential battles in the recorded military history of mankind. Starting with Megiddo in 1469 BC to the Operation Desert Storm in the First Gulf War, historian Paul K. Davis analyses these battles and their military and political lessons for decision makers. Davis achieves this by first introducing the historical setting and context of the battle, analyzing its evolution and identifying how it’s outcome shaped the world as we know it. You can be sure you will find the most important battles in history because Davis selects only those with a profound political and military impact. An amazing book that empowers anyone with the necessary information advance national interests through any means possible.
Current market cost:
Barnes and Noble: $17.05
Oxford University Press: $19.95
Bibliographical data
Davis, Paul K. 100 Decisive Battles: from ancient times to the present, Santa Barbara, CA, Oxford University Press, 1999.
2. Book 2
War Made New: Weapons, Warriors and the Making of the Modern World.
Through the ages man has searched in machine a way to make life easier and, as a constituent part of life, to make war easier. Max Boot gives us a look at how technology has played and strategic and vital role in the growth of national military power and thus national power. By setting its initial look in the Gunpowder revolution and from there stretching it to the Information Revolution, Boot makes a excellent argument that strong nations do not solely posses technology but, have also mastered its military application in order to gain an upper hand in the eternal contest of international relations. An exciting analysis recommended by the Army Times, War Made New its must read book for any President, legislative representative, Security Area minister and just anyone interested in the growth of nations political power.
Current market cost:
The Penguin Group: $18.00
Barnes and Noble: $29.92
Bibliographical data
Boot, Max, War Made New: Weapons, Warriors and the Making of the Modern World, New York, NY, Penguin Books, 2006.
domingo, 6 de septiembre de 2009
Contacto realizado
Después de un largo tiempo sin postear nada nuevo les tengo excelentes noticias. Por cortesía de Doctors Without Borders el día de mañana haré nuevas entradas detallando la situación humanitaria en Darfur así como en otras Repúblicas africanas donde los conflictos armadas están destruyendo las vidas de cientos o inclusive miles. Estas entradas, además de describir la situación actual en el terreno, también trataran de contextualizar cuales con las dificultades vividas para solucionar las situaciones que se describiran.
Hasta mañana
César
Hasta mañana
César
miércoles, 29 de julio de 2009
Posible contacto
Hola a todos, estas semanas me he estado moviendo contactándome con varias organizaciones de ayuda tales como Africa Aid y Doctors Without Borders. Ambas son muy activas en materia de asistencia al desarrollo y contingencia de conflictos humanitarios en Africa, especialmkente en una de las areas donde actualmente toma lugar un Genocidio: Darfur.
Se que no estoy publicando nuevo material respecto al propósito de este blog pero la espera valdrá. Hoy recibí comunicación de Melanie Capiccioni de Doctors Without Borders. La Srta. Capiccioni me indicó que en la brevedad posible me enviará material de prensa pero le he solictado también contactos en el terreno para que nos ayuden a conocer las historias de las personas mas valientes del mundo: quienes esperan la ayuda de un mundo inconmovible ante el genocidio.
Hasta la próxima
César
Se que no estoy publicando nuevo material respecto al propósito de este blog pero la espera valdrá. Hoy recibí comunicación de Melanie Capiccioni de Doctors Without Borders. La Srta. Capiccioni me indicó que en la brevedad posible me enviará material de prensa pero le he solictado también contactos en el terreno para que nos ayuden a conocer las historias de las personas mas valientes del mundo: quienes esperan la ayuda de un mundo inconmovible ante el genocidio.
Hasta la próxima
César
domingo, 12 de julio de 2009
En cocción
Les comentó que en la brevedad posible estaré publicando historias de vida de los refugiados. Actualmente estoy gestionando contactos con algunas ONG en el terreno para obtner está invalorable información.
Hasta la próxima entrada!
Hasta la próxima entrada!
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