Fearing Persecution: The Mexican Student Survivor of Colombian Attack on FARC Camp Left Ecuador

By Oscar J Barbosa
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

QUITO, Ecuador– Following the attacks by the Colombian Government on the FARC camp site that killed Raul Reyes and gave rice to tensions in the Andean Region, only two Colombian women and the Mexican student were found alive. After the Ecuadorian Military entered the camp and cleaned what was left by the bombings, the Mexican citizen, and university student, Lucia Morett was found injured and was subsequently taken to a Hospital in Quito. After a month and a half in poor condition, Morett decided to leave Ecuador fearing for her personal security.

In interviews Morett stated that she attended the Bolivarian Continental Congress, and driven for personal interests and academic purposes she decided to visit the camp. She said she was not aware that Reyes, second in command of FARC was in that place. Upon arrival, she was given food, and presented with a place to spend the night.

The first bombing started around 3:00 am, followed by more bombings and military incursions. She said the Colombian military chose to take death people as trofees, rather than helping the survivors. She was there to die.

Morett affirms she cannot be accused for freely moving inside Ecuador, if someone had no right to be there, it was the Colombian military. Morett also accused of having connections with FARC denies any involvement with the Colombian 60 years old guerrilla movement.

"The Colombian government is particularly interested in silencing me, and I fear for my life," she expressed, adding that she had received threats to keep her mouth shut.

Morrett commented that "[she] lived through hours of horror while receiving threats of death and sexual abuse," her clothing was first ripped off, but the armed men changed their mind because she was bleeding. They spoke of her intimate parts, and added that she would need to pay for what she had done as a soldier’s girlfriend in Colombia.

In mid March, two men described to be from the Attorney General’s office in Colombia were found to try to access the hospital room in which Morett was being treated. The attempt was stoped by local police that guarded the patient.

Although Mexican President Calderon had sent her a letter stating that no action was taken against her, a claim has been filed before the Attorney’s Office against Morett for alleged terrorists acts. Morett’s parents have said she will remain in Nicaragua as a guest to the government, while the situation is cleared.  Morett also affirmed the intentions of filing a case against the Colombian Government for war crimes.

Ecuadorian Vice President Lenin Moreno announced that the Mexican students killed, and Morett were not guerrillas, and were not involved in trafficking.  The Colombian government is trying to make people believe those are the facts to make the attacks justifiable, but they are not, Moreno said.

“The Ecuadorian government has no information that the deceased Mexican citizens and survivor Lucia Morett have been guerrillas," Moreno stated. Investigations need to be carried before doing these accusations.

 

For more information, please see:

Prensa Latina - Mexican Survivor Fears for Her Life – 15 April 2008 

Prensa Latina - Mexicans Censure Uribe's Declarations – 17 April 2008 

Prensa Latina - Ecuador: Mexicans were not Guerrillas – 17 April 2008

La FM - Lucia Morett reveló detalles de su presencia en el campamento de 'Raúl Reyes' – 17 April 2008

El Porvenir - Corría riesgo integridad de Lucia Morett en Ecuador: Aldhu – 17 April 2008

El Universal - Mexicana sobreviviente a ataque colombiano en Ecuador niega nexos con las FARC - 17 April 2008