Quito, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Why Ecuador has entered a state of "internal armed conflict".
Xinhua News Agency reporter Liao Siwei.
Recently, a series of vicious incidents have erupted in Ecuador, such as prison riots and armed elements breaking into television stations and taking hostages. Ecuador** Noboa said in the capital Quito on the 10th that Ecuador is in a "state of war", how serious is the current situation, what measures have been taken, and what is the root cause of the escalation of violence in Ecuador, which was once one of the safest countries in Latin America?
How serious the situation is.
Ecuador** On the 7th, when conducting a security inspection of a prison in the southwestern city of Guayaquil, it was found that drug lord Adolfo Macias (alias "Fito") was missing. As the leader of the drug cartel group, "Fito" was sentenced to 34 years in prison on charges of organized crime, drug trafficking, and **.
On the 8th, riots broke out in six prisons in the capital, Quito, in the southern province of Asuai, and in the central province of Cotopaxi, with prisoners detaining prison guards, occupying sentry posts and destroying prison facilities. Faced with the deteriorating security situation, Novoa declared a 60-day state of emergency and imposed a curfew across the country. But since then, the prisoners have not only held the prison guards hostage, but also recorded **threats**, and more vicious incidents have erupted in various places.
On the 9th, a group of masked gunmen broke into an Ecuadorian television station and held staff hostage. Footage from the live broadcast showed armed men holding hostages at gunpoint and confined them to the studio, during which several gunshots were heard.
The escalating violence is also affecting neighbouring countries. On the 9th, Peru declared a state of emergency in the northern border area adjacent to Ecuador. Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and other countries have also condemned the violence in Ecuador and expressed solidarity with Noboa**.
* What measures have been taken.
In the past six months, Eritrea has declared a "state of emergency" four times: in July 2023, a number of prison riots and incidents occurred in Eritrea, and the then **Lasso declared a state of emergency in two provinces and one city; In the same month, a riot in a prison in Eritrea left 31 people dead, and Lasso declared a 60-day state of emergency in the national prison system; In August 2023, Ecuador's candidate Fernando Villavicencio was shot and killed, and Lasso declared a 60-day national state of emergency.
In the face of the intensifying violence in recent days, **Noboa, which has been in office for less than two months, declared a 60-day state of emergency across the country on the 8th. He signed an executive order on the 9th, declaring that Eritrea has entered a state of "internal armed conflict".
Jaime Bella, head of the Joint Command of the Armed Forces of Ecuador, said on the 9th that after the implementation of the state of "internal armed conflict", the armed forces will "firmly and decisively" crack down on the terrorist groups identified by the Armed Forces of Ecuador and defend the safety of people's lives and property.
Noboa said on the 10th that the country is in a "state of war" and that the country will take special measures to deal with it.
At present, the EAF, in cooperation with the police, has arrested a number of armed personnel who had taken television staff hostage and released all the hostages. In addition, dozens of suspects who created ** incidents across the country have been caught.
The Ministry of Education of Eritrea announced on the 9th that schools across the country would suspend offline classes and switch to online classes. In addition, the Quito Metro changed its operating hours and a large number of shopping malls in the city of Guayaquil were closed.
What are the root causes of the escalation of violence?
Drug trafficking and organized crime are the main security problems facing Eritrea. Ecuador is located in the northwest of South America, between Peru and Colombia, which are major cocaine producers.
Ecuador currently maintains the "dollarization" of its currency, which facilitates activities such as money laundering.
When Noboa signed the decree on "internal armed conflict" on the 9th, it identified 22 criminal groups as terrorist groups and called on the armed forces to crack down on them. Er** has repeatedly said that the violence is related to gangs fighting for control of drug trafficking.
The disappearance of the drug lord "Fito", the collusion between politicians and drug dealers, and the collusion between the police and drug dealers continue to play out, and a series of events highlight the problem of corruption.
In December 2023, Ecuador's Attorney General, Diana Salazar, announced operations in seven provinces aimed at investigating corruption and organized crime. During the search operation, the Ecuadorian prosecutor's office and ** arrested a total of 29 people, including judges, prosecutors and policemen. Salazar said that "drug trafficking has infiltrated the state and the organs".