Political Leader Assassinated in Ecuador: A Call for Action

2023-08-14 21:20:24

A political leader of correísmo was assassinated in the last hours in Ecuador; This is Pedro Briones, a leader of the political party of the Revolución Ciudadana group, following the recent assassination of the presidential candidate, Fernando Villavicencio, and another recorded attack on a presidential candidate, all events recorded in the last week.

It was the presidential candidate Luisa González who made the fact public through her Twitter account: “Ecuador is living its bloodiest time. We owe this to the total abandonment of an inept government and a state taken over by mafias. My solidarity hug to the family of comrade Pedro Briones, who fell into the hands of violence. The change is urgent! ”, She wrote on the social network.

For its part, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) condemned the “political violence” in the framework of the elections in Ecuador, which is “an attack” on democracy”, and asked the State to act “with diligence”, in a statement released last Friday, August 11.

“The increase in political violence in Ecuador is part of a context of serious deterioration in citizen security” due to organized crime, affirms the IACHR.

Statement issued by Janeth Bustos, Provincial Director of Esmeraldas Citizen Revolution | Photo: Twitter/@JanethBustosRC

So far the authorities have not ruled on the reason for the attack once morest Briones, however, according to preliminary information issued by the Ecuadorian police to Expreso, it would be members of a gang that operates in Esmeraldas.

On the other hand, it was learned that Briones was accompanied by another person at the time of the attack.

According to the newspaper El Universo of Ecuador, Briones was taken to the Delfina Torres de Concha General Hospital while injured, where it was confirmed that he had died. The doctors identified two bullet wounds in the left side of the neck.

Different situations of violence led President Guillermo Lasso to declare a state of emergency in two provinces, in Guayaquil, Ecuador | Photo: REUTERS

Another of the former assembly members for the province of Esmeraldas, Paola Cabezas Castillo also lamented the fact on her social networks “a murderous bullet ended her life. Until when! ”, wrote the leader.

According to local media, the special units of the Police are investigating whether Briones had received any threats caused by other motivations. Briones was director of correísmo in the San Mateo parish, and adds to the list of political victims in that province, where in June councilor Jairo Olaya was murdered, and in July, the candidate for the Legislative Assembly, Rider Sánchez.

The seven candidates for the Presidency of Ecuador have promised more security during a televised debate on Ecuador TV, in Quito, and whose headquarters have been protected by a strong police and military operation due to the increase in violence in the country.

During the debate, in which a minute’s silence was observed for the assassinated candidate Fernando Villavicencio, and for whom his seat was saved, the issue of growing insecurity in the country “between interruptions and complaints” was addressed.

Fierce in his fight once morest corruption, presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio filed complaints of irregularities in state contracts until days before he was shot dead in the Ecuadorian capital, following participating in a political rally.

Fernando Villavicencio, former candidate for the presidency of Ecuador | Photo: AFP or licensors

One of his journalistic investigations brought former President Rafael Correa (2007-2017) to the bench. The report made together with his colleague and friend Christian Zurita uncovered a bribery scheme that put the former president and his government officials on the ropes for having received bribes from businessmen.

His investigations earned him prison orders. In 2014, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) granted him precautionary measures following being sentenced to 18 months in jail for insulting Correa. On that occasion, he hid in the Amazon jungle to avoid serving his sentence.

Severed fingers and ears, belt bombs, calls for help. A new wave of kidnappings and extortions affects Ecuador’s middle and upper class | Photo: AFP or licensors

Armed men kidnap the daughter of the former mayor of Quito

A group of armed men have kidnapped the daughter of the former mayor of Quito Jorge Yunda, to abandon her shortly following in good condition, in an incident that adds to the insecurity crisis in which Ecuador is immersed and that this week claimed the lives of a presidential candidate.

Yunda himself has shared on social networks that the vehicle in which he was traveling with his daughter was intercepted in an ambush at the exit of a tunnel in Quito. The Police have explained that the events occurred at 09:15 pm (local time) on Saturday, August 12.

As he himself explained, the car was blocked by a van and “five hooded men, all armed” came out of a third vehicle. “My daughter has just been kidnapped. Children of …, whatever with me, not with my family ”, he has proclaimed in his first message.

Ecuadorian police extreme measures on the northern border due to increased activity related to drug trafficking. | Photo: Twitter / Police Ecuador

Yunda, who ruled Quito between 2019 and 2021, has confirmed that the assailants took her daughter but “abandoned” her. The Police have explained that her minor was located in the Cumbayá area, without any record of damage to her, and an investigation has already been opened to locate those responsible.

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