AMERICA/ECUADOR - Latin American countries concerned about the situation in Ecuador

Quito (Agenzia Fides) - There is growing concern in Latin America about the situation in Ecuador, where President Daniel Noboa spoke yesterday, January 9, of an "internal armed conflict". Noboa, meanwhile, ordered the military to dismantle a total of 22 transnational organized criminal gangs, which he described as non-state terrorist organizations. The head of state's statement came after a heavily armed group occupied Guayaquil's public television station TC Televisión for several hours, while riots broke out in six prisons and other violence in Quito and several cities. The security forces managed to free the hostages at the television station and arrest the command members. However, panic broke out in the streets of Guayaquil and eight people lost their lives in attacks on pedestrians and vehicles. Police responded to more than six hundred emergency situations and several hospitals were searched. Previously, Noboa had declared a state of emergency and a curfew for sixty days following the "disappearance" of crime boss Adolfo Macías (alias "Fito"), leader of the criminal gang "Los Choneros" (see Fides, 9/1/2024). Meanwhile, another dangerous crime boss, Fabricio Colon Pico, has escaped from Riobamba prison. The situation remains uncertain, while President Noboa has not appeared in public since the evening of January 8th. The President convened the Security Council, which includes representatives of the three branches of state (parliament, government and judiciary) as well as senior officials from the National Police and the Armed Forces. The head of state also ordered the strengthening of protective measures for the members of this body and their families. Meanwhile, governments from Mexico to Argentina, Colombia, Brazil and Chile have declared their solidarity with the government in Quito. Neighboring Peru announced it would declare a state of emergency on the country's northern border and send armed forces to monitor the area along with the national police. Argentina announced it was ready to send security forces to Ecuador to help restore order, calling the situation in Ecuador a problem for the entire continent. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 10/1/2024)

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criminality

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armed groups

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