Armed men broke into a local TV network as it broadcast live to thousands of homes, shouting and making gunshot-sounding noises while employees cowered on the floor.
At least four attacks have taken place since the apparent flight of Adolfo Macias (Fito) from Los Choneros gang. President Daniel Noboa declared a national state of emergency and ordered military forces to “neutralize” gangs that are attacking civilians, according to Noboa.
What’s going on in Ecuador?
Two notorious gang leaders have recently made headlines by breaking out of prisons and leading violent incidents across Ecuador. Clashes between rival gangs have spilled out onto the streets, leading to prison riots as a result.
Ecuador has been grappling with violence since President Daniel Noboa won last year’s election on a promise to fight crime. To combat it, his first move was to declare a state of emergency and institute a curfew, giving police authority to suspend rights and deploy military units in places like prisons.
On Tuesday night, hooded men stormed TC Television live broadcast in Guayaquil and forced staff onto the floor of the studio while shots and shouts could be heard in the background. Masked assailants held what appeared to be sticks of what appeared to be dynamite, making clear their intention of bombing it down. Following this attack, Noboa issued a decree declaring an internal armed conflict, ordering security forces to “neutralize” 22 armed groups identified by security forces identifying them as terrorist organizations.
What’s the story?
Ecuador once served as a peaceful haven between Colombian cocaine production and Peru’s coca farming operations, yet recently has witnessed violence erupt due to rival gangs fighting over control of territory. Social safety nets have begun disintegrating, prompting people to resort to vigilante justice as their fear escalates.
Attacking TC Television in Guayaquil was particularly shocking. Armed masked gunmen equipped with pistols and what appeared to be sticks of what appeared to be dynamite stormed the studio, interrupting its live newscast with gunshot sounds heard in the background.
President Noboa, elected in 2021, has attempted to combat violence by declaring a state of emergency and suspending people’s rights to assembly while mobilizing military forces. Unfortunately, however, his efforts have proven ineffectual as criminal gangs have overrun several prisons and kidnapped police officers, including his beleaguered predecessor Lenin Moreno; one such leader of one such gang – Los Choneros boss Adolfo Macias – escaped a low security prison last week and fled after escaping from another low security prison last week.
What’s the solution?
When asked to identify their country’s greatest challenge, most Ecuadorians will cite crime. Residents both within urban centers and rural regions alike have become concerned by an upsurge of violence over recent years.
One of the most alarming developments this week occurred when hooded gunmen stormed TC Television’s studio in Guayaquil during a live broadcast. Social media videos posted by station employees show them being force down onto the floor while shouting and gunshots could be heard in the background.
This attack was the latest of a string of violent incidents to affect Ecuadorians, and represented another setback for President Daniel Noboa who won last year’s election with promises of cracking down on crime. Noboa responded by declaring an internal armed conflict was ongoing in his nation and ordering security forces to take military-style measures to neutralize any gangs responsible; additionally he passed a law authorizing individuals to possess guns for personal defense as well as designating several criminal organizations as terrorist organizations.
What’s the future?
Over the last decade, Ecuador has fallen into an downward spiral of borrowing, corruption and violence. Under successive presidents such as Lenin Moreno and Rafael Correa, its economy has descended further into chaos with criminal groups competing to control illicit activities while government failure allows their growth.
The assault on TC Television on Tuesday provided a graphic example of the unrest sweeping through Pakistan. A live broadcast was suddenly interrupted by gun-wielding assailants wearing black masks who held guns at station staff huddled on the studio floor before opening fire, ending in shots being fired and transmission being interrupted abruptly.
President Mahir declared a state of internal armed conflict and ordered security forces to neutralize gangs, but this will prove difficult in light of an economy plagued by low growth, fragmented political landscape, and no accountability system that allows criminals to operate freely in this environment. Travelers should exercise extreme caution in this country as crime remains widespread and police and military are struggling to maintain public order.
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