NewKerala.com

Ecuador's Emergency Decree: 7 Regions Under Lockdown Amid Crime Wave

Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa has declared a 60-day state of emergency across seven regions. The decree allows security forces to conduct warrantless searches and suspends communication rights. This comes after the brutal murder of Judge Marcos Mendoza, who was shot while dropping his children at school. The killing is connected to a money laundering case involving the country's main drug trafficker.

Key Points: Ecuador President Declares State of Emergency in 7 Regions

  • Security forces can enter homes without warrants under new emergency powers
  • Emergency covers five coastal provinces and three central municipalities
  • Judge Marcos Mendoza murdered while dropping children at school
  • Killing linked to money laundering case involving drug lord "Fito"
  • State of emergency follows previous measures from August and October
  • Organized crime violence triggers "grave internal unrest" declaration
2 min read

Ecuador's President declares new state of emergency in seven regions

President Daniel Noboa imposes 60-day emergency in coastal provinces and central municipalities, suspending rights to combat organized crime violence.

"At least 15 judges or prosecutors have been killed in Ecuador since 2022 - Human Rights Watch"

Quito, Nov 6

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has declared a new 60-day state of emergency in five coastal provinces and three municipalities in the central provinces of Cotopaxi and Bolivar, to quell "grave internal unrest" sparked by extreme violence from organised crime.

The decree, signed on Tuesday and effective from Wednesday, allows security forces to enter and search homes without a warrant and suspends the right to private communication and correspondence in the provinces of Manabi, Guayas, Santa Elena, Los Rios and El Oro, all located in the coastal region.

The measure also extends to the municipalities of La Mana in Cotopaxi, and Las Naves and Echeandia in Bolivar in a bid to strengthen security and restore public order in areas hardest hit by violent crime, Xinhua News Agency reported.

These parts of the country were already under a state of emergency issued in August and renewed for 30 days on October 6.

Earlier in October, an Ecuadorian criminal court judge was shot dead in the town of Montecristi, in western Manabi province, where violent crime has surged, local media reported.

Judge Marcos Mendoza was shot to death outside a school while dropping off his children, according to his relatives.

Preliminary reports indicate that an armed assailant on a motorcycle intercepted the judge and opened fire.

Police officers cordoned off the area and collected ballistic evidence as part of the investigation.

The judge was linked to an alleged money laundering case under investigation by the Attorney General's Office, said the report.

More than a dozen people involved in the case are being prosecuted, including Jose Adolfo Macias Villamar, alias "Fito," the country's main drug trafficker and the leader of the organised crime group Los Choneros.

The Ecuadorian Judges' Association condemned Mendoza's killing in a statement, calling for a thorough investigation and urgent measures to ensure the safety of judicial officials.

At least 15 judges or prosecutors have been killed in Ecuador since 2022, according to Human Rights Watch.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Sad to see another country struggling with organized crime. The judge being killed while dropping his kids at school - this hits hard. No one should feel unsafe doing normal daily activities. 😔
A
Arjun K
While I understand the need for emergency measures, suspending rights to private communication and allowing warrantless searches is worrying. There should be proper oversight to prevent misuse of power.
S
Sarah B
15 judges killed since 2022? That's absolutely terrifying. The judicial system is the backbone of any democracy. If judges aren't safe, no one is. Hope they can restore order soon. 🤞
V
Vikram M
This reminds me of some situations we've seen in India. When crime becomes this organized and violent, tough measures become necessary. But the government must ensure these powers aren't misused against ordinary citizens.
M
Michael C
The fact that this is the third state of emergency since August shows how serious the situation is. Hope the security forces can break these criminal networks without causing too much disruption to people's lives.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50