PCMLE: On the current situation in Ecuador

I received and slightly edited this PCMLE statement ( www.pcmle.org/ ) on the crisis: 

 

On the current situation in Ecuador* 

Ecuador is experiencing critical moments; the events that have occurred in recent days will have a profound impact on the economic and political life of the country. They will mark a turning point; however, they are unfolding in the context of the crisis of insecurity that has been going on for many months. 

What happened in the last few hours has as its starting point the escape of alias Fito (leader of the gang known as Los Choneros) from Regional Prison No. 4. This led to the declaration of a state of emergency by the government on Monday, January 8, and, in turn, a wave of criminal actions in several cities of the country.  In the midst of this Colón Pico (leader of the Los Lobos gang) and about 40 prisoners escaped from a prison in Riobamba. Pico was arrested just three days before his escape. 

On Tuesday, January 9, 20 of the 24 provinces recorded the highest levels of criminal violence: burning of vehicles, detonation of bombs, kidnappings of members of the Police, detention of prison guards, attempted looting and, the event that had the greatest significance, the seizure of the facilities of TC Television in Guayaquil. All this was accompanied by an intense offensive of information, photos, videos and fake news on social networks, which created a state of terror among the population and the feeling that the situation was uncontrollable. The government's response to these events was the issuance of Decree 111, which declares the existence of an armed conflict at the national level and orders the military forces to combat criminal groups, which are given the status of terrorist groups. 27 groups have been classified as such. 

The objective sought by the criminal groups with the actions carried out on Monday and Tuesday was achieved: to create chaos in the country and provoke terror among the population. 

The response of the government and the forces that support it has been staggered: first decree 110 was issued, declaring a state of emergency; then the National Assembly announced its full support for the government in its fight against crime and the President of the Assembly, Henry Kronfle, announced that they would approve pardons and amnesties for members of the police forces who face judicial proceedings for fighting crime. subsequently, Decree 111 was issued, declaring the existence of an internal armed conflict.  

All bourgeois political forces have declared their support for the government, in the name of national unity and the defense of the country. The Correa forces [have] been forced to make a tactical turn, [they have] reduced all criticism of the government and [give] it full support in the fight against crime. Correa has said that "after victory we will define the differences." The international right also talks about helping the country to deal with the problem. The United States has not missed the opportunity to express its willingness to "collaborate" [DS - US military collaboration has been offered]. Regarding the U.S., it is known that the Lasso government signed an agreement that U.S. troops can act in our country in conditions of conflict, this document must be approved by the Constitutional Court.  

During the election campaign and since his inauguration as President of the Republic, Daniel Noboa has spoken of the Phoenix Plan, which would contain the policy and mechanisms to confront organized crime and guarantee peace in the country. However, Noboa has been criticized because there has been no action formulated by the government to confront this serious problem, to the point where it has been questioned whether or not such a plan actually exists.  

Criminal violence in the country has been growing; murders rise in the streets and in broad daylight are on the, mainly in the coastal provinces; prisoners maintain control of prisons; common crime has been uncovered. What are known as "vaccines" have become widespread, that is, paying criminals weekly or monthly so as not to become victims of robberies and murders. The population is living in fear. Ecuador is today one of the countries with the highest rates of criminal violence in the world and with the highest homicide rates as well. 

For several years in the country there has been talk of the penetration of drug trafficking and mafias in the highest spheres of bourgeois institutions: in the upper echelons of the Police, the Armed Forces, the organs of justice, the executive, the legislative, the media, and the powerful financial and business groups. The Metastasis case has made it possible to identify the perpetrators, but it is well known that not all of them are there, only one of the criminal groups is being tried. There is evidence of the penetration of drug trafficking and organized crime from the government of Rafael Correa through those of Moreno, Lasso and up to today. 

The Metastasis case refers to a judicial process begun by the State Attorney General, Diana Salazar, in which it is evident that judges, members of the leadership of the Police and the Army, lawyers, business owners, and right-wing political leaders are linked to one of the groups dedicated to drug trafficking. For this case, the president of the Council of the Judiciary, Wilman Terán, is now in prison, as are about 40 other people. In the evidence presented by the prosecution, there are communications between the criminals, which account for the payment to judges to obtain the release of former Vice President Jorge Glas (Rafael Correa's vice president). There are also messages in which they recommend "buying" state institutions (such as customs), because they have a relationship with a high-ranking official in the government of Guillermo de Lasso who is "selling" them. 

The declaration of the existence of an armed conflict in the country and the order of the Armed Forces and the Police to use lethal weapons is changing people's perception of the government's actions. A panicked population easily assumes as correct the policies that put the use of force, military violence, and the [ ] "trigger-happy" policy at the fore. The most reactionary political forces in the country have always been in favor of this type of measure; now they are amplifying their discourse to deepen that policy. 

Along with this discourse, all the bourgeois political forces and, of course, the business groups, speak of the need for national unity to face the moment. Behind this call is the intention to impose neoliberal policies, strike at the rights of the workers and people and further affect their living conditions. Mauricio Pozo (the neoliberal former Minister of Finance) says that in order to finance the war, the price of gasoline must be raised. The current finance minister has pointed out that the "elimination of fuel subsidies is going to take place". As part of its neoliberal project there are some questions for the popular referendum, which include the question of mining to benefit international capital; hourly contracts, which make work more precarious; international arbitration to settle disputes in matters of foreign investment. 

It is evident that there is a plan to move state action further to the rightward. It is a policy organized by the Yankee embassy: they seek to implement what would be "Plan Ecuador", and for this they require money. 

For Noboa's presidential political project, the current period is of enormous importance; it can improve its image or it can go under. Some analysts say that if he "wins the war" he will ensure his re-election. 

Our Party must look at what is happening in the country in a many-sided way, and it must do so from a class perspective. This allows us to objectively see what is happening, who are the causes, the process that has occurred so far and the perspectives that the current circumstances present to us. Events are in process; it is necessary to analyze them step by step, to take into account that new phenomena will continue to arise and that the different social and political forces are and will seek to take advantage of the events. 

We condemn the acts of violence provoked by organized criminal groups linked to the mafias and drug trafficking; We demand that the State guarantee the life and security of the population. 

We call for the unity of the people  to confront the situation, to collectively confront the problems, to organize solidarity to protect the neighborhoods, the places of work or activity. We raise the banners of the defense of life; we demand concrete measures so that there is effectiveness in the fight against crime; the government must guarantee the safety of hospitals, public services, that society does not come to a standstill, that concrete measures are put in place in the "hot zones" (crime hotspots).  

The problems of the people are of great magnitude and are in the fields of security, education, health and employment. If this is not addressed, crime will persist. We have to give a structural response, we know that the results are not immediate, that is why we propose the emergency in these areas, so that economic resources can be channeled immediately. 

The government must declare a security emergency, to quickly provide the corresponding institutions with a budget, evaluate and purge (from above) the public force, and ensure that effective border control is carried out; that intelligence work to disarm gangs is strengthened; to regain control of the prisons. 

It is well known that drug traffickers launder money through the most diverse businesses. It has been said that $5 billion has been laundered in the financial system. What is the UAFE (Financial and Economic Analysis Unit) doing to control this? 

Those who now appear as the heads of the gangs in reality are not the main groups linked to drug trafficking; they are their operators. Those who run all this are higher up; the real heads must be reached and caught. 

The government has called for a referendum which, according to its plans, will be held in March. A first package of 11 proposed questions were harshly questioned by various sectors, including those close to the government, as they considered them useless, since what has already been proposed is contemplated by several laws. They were referring, in essence, to the action of the Armed Forces and the Police in controlling crime. In the midst of this crisis, the government has raised nine more questions, which we referred to a few lines above. 

We have pointed out that we are not opposed to referendums on principle. The people must be participants in the important decisions for the country, which is why we propose that other types of questions be submitted to a referendum, such as whether or not to declare a security emergency, whether or not to continue paying the foreign debt during 2024, among others.

  

Our Party, through its various mechanisms and instruments, continues its political activity, promoting its points of view, contesting for the political leadership of the masses. 

January 11, 2024 

Secretariat of the Central Committee 

PCMLE