The president of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, decreed this Tuesday (09) the existence of an “internal armed conflict” in the country following the escalation of violence that hit the territory in the last few hours. But what exactly does this measure mean?
Noboa published the decree on his account X, formerly Twitter, moments after this Tuesday (09) armed and hooded men invaded the channel TC Television, in Guayaquil. Furthermore, a strong police operation was activated. The Ecuador Police intervened at the scene and managed to “seize several subjects and evidence linked” to the situation, according to information on social media.
In the text of the decree, the government describes 22 organizations as “terrorists and belligerent non-state actors”. On the list are Águias, ÁguilasKiller, AK47, Cavaleiros Escuros, ChoneKiller, Choneros, Covicheros, Quartel das Feias, Cubanos, Fatales, Gánster, Kater Piler, Lagartos, Latin Kings, Lobos, Los p.27, Los Tubarões, Mafia 18, Mafia Trébol, Patrones, R7 and Tiguerones.
“I ordered the Armed Forces to carry out military operations to neutralize these groups,” Noboa said in the X message accompanying the decree.
The decision by Noboa, who took office just three months ago, comes one day after the government declared a state of exception due to the situation of violence in the country, resulting from the escape of criminal Adolfo Macías, alias “Fito”, one of the leaders of Los Choneros, from a Guayaquil jail, as well as from clashes in other prisons.
What does the existence of an “internal armed conflict” involve?
Decree No. 111, by which the president of Ecuador declared the existence of an “internal armed conflict”, implies the immediate mobilization and intervention of security forces in the national territory against organized crime.
The measure orders “the mobilization and intervention of the Armed Forces and the National Police in the national territory to guarantee sovereignty and territorial integrity against transnational organized crime, terrorist organizations and belligerent non-state actors, as established in this Executive Decree”.
Furthermore, it empowers the Armed Forces to “carry out military operations, under international humanitarian law and respecting human rights, to neutralize identified groups”.
The images transmitted by the TC TV channel on Tuesday afternoon (09) appeared to show that the individuals kidnapped several people who were supposed to be employees of the place. Hooded men forced employees to throw themselves on the ground while they heard gunshots and screams, according to a video posted on social media.
The declaration of an “internal armed conflict” is additional, according to decree 111, to the state of exception and curfew previously decreed by Noboa due to the “serious internal commotion”.
According to article 164 of the Constitution of Ecuador, the President of the Republic “may decree a state of emergency throughout the national territory or part of it in the event of aggression, international or internal armed conflict, serious internal commotion, public calamity or natural disaster” .
On Monday (08) and Tuesday (09) in the early hours of the morning, “a night of terror” was experienced in several regions of the country. This is how some citizens CNN spoke to describe the situation.
*With information from Ana María Cañizares
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
