Ecuador has taken a rigorous decision to restore order to overcrowded prisons. The country is releasing thousands of prisoners. The reason is the violence last week between gangs in the Guayas prison in the city of Guayaquil. In doing so, 118 prisoners were killed; some even beheaded.
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Three dead sons
Daniel Villacis (57) stands in front of the Guayas detention center in the city of Guayaquil. Last Tuesday, terrible riots broke out there. Gangs attacked each other with knives, firearms and even explosives.
At that time, four of Villacis’ sons were in prison. He says he only has one left now: ‘I already have three coffins here. Three dead sons. My fourth son is in cell block 9. His sentence will end on October 4.
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Villacis is facing prison and hopes that his only surviving son will be released now. Ecuador releases thousands of prisoners. These are prisoners whose sentences are almost over, older people and women.
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Overcrowded Prisons
About 17.5 million people live in Ecuador. About as much as in the Netherlands. More than 39,000 people are detained in Ecuador, certainly 12,000 more than in the Netherlands.
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Ecuador hopes to restore order and security in the prisons by releasing prisoners. The intention is that more space is created in the cells and that gang members can be separated from each other. To make that happen, the president has declared a state of emergency in all detention centers for 60 days.
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God gives, God takes
At the Guayas prison it is waiting for relatives to be released. So far almost only coffins come out. Daniel Villacis is waiting for his last son: ”It is how it is. God gives and God takes.”
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