One Dead, Six Arrested in Assassination of Ecuadorean Presidential Candidate
QUITO, Aug 10 (Reuters) – Ecuadorean police have announced that one suspect has been killed and six others have been arrested in connection with the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. The suspects are all Colombians, according to authorities. The government has stated that it is actively pursuing the “intellectual authors” of the murder.
The shocking incident occurred on Wednesday night, less than two weeks before the scheduled election, and has sent shockwaves throughout the country. Some rival candidates have suspended their campaigns in response to the violence, bringing the issue of rising violence to the forefront of the election.
Fernando Villavicencio, known for his vocal criticism of corruption and organized crime, was killed while leaving an evening campaign event in northern Quito.
The deceased suspect died from injuries sustained in a shoot-out, as confirmed by the attorney general’s office. Nine people, including a candidate for the legislature and two police officers, were injured in the incident.
The government revealed that the deceased suspect had been previously arrested on weapons charges in July. The six detained individuals are believed to be members of organized crime groups. The national police are now focused on uncovering the motive behind the crime and identifying the intellectual authors, according to Interior Minister Juan Zapata.
The involvement of Colombian nationals in the assassination is reminiscent of the 2021 killing of Haiti’s President Jovenel Moise, where 26 Colombians and two Haitian-Americans were involved.
President Guillermo Lasso has condemned the crime as an attempt to sabotage the election. However, he has confirmed that the voting will proceed as planned on Aug. 20, albeit under a national state of emergency. Lasso has requested assistance from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the investigation, and a delegation is expected to arrive in Ecuador soon.
Violence has been on the rise in Ecuador in recent years, particularly in cities along drug-trafficking routes. Citizens in places like Guayaquil and Esmeraldas have expressed fear due to the escalating violence.
The armed forces have been deployed throughout the country and will remain deployed until the end of the electoral process, according to Defense Minister Luis Lara. The government aims to provide necessary security for the election and ensure the safety of Ecuadorian citizens.
Villavicencio’s party, Movimiento Construye, has rejected the “political use” of his death and called for a swift investigation. The party has condemned an unverified video circulating on social media, allegedly from a gang called Los Lobos, claiming responsibility for the assassination. The video accuses Villavicencio of receiving millions of dollars from the gang for his campaign and threatens fellow candidate Jan Topic.
Former President Rafael Correa, who faced heavy criticism from Villavicencio during his presidency, initially reposted the video but later stated that it was fake.
Candidate Luisa Gonzalez, who is running for Correa’s party and leading in the polls, expressed horror at the killing but has not suspended her campaign. Indigenous candidate Yaku Perez and law-and-order hopeful Jan Topic have both suspended their campaigns, while businessman Otto Sonnenholzner has urged the government to take action.
Villavicencio’s party had previously discussed the possibility of suspending campaigning due to recent political violence, including the murder of the mayor of Manta in July. However, Villavicencio opposed the suspension, considering it an act of cowardice.
The party can choose another candidate, but ballots have already been printed and distributed with Villavicencio’s name and photo. The party has requested international oversight on the investigation and will take time to mourn before making decisions about the vote.
Fernando Villavicencio, who had three rings of security on the day of the assassination, had reported an oil business to the attorney general’s office the day before.
