International
Armed group sows terror “by sea and land” in Ecuadorian fishing port
April 12 |
Nine people lost their lives this Tuesday in the town of Esmeraldas, in northern Ecuador, when some thirty alleged members of “organized crime” sowed terror “by sea and land” by opening fire on the fishing port, according to official sources.
“Today, around 09:00 am, 30 heavily armed people, both by sea and land, attacked fishermen in a criminal and delinquent manner”, informed the Ministry of Interior through a communiqué, in which it also detailed that Minister Juan Zapata went to the place of the facts, “after 9 violent deaths and 4 wounded registered so far”.
Zapata himself, quoted in the statement, detailed that the National Police and the Armed Forces are working on the case “in a coordinated manner”. “We are confronting organized crime with force,” he said.
President Guillermo Lasso stated on his Twitter account that those responsible will be captured and confirmed that the police and military forces are “looking for those responsible for this crime”.
According to the Ministry, the police in the sector arrived to repel the attack, taking into account that there were between 1,500 and 2,000 people in the port. At least two victims were rescued from the sea because they jumped into the water to avoid the attack, according to AP citing police sources.
So far, according to the Interior Ministry, 60 raids have been carried out in sectors where, “according to police intelligence, the Organized Crime Group (GDO) would be responsible for this act”. Likewise, he informed that more than 200 ballistic indications have been collected, both of 9 millimeters and 223.
The Ecuadorian Prosecutor’s Office informed that it removed seven bodies in the Artisanal Fishing Port of the canton, and two more in a nearby health center, which were transferred to the Forensic Center.
Earlier, Minister Zapata also announced, through a tweet, that they were coordinating with the police “to capture those responsible for the violent deaths registered in the Fishing Port”. For their part, the country’s military forces announced a security deployment in the area.
Esmeraldas is one of the most violent cities in Ecuador, frequented by criminal gangs involved in crimes such as drug trafficking and extortion.
International
Petro expresses concern over fatal shooting during mass protests in Lima
Colombian President Gustavo Petro voiced his “concern” on Thursday over recent events in Peru, following the death of a protester reportedly shot during a massive demonstration in Lima against the government and Congress.
“I must express my concern over the events in Peru. A young artist has been killed in citizens’ protests,” Petro wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
The Colombian leader also noted that in Peru, “a popularly elected president remains imprisoned without conviction,” referring to Pedro Castillo, who led the country from July 2021 to December 2022 until he was removed by Congress following a failed attempted coup.
“This is a blatant violation of the American Convention on Human Rights,” Petro stated, adding, “I hope Peru seeks social and political dialogue to legitimize its public institutions.”
On Wednesday, Peru experienced widespread protests in several cities, with the largest demonstration in Lima in recent years, driven by citizens’ concerns over corruption and public insecurity.
During the capital’s mobilization, the Ombudsman’s Office confirmed the death of Eduardo Ruiz, 32, and reported clashes that left over 100 injured, including 78 police officers and 24 protesters, as well as ten arrests.
The Attorney General’s Office, investigating Ruiz’s death “in the context of serious human rights violations,” confirmed that the protester was shot.
International
Peru’s interim president José Jerí refuses to resign after protester’s death in Lima
Peru’s interim president, José Jerí, stated Thursday that he has no intention of resigning from the post he assumed last Friday, following the removal of former president Dina Boluarte, despite growing unrest over the death of a protester during massive demonstrations in Lima on Wednesday.
“I will not resign,” Jerí declared outside the Government Palace in Lima, where he returned on foot after making a surprise visit to Congress headquarters alongside Prime Minister Ernesto Álvarez.
Earlier, after leaving the Legislative Palace, the president acknowledged that the country is going through “difficult times” and condemned what he described as “a small group attempting to impose an agenda different from the citizens’ expression of discontent.”
Jerí expressed condolences for the death of Eduardo Ruiz, a 32-year-old man who died during Wednesday’s protest against the government and Congress, amid growing anger over corruption and insecurity.
“We stand in solidarity with his family,” he said, without offering further details about the incident, which has sparked outrage among Peruvians.
The president also described the demonstrations as “a legitimate civic expression” that later turned violent due to “certain groups seeking to provoke chaos by exploiting a peaceful citizen movement.”
“In a state governed by the rule of law, the rights of both demonstrators and security forces must be protected,” Jerí emphasized, adding that “as a result of that situation, this unfortunate death occurred outside the main area where the protest was taking place.”
International
Mexican government prioritizes 191 communities after deadly floods
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed on Wednesday that the death toll from recent rains and floods across several central states has risen to 66, while the federal government has activated air bridges and prioritized assistance in 191 isolated communities.
“Unfortunately, 66 people have died, and 75 remain missing,” the president said during her morning press conference. She added that the official death toll will be updated later in a new report.
As of Tuesday, authorities had reported 64 fatalities. Sheinbaum also announced the creation of a public information center to centralize official data on the deceased, missing persons, damaged homes, and cut-off communities.
According to the president, the number of missing persons has decreased thanks to coordination with state authorities.
“Through calls to phone line 079, 103 people who had been reported missing have now been located,” she explained.
Priority Municipalities
The president noted that the federal government has classified 191 communities as ‘priority’, a designation based mainly on the percentage of homes affected.
Petro expresses concern over fatal shooting during mass protests in Lima
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