The Tragic Assassination That Shook Ecuador and Highlighted Growing Drug-Related Violence

A Nation Forever Changed

The brutal killing of Ecuadorean presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, who was shot twelve times while leaving a campaign event on Wednesday evening, has marked a significant turning point for Ecuador. Previously considered a haven of security in a violent region, the nation now grapples with a loss of control and a bleak future.

Ingrid Ríos, a political scientist in Guayaquil, expressed her belief that the assassination signifies a complete loss of control for the government and its citizens. This event has shattered the perception of Ecuador as a relatively stable country amidst neighboring drug-related conflicts, most notably in Colombia.

The Impact of Narco-Trafficking

Over the past five years, the power of the narco-trafficking industry in Ecuador has grown exponentially. Foreign drug mafias have joined forces with local prison and street gangs, creating a landscape tainted by violence, extortion, and government infiltration. The situation in Ecuador mirrors the crisis that plagued Colombia in the 1980s and ’90s, as drug groups took control and dismantled democracy.

President Guillermo Lasso declared a state of emergency in response to this growing crime wave, suspending certain civil liberties. Additionally, the arrest of six suspects linked to the assassination, all of whom were Colombian nationals, further highlights the imported nature of the problem.

Comparisons to Colombia’s Dark Past

Many Ecuadoreans have drawn parallels between Villavicencio’s assassination and the murder of Luis Carlos Galán – a Colombian presidential candidate who was killed while campaigning in 1989. Both politicians were vocal critics of the illegal drug industry and paid the price for speaking out against criminal power.

Colombia still bears the scars of its drug industry’s influence, which continues to affect the electoral process and cause violence and displacement. Ecuadoreans now face the daunting prospect of a similar future, amid rising tensions and a mourning nation.

Desperation and Anger in Quito

Mourners gathered outside a Quito morgue, where Villavicencio’s body was held, expressing their grief and anger. Teachers like Irina Tejada condemned corrupt politicians for siding with the criminal narcos instead of the people. The crowd’s frustration with the police, who they felt failed to protect Villavicencio, was palpable.

The assailants ambushed Villavicencio, a former journalist, activist, and legislator, as he left a school in Quito after a passionate speech against the mafias plaguing the country. President Lasso wasted no time in blaming organized crime for the assassination.

Questions on Ecuador’s Future

The tragic death of Fernando Villavicencio has cast a shadow over an already contentious presidential election. Some Ecuadoreans, blaming correísta candidates due to Villavicencio’s criticisms of former President Rafael Correa, have turned away from them, with no evidence of their involvement in the assassination.

Instead, voters are looking towards Jan Topic, a former soldier, and his strong stance on security. They hope that his approach, similar to that of El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, will combat the rising crime rates. However, concerns about potential civil liberties violations accompany this approach.

As the nation mourns, questions remain about Ecuador’s future and the hands into which it may fall.