Quito, Ecuador (AP) — A prolonged shootout between rival gangs in Ecuador’s largest prison killed at least 68 prisoners in recent violence and recently caused the worst prison blood bath in the country. Attacked the prison where it was held.
The fighting lasted almost eight hours in the lockup of the coastal city of Guayaquil, and authorities attributed the fighting to a prison gang associated with an international drug cartel. A video disseminated on social media showed a corpse lying on the ground inside the prison, some of which was burnt.
The prisoners “tried to dynamite the walls to enter Pavilion 2 to carry out the slaughter. They also tried to burn the mattresses and drown (their rivals) in smoke,” Guayas, where Guayaquil is located. State Governor Pablo Arosemena said.
“We are fighting drug trafficking,” said Arosemena. “It’s very difficult.”
Police commander General Tanya Varela said drone-using authorities are about to enter Pavilion 2, where three pavilion prisoners are armed with guns and explosives and no leader was released earlier this week. He said he confirmed that.
She said police officers had entered to protect the pavilion and bring prisoners from other areas back to their cells. “These cases are due to controversy between criminal organizations over territory. Currently, there are pavilions without leaders,” she said.
The Attorney General’s office said in a Twitter account that it had increased the death toll to 68 and injured 25 other prisoners.
Prison violence is in the midst of a national state of emergency proclaimed by President Guiller Morasso in October, which empowers security forces to combat drug trafficking and other crimes.
“The first right we should guarantee should be the right to life and freedom, and if security forces cannot act to protect it, it is impossible,” Lasso tweeted on Saturday. He mentioned that the Constitutional Court had recently refused to allow troops to go to jail in spite of a state of emergency. Soldiers are currently out of literature.
Ecuadorian prisons are seeing a wave of brutal violence.
In late September, fighting between gang members in Ritral prison killed at least 118 people in what authorities described as the worst prison slaughter in South America. Officials said at least five of the dead were decapitated. In February, 79 prisoners were killed in simultaneous riots in various prisons. So far this year, more than 300 prisoners have died in prison clashes nationwide.
In addition to overcrowding, Ecuadorian officials say the main problem is that prisoners have to access guns, sometimes high calibers, and ammunition. They say they go to jail through delivery vehicles, drone deliveries, and authorities this week prevented high-caliber weapons from crossing walls into jail.
Outside the prison on Saturday, relatives of prisoners gathered for news of their loved ones.
“This is enough. When do they stop killing? It’s a prison, not a slaughterhouse, and they’re humans,” said Francis Kachankai, 55, whose brother was in prison for eight months. rice field.
Some have called on Ecuadorian security forces to take control of the prison.
“What is (President) Lasso waiting for? Will there be more deaths?” Said Maritza Vera, 62, whose son is a prisoner. Have mercy on where human rights are. I thought this would change, but it’s worse. “
The Ecuadorian prison system has approximately 40,000 prisoners and can accommodate approximately 30,000. Of this total, 15,000 prisoners have not been sentenced.
Mr Arrows Mena said Ecuadorian authorities would deal with prison overcrowding by granting amnesty, migrating prisoners and transferring some foreign prisoners to their hometowns.
“There are more than 1,000 amnesty, but this is part of the process,” he said.
Governor Guayas also said Ecuador would receive international assistance from countries such as Colombia, the United States, Israel and Spain to deal with the prison crisis. Assistance lies in resources and logistics.
“For example, installing a cargo scanner in Guayaquil Prison to avoid the intrusion of weapons costs $ 4 million,” said Arosemena.
Bella said the situation was desperate for the prisoner’s family.
“I’m sad and suffering because there are too many deaths,” Bella said.
Ecuadorian battle between prison gangs leaves at least 68 dead
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