every thing is being analyzed is being waged, it's being measured and it's not just i say, instead of my face, i mean they smell things all these days. at the moment we are in a state of universe with edwards funded something that was throwing that would rather take the risk of democracy to the risks of dictatorship. digital dissidence on out to 0 is exit also coming to gang violence and organized crime. the assassination of a presidential candidates his shots, the lesson in our country. the government claims the drug, cartels for the increase in violence. but what's being done to stop is this is inside story, the

color. welcome to the program. i'm adrian sent again. a presidential contender assassinated in broad daylight. fernando via vincent seal is the 3rd electoral candidate to be killed in ecuador. in a matter of weeks before the investigative journalist campaigned on empty corruption, platform, accusing government officials of having links to organized crime. ecuador struggling with rising gang violence and drug trafficking. the president has declared a state of emergency deployed the army, but will it be enough? have criminal groups taking control of politics and what's the shooting a message for other politicians? we'll discuss all of this with our guest in just a moment, but 1st a report from mazda zeros katia lopez. hold on. this is the non, the vi sense you'll speaking out against organized crime. in ecuador moments later, the 59 year old president candidate was shot until the widespread

outreach followed along with demands for justice. when the midday is, will not be in the know the candidates and the government must make this a priority. so i still can't believe it to come and i can't accept it too. i mean, think of it, like many candidates, if you have the sense you had promised a 5 corruption. but unlike his rivals, he publicly accused the government of having links to organized crime without the we carry data rate and recover the rifle. a machine gun for pistols, 3 grenades, and 4 boxes of i munition. there were also 2 motor bikes on a vehicle reported stone of ecuador, one scene as an oasis of peace in the region, has become a key player in lucrative cocaine trafficking routes to europe. and north america is too good evening for the people. this is a political crime which has all the characteristics of terrorism,

and we do not doubt that this murder is an attempt to sabotage the electoral process that the president has declared a 60 days state of emergency and deployed the army. as these can be thought, most of us through the media, we ask people to vote because with the support of the armed forces and the police, we guarantee the selection will be safe. the people are worried beyond politics is the fact that this not only affects us as citizens, but also as a country, you know, we're being watched abroad. i mean, unfortunately, this gives the wrong impression to people who want to come here or invest the police say, the suspected gunman died in custody after exchanging firewood security personnel. at least 6, colombians had been arrested boat. investigators say a larger criminal network could be behind the assassination the f. b, i has agreed to look into the case via the since y'all was not the leading candidate. pulse of jesse placed 5th among 8 contenders. many are now

questioning of his killing was a warning for all politicians, particularly the next president, katia lopez. so again, for insights, story the. all right, let's bring it out. guess from kito were joined by man. what a peak, a professor of international relations at the university of san francisco, the quito, an equitable from london, have a 5. hey, a journalist, adolescent american affairs analyst. i'm from vancouver. we're joined by grace john miller, a professor at the school, a public policy and global affairs of the university of british columbia. a friend of the late, the of a sense. you're welcome to you all. thanks for being with us on inside story grace . let's start with you. for decades equitable was one of life in america's least violent countries. now it has a homicide rate higher than that of mexico. what's going wrong?

is it down to by block congealed raphielle by a policy. and i'm seeing is really in bold. i had but yeah, i would rather say the lot or where are we missing? i'm extremely weakest stating, capable of leaving, controlling the means of vitamins. it has been going on for a bank at the very least. but as soon as the last 5 years i would say that they dropped lars. have better whitman? i control the territory, especially in some problems, is that i key to dog trafficking. then the police system. not only you only be paying an actual ones on sensors of the quantity to transform these dramatic situation. not surprisingly, corruption is wrong pond. on and to moments, for example, is the threats of violence are immediately part of any question. when it comes to voice of the words, the trying to face an or at least announce then corruption,

the most feasible phase was it's a non louisiana. he says here in the years, but he's not the only one on these a contract. he's saying that the, with the i mean capable of the state weakest state in the last decade or so, and it will be going on. and then there's a, a huge restructuring unless we are talking seriously about the drug war that is going to out of the continent. probably how much of what's happening right now? what equitable can be traced back to the decisions of for president rafael, cut into an ending cooperation with us, drug enforcement agency, for example, closing the us military base a. what about career successes? why didn't, why haven't they got a grip on the security situation in the country? it would it basically, uh, brook attention that little hopping, operate and still a 1995. the one that needs to be said showed the nouns last, jonetta rose was a content which works with this. you not look actually mix equal so they may not

even the underneath the glorious presidency of this all the cup took a little slow list of work with another truck. both of these got to be struck. guns . i've been working with a mixed and that for many years and does made it very difficult for the government to fight. not we don't know whether mr. career decision to stop coach corporate and with the americans. it made it easier. what it is clear. he said these got tails in, in the destructive those him to take for the uh, what is probably what um was supported by the mexican balls if you like. so that was big is difficult to pinpoint that switch point at these level of cooperation between the us on um a photo is responsible for top and left. but if i just do my 3 is that you have the same kind of corporation in other countries. nothing america, i get the drug get this to operate because they have a lot of networks and a lot of context on this. a lot of corruption. i'm on the political class in that respect. i think assume we move usually that these categories response or for the

mother of president, obviously we have a sense of we don't, we don't know yet. we what, what the seems to be clear is the, it wasn't creamy, no matter, excuse me, that the face and nation. we don't know yet except the whole except lease, i mean, and then also mobile. why would it be just got out. and then in, in the claim responsibility able to put, the said no, we haven't done it. we don't know yet the defense, minnesota, the defense minister said we clearly. so what's happening need for the, the so there are more with the government, the cartels, that they put the primary premium guns and that's what has to be worked so. okay, we don't know yet exactly which company is responsible, but the organ clinic is definitely a be fine, be such as nation. ok this before we we, we get into exactly what's going on right now in the presidential election. but what i'm so i'm, so i'm keen just to examine that the roots of, of this crisis, to what extent is this violent crimes, gee, and equitable linked to the end of the fox insurgency and neighboring colombia in

2016. it's definitely connected to the the disagreements, right? that's filled over from colombia into a car door. but this has a much deeper roots in 2003. the cartels from mexico have a summit in send. the other one decided to use ecuador as a base for their operations, right? so i, but there has become the main basis in latin america for the expert of cocaine, the us and here of so it's just as grace had them, you just said that you'd send an evolution that exploded the last few years because of the role of the states not spending the public expenditure in the ministry of the interior. the reality that today we have 40 murders a day in that for the at the beginning of 2023. it's 40 murders a day in the culture of 18000000 people. and everybody's responsible. the cartels from mexico to legend america, um the government from colorado to less so current,

contemporary governments and defending lovely, lovely seems to have defined the murdered as a crime of state. so it's a little too simplistic to just blame it on the car itself. okay. grace, would it be fair to describe it? quit or as, as a non co state right now? is it on the way to becoming a failed state? a home? no, it's and but the sooner we got on, oh, what am i going to also say? the problem is that nobody is doing anything to restructuring the whole situation. i just think i may, i mean, if you take out the democratic controls of the security forces, the intentions especially. i mean, what do we have and went through a position where all the intelligence in a, a practice it whether the media dying or the parties were due to wires on how the priority of the foot that the nickels or the drug cartels. i'd be since

1990 is really but and what the correct ministration has been to blame for is to more to hear that. i mean to move that and security part of those into policy guidance. and i have prosecution or, and he jobs. so that is what change i might be cutting the space at the beginning. we can trace back to that by the we have to move from that conversation and that situation into the real cause in control of the security of for up as i would say, that is the beginning of the restructuring of the police or military forces because they are clear making for infant credit, and i think the, all their aspects of, of the issue is independence of the judiciary. otherwise, there's no d throughout on them. there's no way of going on out if there is no of these basic guarantee that you have. and you will have inductions free from

fear of buying. and so that is the beginning of probably a process of restructuring on the starting yet again. and to see a different conversation in the coming years or at starting from now, i would say in the upcoming election, heavier, how far does the reach of the criminal gangs spreading in ecuador, i mean how corrupt acquittals institutions. its politics is the only implicated in the, in any of this it could take a look for per a freely without corruption of high levels of ty, political levels on police. you cannot operate if this corruption a, if there's no corruption to corruption, ease, and feeds. uh, you know, is one of the elements in with the truck cuz he used to be able to operate freely. um, with impunity. uh, these people have a lot of money. they bribe uh, you know,

pretty decent. they buy the police, etc. but also we mustn't forget this just on the 9th of august, the day before, he wasn't a fish and they to me said we have a central shit and i quote, please know what the truth is, the premium most broad deal is illegal minus um, white color premium, that's eve on height, which means that she point can point to the police forces us probably responsible for the patient because they were not doing enough in some cases because of incompetence in some cases because of corruption. so it is perfectly possible, i believe the police said, i don't know whether they are, but at least a police level that is level separation which allows these cocktails to operate with such impunity. and that needs to be central had already pinpointed this particular issue in relation to the security forces. you know, if i were talking about a, quote, direct quote for an interview he gave on the 9th of august. so obviously this is, there is a connection between the way that protects operate, but also how to rupture them, feeds and helps. he's got tools to uh,

operate in by going through the load on all the content and in the region. by the way to do before i ask you another question. do you have anything to add to that? a yeah, i do. the the scandals of north per generals has been, has been widely covered in vehicle there in media, in the us media, international media. it's very clear that the levels changed. you know, the day before his death of corruption scandal with the oil fields that was connected to the 3 former governments from korea and wouldn't know and the current government have less so. so the fact that he's family denounced the crime of state indicates the relations and the collaboration between cartels and government officials. okay. and what will this forthcoming election solve any of equitable as problems with violent crime? who are the front runners? what are they saying about what they do about the situation?

and it's good to keep in mind that in february had municipal elections, that's where the most violent elections in the history of ecuador, and now the current elections have surpassed the level of violence. we have over 60 politicians suffering violence attacks over the last year. we already delivery sensor was the last one, but we had before him 10 days before um, the day from mazda who was assassinated, drives the local official. we had some candidates for office for religious late. your boss is hoarse, estimated this last month. there are many politicians and elected officials being assassinated over the last few weeks. now we have an empty seats at the elections coming up. the proposals are limited in the sense that we owe the candidates for proposing more police presence and more control of the jails from where the cartels operates. but the depths,

the roots of the matter is really to corruption. that is institutionalized within the states, and they go back to what grace just mentioned. a few minutes ago the crowd governments words, we've cartels institutionalized per thousands to. so i have some rules that allow cartels to trade freely in the country. and if, if the legal official did not do it out of their own, will they do it out of madness of threats. and there are very few tools available to change the structures of power. and that's where the problem really lives that allows the courage 1000 devices to continue to operate. great, what are the implications of the, of a sense here was about a full this election with the contents now become a polarized, as a result of, of, of his death would be of a sense, you have made it through to the 2nd round. the we don't know, i mean, and 3 economy, they'd square were actually fighting for the 2nd place. eh,

auto. so there are holes there. yeah. compare is on. and if they're not, nobody's ever since, you know, we didn't know. we don't know if steel because there's almost 60 percent between 50 and 60 percent depending on the policy um, off in decisiveness in the country. so it's a country that these deeply designed chances with an actions with the democratic and transitions on the phone rather, why is loose, i want to sign this and who, who is in the patio refined career. so i, i really thing that is one of the reasons is that he, that is a game changer because it wouldn't force on it. in fact, the man i can tell you more about that. there's a cold for unity of these, amongst a candidates that are running for the i would say the century is democratic tickets . where and then the agenda of the day at least is this is funny and

upheld the democratic principles of have free elections and anything on participation, social participation and song. so i would say that 3 that i mentioned before, although yeah, forbid is on the ever since you were the ones that are really in running for these agenda. all democrats, apparently the democratic principles that probably democratic reform on the way out, i would say is that it's an unity on that front. what are the differences? i mean there's a huge difference between them in terms of agend us and put the gun and the support and song. but his deal, we are an engine that is running against a cold or is running against the centrist and side from the center left to the center, right? all the way to worse something that is a, a more out 3 direction especially with is in mrs. 3 is that one son is and

also another candidate that plays or tries to be the new will can lead the present or concern of other in the who is john thought. so that is the printer, the guy situation, and i will, i really thing that and then dog and me. so we go, he says he's going to change in our squares christmas. we said the beginning of the program, a front of the the, of a sense you, it was a friend of yours, but was he like it was obviously a very brave man. if he think give them the chance to, to run the country. how would, how would he have sorted out this mess, what he would, he have been would have taken a hard line. and then we have bring that point and says she was a long time more than close friends. but i, i knew i know him. i knew him since i was 19 years of age and he was this dealer in university in undergrad, in the same and social communication under god. but he was always on the wait there,

in fact, innovative human ones, florida visited it. i mean, i was running, but it didn't body, i think it was running for a certain body as well. and then he was totally fine the good debater. and he will not lose an argument. he was always very stubborn about the fighting for issues regardless of the issue. and then i, i have seen him a lot throughout the years, especially because he was 1st at the forefront of confronting corruption and then the state own enterprise and the brands. they are a company for their petrograd or at the beginning, step in and then throughout the years old. and he will top me to because i used to have a column and then they need new state there and come their seal. so who used to adopt me and say, you know, this is common, at least you and you should raise awareness of all this and then, and most of the,

during the correct ministration when he was persecuted for, for the nose and graph 4 different cases of corruption but most importantly, because of the incident, know in september 32010 when they're less military, upright, so on and korea or their he's rescue from a grace pretty quickly. what, what do you have made of a good president? i would say with unity and i don't, i don't believe in cody us as they're not, they are a strong leaders. i will say take advantage. i'm probably yes with another help from accommodation. we don't know the leave, he will go into the 2nd wrong. but he definitely was a very good and i just think there in terms of confronting and the sources of corruption and even going from seeing. and let's just say thursday, the national assembly represent that they've school, who were part of these corruption that weren't,

that is digging the country nowadays. okay. have a, what happens if the country votes for a candidate who says, i know how to fix it? this is it's, it's my way all the, all the highway a hard line to a dangerous for the country and that, and that's a very good question indeed. i will call you mention john poppy, he cautioned, says it will kaylee off it further. but she's in the book, and now you book kayla is the person of the shuttle who took a hard line on crime. and now he's been accused of violating human rights on attempts to stay in power longer than he should change. and the constitution on electronic roles and these to topics have moved to me on the the meetings didn't expect some us use that to speak. he said he have much now sofa according to being . and both a couple of a few days ago, you only have 4 percent off the boat. but now the question is, what is she? what was, what the color actually she's speech even more often such as nation. i to go through the 2nd route because nobody's going to within the 1st law lease on the side is from the go to the party, the season for losing. so i hate with only 26 percent of the whole. so the question

is whether mr. toby wouldn't make it and then run off of the election or the other kind of that we've had. we've mentioned the young your competitors, so certainly wholesale, all the sudden holes that make it. so the thing you would be that if somebody who is on the line, the mistake will keyless policies make, becomes elected. these could lead to see real a 4 retired young tendencies within that quote, which could be equally dangerous. but also if, before we got the they've got to be able to get those mixed up to. so what would cause we didn't think whether these people are very powerful. they have a lot of 5 parts. we could create and must have conflict in the thought that they would look the guns. oh, they might of it, but we have to connect with the powerful brought to the child from mexico working with captive. we didn't take weather and that would be very difficult at to provide . so then you reset. obviously that will have to be a more hard thing. approach to what the products to prevent. things like live as

a snitch won't be, so it'd be, it'd be sent you from happening again. but at the same time, visit danger. this could be done with all the time. you will see sure. let me still get it booked in a quote and inside of other which would be daniels for the democratic pulses in this. how about the equivalent? so it remains to be seen whether this is going to change is there somebody mentioned one of my colleague and they call the said again to turn to the dc, need a game changer he remains to be seen. who's going to come 2nd, because that going to be a rental more than 50 percent or will 60 percent of that? awfully. what there is. don't know who they are going to vote for it brings. it remains to be seen how these people who do not know what to do. going to vote that for the rental because there's no going to be a tray, a winner, and defend the 1st wrong on the 11th of august, about what i, i see and not again agreement that no. yeah, it's, um, it raises money question. the absence of this phase uh, the stage, the minister of the jury is only spending using executing 80 percent of the spending assigned to the ministry of interior. so do you have sense of the stages,

perhaps intentional, allowing a lot of these gangs to upgrade and just such a nation of related things are definitely play a game changer. the question is, who benefits from? it's because it's the extreme left or so frame does left, right, degrees mall we've seen that's benefiting from it. but perhaps because they're seen as benefiting from it. it's the other side. it was actually benefiting from drapes . so to sort of highs and may recover, a lot of the boats that were assigned that were going to go for related things are . so it's not clear yet who will benefit from it. it is clear that the population is very upset about this killing. it shows the level of vulnerability of ecuador items, of violence, and the term disability of violence and the lack of action from the state. so people will vote in reaction to this killing and the other 4000 killings from the beginning of the year. the question is, who will inherits the votes from july?

the same course? is there any reason for optimism to, to the people of equity will have any reason to be optimistic about the future as the country headed for the, for the violence of a k arsic few years i had to think i don't think there are reasons for optimism to be honest and, and this until i send them across the forces of the country and it gets united and i'm really confront this is and not all i'm, i'm gracious them off. keep bikes on corruption within the system because only a democratic and national on unit d dot is it because priority is 1st and foremost to recover the state to restore the state capacity to control the means of force. nothing will happen because as i said is not just a strong my role to do such a thing on the we are,

i wouldn't say on election that is only going to nice for me whether wins as president is going to not just for 18 months. so the agenda for change on referral in deep needs, a lot of what do you think the unity needs to you? a tape of social forces is even society, organizations organize and not organized, but also the different organizations that they're running to for to, to hold did the highest offices in the state. so it's not about the re stick new, but there is a way out. but it will really take a normal was problem. none of suffering this deal before we come to see a light out of the toner. okay. that i'm afraid we must end it manufacturing dates of being with us by the way, the pick have a 5, hey. and grace jeremy little. thanks for watching. you can see the program again at any time by going to the websites around to 0 dot com for further discussion. you

can join us on our facebook page at facebook dot com, forward slash a inside story out. of course, you can join the conversation on twitter handle at a j inside story from me, adrian said again for the team here. and so thanks for watching. we'll see you again, bye for the . it's the phone causing the costs. the central banks are holding gold and increasingly moving it resolves back home. will tell you why fi it or posts on his x platform and people must chose use us. he's got that back plus the backbone of pakistan's

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