{"id":3176,"date":"2023-08-10T17:15:35","date_gmt":"2023-08-10T17:15:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thisbiginfluence.com\/?p=3176"},"modified":"2023-08-10T17:15:36","modified_gmt":"2023-08-10T17:15:36","slug":"candidate-in-ecuadors-presidential-election-fernando-villavicencio-shot-dead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thisbiginfluence.com\/?p=3176","title":{"rendered":"Candidate in Ecuador&#8217;s presidential election Fernando Villavicencio shot dead"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"\">\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"e1j2237y5 bbc-q4ibpr ebmt73l0\">\n<div class=\"bbc-1atl7vu euvj3t14\">\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"bbc-ccegd7 euvj3t12\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"bbc-1a3w4ok euvj3t11\">By Christy Cooney &amp;  Vanessa Buschschl\u00fcter<\/li>\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"bbc-1p92jtu euvj3t10\">BBC Information<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"e1j2237y6 bbc-q4ibpr ebmt73l0\"><time datetime=\"2023-08-10\" class=\"bbc-1dafq0j e1mklfmt0\">10 August 2023, 01:36 BST<\/time><\/p>\n<p><time datetime=\"2023-08-10\" class=\"bbc-1dafq0j e1mklfmt0\">Up to date 1 hour in the past<\/time><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"e1wxwc760 bbc-1bh6w8m ebmt73l0\">\n<figure class=\"bbc-1qdcvv9 e1aczekt0\">\n<div class=\"bbc-rl27ak e1p9mbna1\"><amp-iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin\" layout=\"fill\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/polling.bbc.co.uk\/ws\/av-embeds\/cps\/news\/world-latin-america-66457472\/p0g5xkl6\/en-GB\/amp\" title=\"Media player\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-e2e=\"media-player\"><noscript><\/p>\n<div class=\"bbc-1b4920d e1cpbhy72\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/images\/ic\/512xn\/p0g5xs2h.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/images\/ic\/240xn\/p0g5xs2h.jpg 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/images\/ic\/320xn\/p0g5xs2h.jpg 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/images\/ic\/480xn\/p0g5xs2h.jpg 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/images\/ic\/624xn\/p0g5xs2h.jpg 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/images\/ic\/800xn\/p0g5xs2h.jpg 800w\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong class=\"bbc-1k5stce e1cpbhy70\">To play this content material, please allow JavaScript, or strive a special browser<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/noscript><\/amp-iframe><\/div><figcaption dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-1woqkw9 e6i104o0\"><span class=\"bbc-m04vo2\">Video caption, <\/span><\/p>\n<p>Fernando Villavicencio was shot as he left a rally in Quito<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\"><b>A candidate in Ecuador&#8217;s forthcoming presidential election who campaigned in opposition to corruption and gangs has been shot lifeless at a marketing campaign rally.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">Fernando Villavicencio, a member of the nation&#8217;s nationwide meeting, was attacked as he left the occasion within the capital, Quito, on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">He is among the few candidates to allege hyperlinks between organised crime and authorities officers in Ecuador.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">President Guillermo Lasso mentioned organised crime was behind the killing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">Ecuador has traditionally been a comparatively protected and secure nation in Latin America, however crime has shot up in recent times, fuelled by the rising presence of Colombian and Mexican drug cartels, which have infiltrated native prison gangs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">Fernando Villavicencio had acquired threats from a gang calling itself Los Choneros final month and had been given a safety element.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">Following his homicide, a video appeared on social media during which closely armed males carrying balaclavas claimed accountability for the homicide. The lads declare to belong to Los Lobos (The Wolves), who&#8217;re rivals of Los Choneros.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">However hours later, one other video appeared on-line during which one other group of males &#8211; this time not carrying masks &#8211; claimed they have been Los Lobos and denied that they had performed a job within the assassination, claiming the opposite video was an try by their rivals to set them up for the homicide.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">Each gangs wield appreciable energy and the violence they&#8217;ve sowed has been one of many key considerations of Ecuadoreans forward of presidential elections on 20 August. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">Mr Villavicencio, who was married and had 5 kids, was one in every of eight candidates within the first spherical of the election &#8211; though he was not the frontrunner and was polling across the center of the pack. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><h2 id=\"Ecuador-The-basics\" tabindex=\"-1\" class=\"bbc-kf21ty eglt09e0\">Ecuador: The fundamentals<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">It is the smallest of the Andean nations in South America, sitting on the equator (therefore the title) between Colombia and Peru.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\"><b>Why was Mr Villavicencio shot?<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">He was one in every of eight candidates within the working for the primary spherical of the election with a concentrate on combating corruption &#8211; and he and his group had been threatened by the chief of a gang linked to drug-trafficking.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">As soon as a comparatively peaceable nation, Ecuador has been ravaged by the arrival of worldwide drug cartels taking advantage of a increase in cocaine trafficking &#8211; and the problem can solely develop in significance within the presidential election marketing campaign.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">Mr Villavicencio, a serving congressman and former journalist, had condemned what he mentioned was the lenient method to the gangs, saying that have been he to come back to energy, there can be a crackdown.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">He&#8217;s not the primary politician to be assassinated. Final month, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-latin-america-66289355\" class=\"focusIndicatorReducedWidth bbc-n8oauk e1p3sufg0\">the mayor of the city of Manta<\/a> was shot lifeless, whereas in February, a candidate for mayor within the metropolis of Puerto L\u00f3pez was killed. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">However the taking pictures of a presidential candidate at a public occasion within the capital is essentially the most brazen assault to this point and stunning testimony to the power of the gangs. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">Witnesses say Mr Villavicencio was attacked as he was leaving a marketing campaign occasion at about 18:20 (00:20 GMT) native time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-1ka88fa ebmt73l0\">\n<figure class=\"bbc-1qdcvv9 e1aczekt0\">\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-172p16q ebmt73l0\">\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-3edg7g ebmt73l0\"><figcaption dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-1woqkw9 e6i104o0\"><span class=\"bbc-m04vo2\">Picture caption, <\/span><\/p>\n<p>Law enforcement officials work outdoors the rally web site the place Mr Villavicencio was killed<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">The occasion was held in Quito&#8217;s monetary district, in a constructing which had beforehand housed a faculty.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">A burst of gunfire might be heard because the 59-year-old was getting right into a automotive outdoors the constructing the place, simply moments earlier than, he had been assembly voters.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">Mr Villavicencio&#8217;s uncle, Galo Valencia, described the second his nephew was killed: &#8220;We have been only a few metres from the varsity after we have been hit by a hail of about 40 bullets.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">Mr Valencia mentioned his nephew had been hit by three bullets within the head. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">Carlos Figueroa, one other witness, mentioned that &#8220;30 seconds after he [Fernando Villavicencio] left by means of the primary door, the pictures began&#8221;.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">Video from contained in the constructing reveals panicked supporters diving for canopy. Within the chaos, 9 different individuals have been injured, together with a candidate for the nation&#8217;s meeting and two cops, prosecutors mentioned. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">The suspect was additionally shot in an change of bullets with safety and later died from his accidents, the nation&#8217;s lawyer common mentioned on social media. Six individuals have been detained by police in reference to the assassination after raids in Quito, they added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">A state of emergency has been declared and present President Guillermo Lasso has vowed the &#8220;crime is not going to go unpunished&#8221;. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">Mr Lasso, who is not going to be on the poll, mentioned he was &#8220;outraged and shocked&#8221; by the killing, including: &#8220;Organised crime has come a good distance, however the full weight of the regulation goes to fall on them.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">The frontrunner within the polls, Luisa Gonz\u00e1lez shared her &#8220;solidarity&#8221; with Mr Villavicencio&#8217;s household, including: &#8220;This vile act is not going to go unpunished.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-19j92fr ebmt73l0\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" class=\"bbc-hhl7in e17g058b0\">Former vice-president and fellow candidate Otto Sonnenholzner additionally despatched his &#8220;deepest condolences and deep solidarity&#8221; to Mr Villavicencio&#8217;s household. &#8220;Might God maintain him in his glory,&#8221; he wrote. &#8220;Our nation has acquired out of hand.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-latin-america-66457472.amp\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Christy Cooney &amp; Vanessa Buschschl\u00fcter BBC Information 10 August 2023, 01:36 BST Up to date 1 hour in the past To play this content material, please allow JavaScript, or strive a special browser Video caption, Fernando Villavicencio was shot as he left a rally in Quito A candidate in Ecuador&#8217;s forthcoming presidential election who [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3178,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[1523,108,3829,1095,3830,1522,2496,3831],"class_list":["post-3176","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world","tag-candidate","tag-dead","tag-ecuadors","tag-election","tag-fernando","tag-presidential","tag-shot","tag-villavicencio"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thisbiginfluence.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3176","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thisbiginfluence.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thisbiginfluence.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thisbiginfluence.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thisbiginfluence.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3176"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thisbiginfluence.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3176\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thisbiginfluence.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3178"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thisbiginfluence.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3176"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thisbiginfluence.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3176"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thisbiginfluence.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3176"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}