Ecuador cannot continue to live in this environment of violence and complete insecurity. It’s time for us all to unite, reject violence, organized crime, corruption and say enough is enough after the reprehensible murder of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. Ecuadorians should unanimously raise the white flag of peace so that it can overcome those who want to sow chaos and destruction and thereby take over power at any cost. Vote in the next election for peace, not violence.

It has reached an extreme, which everyone must reject, not only armed violence but also insults, injuries and threats, which has led to the polarization of attitudes even in families due to political theses that should be discussed civilly. Hate is sown as a vote-getting mechanism with no reasoning but stigmatizing, argumentative and belittling speech that ensnares the uninitiated.

chestnut horizon

We had no idea that with these dimensions of violence we would reach the situation in Colombia and Mexico. The assassination of Luis Carlos Galán, the New Liberalism presidential candidate. He was shot dead in Soachi in August 1989, during a rally, by drug traffickers, who kicked him out of the election race and paved the way for his replacement, César Gaviria (President 1990-1994).

This crime changed the history of Colombia, which woke up and broke the then powerful drug cartels, although it took thousands of victims in its fight. Galán, who was leading in the polls to win the election, had the courage to fight this evil and promote the extradition of drug traffickers at a time when they argued that a grave in Colombia is better than a prison in the United States.

I had to shut him up

Another similar event occurred in Tijuana, Mexico, in March 1994, when the PRI’s presidential candidate, Luis Colosio, was assassinated during a rally during his campaign.

The case of Fernando Villavicencio is similar, because throughout his life he courageously opposed and documented cases of corruption, which led to the convictions of clearly identified politicians, who threatened and persecuted him and led him to hide in the Amazon jungle. and then went into exile in Peru.

This situation must stop the inner reality and wake up the Ecuadorians to stop indifference, stand up and fight for peace, which is longed for only when it is lost, but sometimes it is too late.

This also imposes a radical change in security measures and a tighter and more rigorous operation of institutions called to take care of life and the mandatory establishment of not only bodyguards (who guard the backs of the protected), but also the taking of actions and initiatives and the establishment of properly designed, structured and executed plans, with security rings, that warn and prevent threats. This environment of violence and death obliges the state to protect not only the candidates, but all Ecuadorians, amid a desperate and widespread cry. (OR)