The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
Ecuadorians wanted an action man, President Noboa has fulfilled that role
WHILE WORLD leaders have expressedshock and bewilderment over Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa’s decision to raid Mexico’s embassy last Friday, the extraordinarily unusual move — and No boa’ s relative silence about it— is unlikely to hurt him with his constituents. in fact, it’ s exactly the sort of no-holds-barred crime fighting they expect and voted for.
Ecuadorians were looking for their action man last election, fed up with widespread corruption and the robberies, kidnappings, extortions and murders fueled by the growing presence of international drug cartels. Noboa, often sporting bulletproof vests, sunglasses and leather jackets as well as the occasional smart-casual white T-shirt, so far seems to be fulfilling that role.
If stopping lawbreakers in their tracks means breaching an embassy, then so be it, Ecuadorians interviewed over the weekend told The AP. “President No bo a has given a strong message to the nation,” said Carlos Galecio, a political communications consultant and coordinator of the communications program at Ecuador' sc as a grande university. “(It’s) a very powerful image boost.”
Noboa, the 36-year-old heir to one of Ecuador’s largest fortunes, was sworn in as president in November after winning an election in August. He defeated the protege of leftist expresident Rafael Correa, who avoided serving a prison sentence related to a corruption conviction by moving to Belgium and securing asylum there.
Noboa inherited a country where people no longer leave home unless absolutely necessary, almost everyone knows a crime victim and many consider migrating. Statistics back those decisions and experiences: Last year was Ecuador’s bloodiest on record, with more than 7,600 homicides — up from 4,600 the prior year. the causes for the spike are complex but largely revolve around cocaine.
Car tel-aided gangs are battling for control of the streets, prisons and drug routes to the Pacific. Dwindling state coffers, soaring debts, political in fighting and corruption created funding gap sin social and law-enforcement programs. And the COVID-19 pandemic turned hungry children and unemployed adults into easy recruits for criminal groups.
Noboa has responded by promising more equipment for police and the armed forces and the construction of prisons similar to those President Nayib Bukele built in El Salvador, with high-security, maximum-security and supermax units. He also issued a decree labeling more than 20 groups as terrorist organisations and scheduled an April referendum to ask voters to extend the powers of the military to patrol the streets and control prisons.
Recent survey results from Cedatos showed that over twothirds of respondents approve of Noboa’s presidency and over half support his decision to summon voters to the polls. Police entered the Mexican embassy in Quito, the capital, to arrest former Vice President Jorge Glas, a convicted criminal and fugitive who had been living there since december. In his first comments on the operation, Noboa said Monday he has made “exceptional decisions to protect national security.”