Cuenca neighborhood federation demands more law enforcement; Ecuador protests ICE attempt to enter Minneapolis consulate; Eight die in Manabi shootings

The Federation of Cuenca Neighborhoods (FBC) is demanding that the government respond to what it claims is a “rising wave of crime” in the city. The federation says that its request for more police patrols and other law enforcement measures has been ignored.

“We have asked [Azuay Governor] Xavier Bermúdez to explain why we are not seeing the benefit of the 3% increase in the VAT,” says Federation President Roberto Mosquera. “We were told those resources would make our neighborhoods safer but, instead, we are seeing an increase in robberies and personal assaults.”

Several U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were asked to leave the Ecuador consulate in Minneapolis Tuesday. Ecuador’s Foreign Ministry delivered a note of protest to the U.S. Embassy in Quito about the incident.

Mosquera says that Bermúdez refuses to meet with neighborhood leaders and has stopped responding to email and phone messages. “Instead of receiving assistance, we are being ignored and insulted,” Mosquera says. “We have asked the mayor and prefect for help but they too are unable to get information from the national government.”

In a recent Radio Tomebamba interview, Bermúdez said there is “an element of over-reaction” in the neighborhood association’s claim. “I believe part of the so-called crisis is the fact that crime reports are endlessly repeated on social media channels, leading people to believe there is an epidemic of crime,” he said. “Yes, there are robberies and street crime but the level is very low in Cuenca compared to other cities in the country. Cuenca is a very safe city for its size, a fact that has been recognized by international organizations.”

Bermúdez defended the 3% VAT increase to fight crime. “The increased income is in fact being used to combat crime and to put criminals in prison,” he said, adding that most of it being used in coastal areas where rates of criminal violence are the highest.

Ecuador protests ICE attempt to enter consulate
Ecuador is protesting a Tuesday attempt by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to enter the Ecuadorian consulate in Minneapolis. Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabriela Sommerfeld presented a note of protest to the U.S. Embassy in Quito asking that “acts of this nature not be repeated.”

ICE agents entered the front door of the consulate before being stopped by a diplomatic staff member. “This is a consulate. You are not allowed to enter,” the staff member is heard telling them in a video of the confrontation posted on social media. ICE agents then left the building.

Although the U.S. had not commented on the incident as of Tuesday night, it is believed ICE agents were pursuing a young man who took refuge in the consulate.

Eight die in Manabi shootings
At least eight people were killed in four armed attacks Monday night in Manta and Montecristi in Manabi Province, National Police report. The first attack took place in the Los Artesanos area of Montecristi, where a couple were shot dead while walking on the street. Minutes later, in Manta’s 12 de Octubre neighborhood, a man was killed while sitting outdoors. Police have detained a suspect and seized a 9-millimeter magazine.

A third incident occurred in Bellavista, Manta, when an assailant entered a house and shot a man during a family celebration. Neighbors captured the attacker, who was injured and taken into custody by police. The deadliest attack was reported at 10:50 p.m. in the Leonidas Proano parish of Montecristi, where gunmen fired from two vehicles at a group of people, killing four and wounding five.

Monday’s deaths bring to 84 the number of January murders in Manabi Province and to 51 in Manta.