Foreign troops invited to Ecuador to fight crime; Progen case suspects ID-ed; 10 days of concerts; Inti Raymi in Cañar; Cuenca’s zoos care for 2,600 animals

Bored? –
(De El Mercurio del viernes, 19/6) – Diez días de conciertos (10 days of concerts) – The Fiesta de la Música 2026 started el jueves with programming that will continue until el 27/6, with dozens of performers, and local, national and international groups distributed over 23 public and private venues. Over 600 band applied to participate and 48 were selected for the program. The inaugural concert was el jueves with the Orquesta Sinfónica de la U. de Cuenca playing “Música de Peliculas” (Music from movies). Starting Saturday, the performances move to venues around town. The AGENDA below lists the venues and performers.

The Cuenca-Pasaje highway will remain closed for three to four weeks as a result of large landslides. The highway connects Azuay and El Oro Provinces. (El Mercurio)

(De El Mercurio del viernes, 19/6) AGENDA
20/6 – 17:00 – Colectivo Marrarnos en Totem (Plaza Otorongo)
20:00 – Don Vinces en las Esquina de las Artes (Av. 12 de Abril y Agustín Cueva)
20:00 – Bixo One More Time en Chúcaro (Paseo 3 de noviembre y La Condamine)
21:00 – Black Dogs en Ayauma (Calle Larga 9-71 y bajada del Patrón
21/6 – 12:00 – Los Gatos Negros en Loira (Praderas del Tarqui, km. 3.5 vía Girón)
24/6 – 19:00 – DJ Bagre en Kimchi Cuchi (Charles Darwin 2-68 y Remigio Crespo)
19:30 – Autopista al Sur en Raíz (Remigio Romero y Remigio Tamariz Crespo)
20:00 – Karlada en Yakumama (C. Luis Cordero 5-66)
20:00 – Jo Jo en La Cigale (Honorato Vásquez 7-80 y Luis Cordero)
20:30 – El Triste y Maldito Guapo en Legado (Camilo Ponce y Jorge Carrera
25/6 – 20:00 – Disco Stu en Moliendo Café (Honorato Vásquez 6.24 y Hermano Miguel)
26/6 – 18:00 – Pablo Vasonez en Chipotle (Calle Larga 8-43 y Benigno Malo)
20:00 – Jungla Reggae Fusion en Bumba (Benigno Malo 405 y Bajada del Padrón)
21:00 – 00:00 – Noche en Komodo – Casa Merced (Honorato Vasquez 736>)
21:00 – Alpha Logic
22:00 – Rotten Pink
23:00 – Tonicamo
00:00 – Killa
27/6 – 20:00 – Die Die Die en Tres Marias (Bajada del Padrón 4.40 y Calle Larga)
21:00 – After de la Musique en Casa After (Centro)

(De El Mercurio del viernes, 19/6) Filme ‘En busca del oro Inca’ se verá al aire libre (The film ‘In Search of Inca Gold’ will be shown outdoors) – A free screening of “En busca del oro Inca,” directed by Rolf Blomberg, will be shown el sábado in the Parque Calderón. The event will start a las 19:00 in the hemicycle and is open to the public. The film opened in 1969, and combines elements of fiction and documentary to tell the story of the expedition mounted by filmmaker Rolf Blombert to search for the alleged Inca treasure hidden by the Inca general Rumiñahui in the Llanganates zone during the Spanish conquest. The film is divided into 2 parts.

The first tells about the historical antecedents of the legend of the treasure and the preparations for the expedition. The 2nd shows the trip through the territory of the Llanganates, considered one of the most difficult places in the country to explore. Throughout the film, Blomberg documents the conditions of the journey and the participation of the habitants of the nearby communities who were part of the expedition as porters. <Flashback to old movies with intrepid British explorers and the legions of porters who accompanied them carrying dining tables, fine china, and silver cutlery so that they didn’t have to sacrifice any of the comforts of home.> Besides its cinematic value, the film is a historic and anthropological account of rural Ecuadorian life in that epoch.

(De El Mercurio del viernes, 19/6) Todo listo para el Inti Raymi en Parque Guantug (Cañar) (Everything is ready for Inti Raymi at Guantug Park (Cañar)) – Preparations are underway for the Inti Raymi del Pueblo Cañari 2026, one of the ancestral celebrations most important for its cultural and traditional identity. The Unión Provincial de Comunas y Cooperativas Cañaris (UPCCC) has called its agenda “Pallay Pacha” and it will be held from el 19-21/6 with ritual activities, music and dance festivals, and concerts. The event will start with celebrations, the election of the ñustas and musical presentations. There will also be ferias and community expositions, with the event reaffirming the cultural identity of the Cañari people.

(De El Mercurio del viernes, 19/6) Ambiente de fiesta en Girón (A festive atmosphere in Girón) – The election of the Reina de Girón will mark the start of the canton’s 202 years. On el domingo, there will be sports starting at 13:00 in the artificial turf field of the GAD Municipal and in the covered field at the Parque 25 de Julio. Later, at 19:00, the Cholita Gironense will be elected at the Parque 25 de Julio. The celebrations will end el jueves, 25/6 a las 9:00 with a cultural and folkloric parade along the city’s main streets, and a solemn session a las 15:00 in the Municipal conference room.

(De El Mercurio del viernes, 19/6) 2,600 animales en dos zoos (2,600 animals in 2 zoos) – The Yurak Allpa and Bioparque Amaru are the only zoos operating in Cuenca and Azuay Province. Both were created more than 2 decades ago and have confronted various challenges to guarantee their sustainability. The Yurak Allpa zoo is holding a fundraising event el el sábado, 20/6 starting at 9:30 at the refuge. The goal is to raise $5,000 since the zoo does not receive any government funding. Its main financing comes from admissions, but that demand is limited and barely covers the amount needed to sustain the 300 animals of 60 species at the zoo. Of the approximately $7,000 in monthly expenses is $4,000 for food. One of the highest costs is the care of 3 penguins who need corvina which costs about $800 per month. <How about gringos sponsoring a penguin?> Twice, owner Alberto Vélez has been forced to sell some of his land to finance improvements at the zoo.

The situation for the Bioparque Amaru at km. 10 of the autopista Cuenca-Azogues is more stable. Nelson Fernández, coordinator of the park, said it costs between $5,000-7,000 a momth to feed their approximately 2,300 animals of 160 species. A large part of that budget is for the care of the lions, bears, pumas, jaguars and other large species. Their income comes mainly from ticket sales and fortunately, the zoo has a steady stream of visitors. The zoo also raises insects such as crickets, cockroaches, moths, flies, larvae and earthworms <the bug farm> to feed various species, especially amphibians such as frogs.

(De El Mercurio del sábado, 13/6) Misa afro (Afro Mass) – Afro-pastoral ministry of the Archdiocese of Cunca is inviting celebrants to a Eucharist el domingo, 21/6 a las 19:00 in the Catedral del Sagrario (Old Cathedral). This mass will be important to the afro population that lives in different barrios in the city. The Mass to be celebrated with the Afro community will have their own songs, instruments and dance during the presentation of offerings. Padre José Marí Guzmán invited the whole community of God to participate in this Mass to celebrate faith, honoring life and giving thanks to God for his infinite love.

Curious? –
(De El Mercurio del viernes, 19/6) Ecuador ‘abre puertas´a las tropas extranjeras (Ecuador ‘opens its doors’ to foreign troops) – <I bet that headline just scared the crap out of some of you.> Even though the Corte Constitucional, in various rulings, has signaled the unconstitutionality of the declaration of the Conflicto Armado no Internacional (CANI – Non-International Armed Conflict), Pres. Noboa has insisted on this measure through his Decreto Ejecutivo 424. The decree allows foreign troops to come into the country to fight insecurity. Military of allied countries can deploy in the provinces hit hardest by violence. <And since Azuay is under an emergency declaration, can we expect to see foreign troops in Cuenca?> The decree allows for international cooperation to strengthen neutralization actions against gangs. Based on article 147 of the Constitution, pardons, reductions or commutations of sentences can be given to military, police, or civilian personnel who might be processed for participating in actions meant to confront internal armed conflict. <Like shooting kids who are throwing rocks at official vehicles?>

Foreign personnel from countries cooperating in these actions also will receive immunity. Mauro Gedoya, Commander of Aerospace Operations of the Ecuadorian Air Force (FAE) said that the arrival of foreign military personnel is not expected/planned for the moment. He said that foreign cooperation is currently centered on consulting, most of all related to the use of technology to combat gangs. However, if foreign troops are deployed, notice will be given in an opportune manner. He specified that the international cooperation which Ecuador is currently receiving is mainly from the US. El jueves, the US delivered 3 helicopters and a multipurpose plane to the Ecuadorian army. Pres. Noboa said that the country will initiate a phase of total war against criminal gangs. He said international cooperation is needed, and above all, that the Policía Nacional and Fuerzas Armadas are well equipped. 13,000 soldiers were deployed to Guayas, Manabí, El Oro and Los Ríos provinces with 6,000 going to Guayas where Government statistics show that 53% of the violent deaths occur. <I’ve got serious doubts about American troops in Ecuador. I’m afraid they’re going to see every young male as the enemy and treat them accordingly. And how many Ecuadorians will know how to follow a command like “hands up” given in English?>

(De El Mercurio del jueves, 18/6) Revelan nombres de “responsables” del caso Progen” (Names of Those “Responsible” for the Progen Case Revealed”) – Thanks to international cooperation from the US, the Ecuadorian government has obtained the names of the people who benefited economically from the $104 million that Ecuador paid the US business Progen which delivered used generators <You might remember that Progen was supposed to deliver new electrical generating equipment during the power outages in 2024. Instead it delivered old, used, repainted *s..t* that never went into operation.>

Julio José Neira, secretary of Public Administration said they followed the money and found a network of people and businesses that profited from public funds using Progen as the means. There were 29 businesses and most of the money went to the subcontractor Astrobryxsa, registered in both the US and Ecuador. It got about $15.2 million which it redistributed to another 9 beneficiaries, 4 legal entities and 5 individuals. The 2nd name was Carla Saud Calero who represented Progen in Ecuador and who got over $162 million which was used for personal expenses <Hey, big spender. I can’t imagine how I could spend $162 million unless I bought a lot of real estate, but that wouldn be an investment and not a personal expense>. The last name was José Walter Manreque Suárez who gave more than $2.3 million to 10 beneficiaries. According to Neira, this showed that no high government officials were involved although those who were involved invented narratives to promote that version.

(De El Mercurio del jueves, 18/6) Cuenca con la canasta básica más cara (Cuenca has the most expensive basic basket <of goods and services>) – The Canasta Familiar Básica (CFB) in Cuenca in mayo was $871.35, making it the most expensive in Ecuador according to the Consumer Price Index (IPC). The IPC is the official measure of inflation in the country and includes 11 cities. The CFB in other cities ranged from $854.13 in Quito, down to $794.90 in Esmeraldas. According to the Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas y Censos (INEC), average costs in Cuenca were $264.26 for rent, $268.84 for food, and $56.42 for indumentaria (clothes – your word for the day).

(De El Mercurio del jueves, 18/6) De emergencia en emergencia (From one emergency to the next) – The Cuenca-Pasaje highway will stay closed for at least one month after landslides el 9/6 between kilometers 76 and 105. The main connection between Azuay and El Oro has been buried along extensive stretches of the road, isolating communities and forcing users to take longer, more expensive routes. The Government has declared an emergency in this corridor. The minister of Infrastructure, Paolo Carpio, said that there are about 200,000 cubic meters of material between Pachamama and Tendales spread over 15 kilometers. The equipment currently deployed is insufficient for the scope of the problem and the operating capacity needs to be doubled or tripled. The first steps will be to enable access for the machinery to circulate and organize the logistics. Preliminary estimates show that the road needs to be closed for 3 or 4 more weeks. Not only does the material need to be removed, but there are unstable slopes to be addressed to guarantee the safety of users.
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Information in this column, including dates, times and locations, is courtesy of the El Mercurio newspaper. Comments between the carrots, or guillemets (< … >), are the personal opinions of the author and not part of the news translation.