Candidates claim Noboa violates election law; Mazar reservoir returns to normal; Invasion of giant moths; Tourists see Cuenca as a safe holiday destination

Martes, 7/1/2025

Hola, Todos –

Actividades –

Mateo, un artista emergente que ‘trasciende las barreras’ (Mateo, an emerging artist who ‘transcends barriers’) – Mateo López is a 24-year-old artist about to graduate in Visual Arts from the U. of Cuenca. His work is part of an exhibit that will open el 9/1 a las 19:00 in the Museo Municipal de Arte Moderno. He started with digital art, and then moved to sculpture using wire and stamps(or seals).

Titular –

Large moths, or “mashos,” cover the front of the cathedral following recent rains. Some of the moths have wing-spans of 8 inches. (El Mercurio)

L.H. no está sola (L.H. is not alone) – The Azuay Prosecutor’s office announced they are gathering evidence in an investigation opened el 1/1/2025 into the rape of a young woman (L.H.) in a Cuenca hotel. The victim reported the crime through social networks and said she was working at the Terra Rooftop 360 restaurant on the night of el 31/12 from 10 pm to 2 am the following day. She clocked out, intending to leave, and she said she didn’t remember anything after that. Hours later, she woke up naked and in pain on the 6th floor of the Hotel Vaway. She had bruises on her arms and legs and signs of sexual violence. She went to the police and medical exams at a hospital confirmed vaginal injuries. She said she went to the hotel to find out what happened but was met with lack of cooperation.

Pablo Guachamin, chief of the Subzone for Azuay Police said the Sex Crimes Unit has started an investigation including reviewing the cameras. Steps by other institutions include urging the Azuay Prosecutor’s office to investigate quickly, that the Consejo de Seguridad Ciudadana review private security cameras in the area around the hotel, and to recover videos at the location to avoid erasure of information. The Terra Rooftop 360 restaurant said that they have collaborated with the investigation since day 1, and that authorities have entered the restaurant to interview people and take data and/or evidence.

Cuenca –

Ocupación hotelera fue del 80% en el feriado (Hotel occupancy rate was 80% for the holiday) – The holiday from el 1-5/1/2025 registered 80% occupancy rates in hotels, meeting expectations and consolidating Cuenca as an attractive destination for domestic tourism. On el jueves y el viernes, the occupancy rate was at 100%. Juan Pablo Vanegas, president of the Cámara de Turismo del Azuay, said that there has been a constant growth from year to year. José Luis Correa, president of the Asociación Hotelera del Azuay said that hotel occupancy increased 21% from 59% last year to 80% this year. Safety, food, new things, and nightlife are factors contributing to Cuenca as a preferred destination. Also the City organized a full agenda of artistic and cultural activities. There is also a spillover effect for nearby cantons such as Gualaceo, Chordeleg, Paute, Sígsig, and Girón.

Expectations for future holidays are high with hopes of reaching 100% occupation during Carnaval which will start el 1/3 and run through martes, 4/3.

Actualidad –

Invasión de ‘mashos’ por cambio climático (Invasion of ‘mashos’ due to climate change) – The heavy rains following the long drought have caused an eclosión (hatching – our word for the day) of a large number of nocturnal moths known as ‘mashos.’ which gather around zones with high concentration of electric lights. The moths are known for their large size and can have a wing-span of up to 20 cm. (8 inches). This unusual phenomenon has been seen in Cuenca. A large number of the insects can be seen on the facade of the Catedral as well as on light posts and near household bulbs and lamps.

The Entomology lab at the U. of Azuay shared an article about the different species of moths that are at the cathedral and Edgar Segovia, a biologist and researcher at the U. Católica de Cuenca found 11 species on the Catedral’s facade in 2 or 3 colorways. He thought that number could increase to 22 species which are generally the ones that inhabit urban and peripheral Cuenca. <A reason to go to church – to see the butterflies.> This “invasion” will probably only last another month or two since the insects have a short life span. Experts recommend leaving the moths alone since they are not dangerous, nor do they present a health risk. <Think of them as dark colored monarchs up to 22 cm. in size and a tourist attraction in their own right.>

El Sudamericana gana “Mascaradas 2025” (The Sudamericana wins “Mascaradas 2025”) – The Instituto Sudamericana won the “Mascaradas 2025” contest in the institutional category with their entry, “El Titanic de Kuakuer y los Zhoneros del Caribe.” The entry was an ironic representation of the energy problems of 2024 and won the ‘Mascara Dorada’ prize of $4,000. The Instituto American College won 2nd, and the Grupo de Scouts No. 4 won 3d. In the comparsas category, El Vado/U. of Cuenca won 1st prize, the Suprema Estación 96.1 won 2nd, and the Virgen del Socavón won 3d. In the family category, 1st prize went to the Familia Vanegas; in the children’s category, the Escuela General Básica 12 de Abril won; and in the individual category, René Martínez was the winner.

Nacional –

El embalse de Mazar está cerca de su cota máxima (The Mazar reservoir is close to its maximum level) – After having been at a critical level, due to lack of rain in the Austro (south) between septiembre and noviembre, the Mazar reservoir is close to its maximum level of 2,153 meters above sea level (msnm -metros sobre el nivel del mar). Currently the level is at 2,136, or only 17 meters short. At the beginning of last diciembre, the level was at 2,112 which caused shutting down the plant to not damage the turbines.

Candidatos presidenciales exigen “controlar” a Noboa (Presidential candidates demand “control” of Naboa) – <Seems like Nobita was never denied anything he wanted when he was a kid. Can you spell privilege or spoiled?> A recurring complaint by candidates is that they are campaigning under unequal conditions. Ayer they denounced Pres. Daniel Noboa for not asking for a leave during the campaign. While 15 candidates are campaigning in the streets, Noboa is canpaigning from the Carondelet (the presidential palace), using all of the state apparatus. Ayer, Henry Cucalón, the candidate for Construye, presented an action of non-compliance against the Consejo Nacional Electoral (CNE), an organism he characterized as “arbitro mudo.” (mute arbitrator). He said that the law is absolutely clear – no one can hold public office during the exercise of a reelection campaign. He said this drives inequality and is an abuse of public funds, referring to a public event held outside the Carondelet on domingo, the day the campaign officially started. For Cucalón, one of the main dilemmas is that Noboa needs to participate in the presidential debates, but not as the president.

Constitutionalist José Chalco said the safest thing in order for Noboa to participate in the debate would be to ask for a temporary leave. However that would not be good, since this leave should be asked for to cover the whole campaign period. The president is making an enormous error that can carry sanctions and sowing a web of doubt about the use or not of public property for campaigning, which is sanctioned. In addition, the Assembly could point out that there are grounds for impeachment for embezzlement.

The candidate for Avanza, Luis Felip Tillería, presented another complaint against Noboa before the Tribunal Contencioso Electoral (TCE) for an alleged serious electoral infraction. He said that so far, Noboa has violated at least 4 articles of the Código de la Democracia, mainly #279 which talks about using public assets to conduct the campaign which incurred when he received his supporters in the Carondelet. Tillería said Ecuador deserves leaders who respect the law <as does the US> and Noboa should be disqualified since the law should apply to all, as Jan Topic and assembly members from Avanza were disqualified. This is the 2nd complaint presented to the TCE on this issue. El 31/12, attorney Wilmer Delgado denounced all the candidates who refused to ask for a leave to conduct their compaigns. The case went before judge Ivonne Coloma who archived it since requirements that were lacking were not completed.

Henry Kronfle, presidential candidate for the Partido Social Cristiano (PSC), issued a public statement against Noboa’s actions and asked the CNE to make a statement on the issue, and as the organism in charge of the electoral process, to denounce the president for refusing to ask for leave. As a candidate, he said he could not remain silent in the face of this mockery. Ecuador does not need more abuse nor more arrogance in power. It needs respect and justice. He demanded that the CNE do its duty and denounce this infraction before the TCE which established article 25 of the Código de la Democracia.

Tensa jornada al interior de la Asamblea (Tense day inside the Assembly) – The full Asamblea issued a resolution el sábado which obligated the assemblymembers of the sitting Government, Acción Democrática Nacional (ADN), to ask for a licencia (leave of absence) if they are seeking re-election. Today those legislators were prevented from entering the Palacio Legislativo. Lourdes Cuesta, spokesperson for the Consejo de Administración Legislativa (CAL), announced that only the alternate assembly members would be admitted while the principals would be blocked from entering. The group of alternate assembly members agreed after a call from the Secretary of the body since the principals could not have any contact with their alternates. <If the military was not supporting Noboa, they could block his entry into the presidential palace. I suppose blocking entry, changing the locks, and then putting all his furniture out into the plaza would be going too far.>

And that’s all for today so hasta ? –

Jeanne