Police sweeps ‘clean up’ Cuenca public areas; Coca Codo Sinclair back in service; Thousands march in Pride Parade; U.S. Navy medical ship docks in Manta

Four joint operations by the National Police and Cuenca Citizen Guard have resulted in at least 20 arrests as well as the seizure of vehicles, weapons and drugs and liquor. The Citizen Guard also issued 200 warnings to individuals for “misuse of public spaces” on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

The operations were conducted along the Rio Tomebamba, on Calle Juan Jaramillo, in the area adjacent to Alejandro Serrano Aguilar stadium, at Bajada de Todos Santos and in the Chola Cuencana sector.

An estimated 2,000 marched Saturday in Cuenca’s LGBTIQ+ Pride Parade.

“The objective of these actions is to clean up and restore public spaces for use by the public,” said Azuay Province Police Superintendent María de los Ángeles Palacios, who suffered minor injuries when she was attacked by a homeless man near a Rio Tomebamba bridge.

According to de los Ángeles Palacios, the areas targeted by authorities have become “congregation points” for drug users, alcoholics and the homeless. “Because of illegal activities, these areas have become unsafe environment for citizens, especially for children,” she said. She added: “Many of the people we removed require shelter and assistance for various addictions, so our actions have a humanitarian as well as a law enforcement focus.”

The man who attacked de los Ángeles Palacios, was a Venezuelan who was not registered with the migration office. He is being held at the Turi prison until deportation arrangements are completed.

Coca Codo Sinclair is back in service
The Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric plant, Ecuador’s largest hydro facility, resumed operations late Saturday following a four-day shutdown due to flooding on the Coca River. Coca Codo was one of eight hydro plants that temporarily suspended production last week following several days of heavy rains on the eastern flank of the Andes Mountains.

On Sunday, the National Electricity Operator (Cenace) reported that Coca Coda had reached generation of 626 megawatts following the removal of silt and heavy debris from water intake ports. Cenace said operation levels would increase through the week.

The other hydro facilities affected by flooding are “returning to service gradually” Cenace said.

Thousands march in Cuenca Pride Parade
An estimated 2,000 to 3,000 filled the streets of El Centro Saturday, joining Cuenca’s annual LGBTIQ+Pride Parade. The parade started at Parque San Blas on Calle Bolívar Street and ended at San Francisco Plaza, where marchers were treated to a program of speeches, music and dance.

Event organizer Sebastián Valdivieso said the parade was much more than a celebration. “It is a time to come together and have a good time, but it is also a time to reflect on our struggle for recognition and equality,” he said. “We have made great progress but we have a long way to go. We remain vulnerable in a society that remains far from equal.”

U.S. Navy medical ship docks in Manta
The U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort arrived in Manta Saturday and is providing medical services to Ecuadorians through July 10.

According to the U.S. Embassy in Quito, the USNS Comfort is will perform minor surgical procedures, including cleft lip repairs and interventions for gastrointestinal conditions and hernias. In addition, navy medical personnel will provide dental and optometry services.

Petroecuador declares force majeure
Ecuador’s state oil company, Petroecuador, has declared force majeure on its operations after two crude pipelines, SOTE and OCP, halted flows due to erosion in Napo Province. The company suspended activities this week to prevent further damage to infrastructure as erosion along the Coca River continues to threaten oil transport lines as well as the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric plant, Ecuador’s largest.