Background on Ecuador’s Situation and Relevance
Ecuador, facing a surge in violence and crime, has become one of the most dangerous countries in Latin America. With an average of one homicide per hour, President Daniel Noboa, who will be inaugurated on May 24 for a four-year term, declared war on organized crime in 2024. His administration seeks to strengthen its crackdown on narcotrafficking through a new piece of legislation.
The Proposed Legislation: Key Points
On Saturday, the Ecuadorian government announced that it had submitted a proposed law to the pro-government Congress, targeting “dismantling criminal economies.” The bill aims to establish a national legal framework for tackling criminal activities linked to internal armed conflict.
- Financial, Tax, and Security Measures: The proposed law includes financial, tax, and security measures to create a national legal framework for dismantling criminal economies associated with internal armed conflict.
- Authorization of Force: Despite its economic focus, the bill also seeks to authorize law enforcement and military personnel to use force against criminal activities.
- Declaration of Internal Armed Conflict: This declaration allows the government to deploy military personnel on the streets to combat around twenty criminal bands deemed “terrorist.”
- Presidential Pardon Power: The president would have the authority to grant preemptive pardons to members of combat state forces.
- Tax Incentives for Public Force Donations: The law proposes that donations to the public force be considered reductions in income tax, and the transfer of assets owned by organized armed groups to the state.
Criticism and Controversy
The proposed measures have been harshly criticized by human rights organizations for alleged abuses, killings, and forced disappearances. Criticism intensified following the detention of four children by a military patrol in December, whose bodies were later found burned near an air force base.
Government’s Stance
According to the government, the proposed measures aim to create a robust legal framework that strengthens the state’s and law enforcement’s fight against narcoterrorism and criminal groups to restore peace and security for Ecuadorians.
“The proposed measures in the legislation aim to consolidate a normative framework that strengthens the state and law enforcement’s fight against narcoterrorism and criminal groups to recover peace and security for Ecuadorians,” the government stated in a press release.
Noboa’s Orders and Recent Events
President Noboa ordered the military to neutralize more than 20 criminal groups, including Colombian FARC dissidents and ELN members. Among these groups are the Frontier Commands, which recently attacked an Ecuadorian military unit conducting an operation against illegal mining in the Amazon rainforest, resulting in 11 soldiers killed and one injured.
Legislative Process
If not approved within 30 days, the bill will automatically become law due to its classification as “urgent in economic matters,” according to the regulation.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main goal of Ecuador’s proposed law? The primary objective is to dismantle criminal economies linked to internal armed conflict and establish a robust legal framework for combating narcotrafficking and organized crime.
- What measures does the proposed law include? The bill encompasses financial, tax, and security measures, as well as authorizing the use of force by law enforcement and military personnel against criminal activities.
- Why has the proposed law sparked controversy? Human rights organizations have criticized the bill for alleged abuses, killings, and forced disappearances. The situation worsened following the detention of four children by a military patrol in December.
- What groups does President Noboa aim to target? The president intends to neutralize more than 20 criminal groups, including Colombian FARC dissidents and ELN members.
- What happens if the proposed law is not approved within 30 days? Due to its classification as “urgent in economic matters,” the bill will automatically become law.
