On Tuesday, January 9, 2024, a group of armed masked men stormed into the studio of TC Television, a public TV channel in Ecuador, during a live broadcast. The intruders pointed guns and explosives at the employees and forced them to lie on the floor, while shouting that they had bombs and that they were acting in response to “messing with the mafias”. The live feed was cut off after about 15 minutes, and the police later arrested all the attackers and rescued the hostages.
This shocking event was part of a series of violent attacks and kidnappings that have rocked Ecuador in the past few days, following the escape of Adolfo Macias, alias “Fito”, the leader of Los Choneros, a powerful drug trafficking gang, from a low-security prison on Sunday. Macias was supposed to be transferred to a maximum-security facility that day, but he managed to evade the authorities and flee.
Since then, Ecuador has been plunged into a state of “internal armed conflict”, as declared by President Daniel Noboa, who also issued a decree designating 20 drug gangs as terrorist groups and authorizing the military to “neutralize” them. The gangs have been blamed for several attacks, including an explosion near the house of the president of the National Justice Court, the abductions of four police officers, and the killings of at least 10 people.
The situation in Ecuador is extremely tense and volatile, as the country faces a serious threat from the organized crime groups that have challenged the authority of the state and the rule of law. The government has vowed to restore order and security, and has asked for international cooperation and assistance. The public has expressed fear and outrage over the violence and the impunity of the criminals. The media has also been targeted and intimidated by the gangs, who have tried to silence and censor their reporting.
The attack on TC Television was a brazen and unprecedented assault on the freedom of expression and the right to information in Ecuador. It was also a clear sign of the desperation and the audacity of the gangs, who have shown no respect for human life or dignity. The journalists and the staff of TC Television have shown courage and professionalism in the face of danger, and have continued to inform the public about the situation in the country. They deserve our admiration and solidarity.
Ecuador is facing a critical moment in its history, and it needs the support and the solidarity of the international community and the civil society. The violence and the terror must end, and the peace and the democracy must prevail. We hope that the authorities will be able to restore order and justice, and that the people of Ecuador will be able to live in safety and harmony.