United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres has recently expressed his condemnation of the assassination of a presidential hopeful, Fernando Villavicencio, in Ecuador.
This was credited to a statement from a UN spokesperson.
According to the statement, the UN chief showed his support for Ecuador’s government and people, and particularly for Villavicencio’s family.
“The Secretary-General strongly condemns the assassination of a presidential candidate of Ecuador, Fernando Villavicencio. Attacks of this nature represent a grave threat to democracy, and those responsible must be brought to justice.”
Guterres, in the statement, mentioned his meeting with President Lasso on July 21, where they discussed the security challenges in Ecuador, the role of organized crime and the need to boost national and international efforts to counter it.
The UN is prepared to continue to assist the Ecuadorian authorities in addressing the violence in accordance with international human rights standards and norms, the statement said.
A politician, journalist, and activist who was fearless and outspoken, Fernando Villavicencio dedicated his life to exposing corruption and fighting for justice in Ecuador.
He was a former assembly member and a presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, which followed the impeachment of President Guillermo Lasso in May 2023.
He was assassinated on August 9, 2023, at a campaign rally in Quito, just 11 days before the first round of voting.
Villavicencio was famous for his investigative reports on topics such as oil contracts, public debt, and the influence of drug cartels and foreign powers in Ecuador’s politics.
He faced several lawsuits, threats, and attacks for his work, but he never compromised his principles.
He also led several social movements and protests against the governments of Rafael Correa and Guillermo Lasso, criticizing their authoritarianism and mismanagement.
As a presidential candidate, Villavicencio pledged to break down Ecuador’s “narco state” and to restore democracy and transparency in the country.
He also supported social justice, environmental protection, and human rights.
He had a loyal base of supporters, especially among the indigenous communities, workers, and students.
He was running fourth in most polls among the eight candidates competing for the presidency.
Villavicencio’s assassination shocked and saddened many Ecuadorians and people around the world.
It also raised questions about the security situation in Ecuador and the motives behind the killing.
The United Nations, the United States of America, and several foreign governments condemned the murder and called for a thorough investigation.
President Lasso declared three days of national mourning and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. He also said that the elections would go on as scheduled.