Dozens dead in latest Ecuador prison riot

[TexasTowelie]

Dozens of people have been killed in a fight between rival gangs inside a prison in Ecuador, the public prosecutor’s office said, in the latest instance of deadly prison violence in the South American nation.

Authorities said a fight broke out on Monday between the rival Los Lobos and R7 gangs inside the Bellavista prison in Santo Domingo de los Colorados, about 80km (50 miles) from the capital, Quito.

[Judi Lynn]

1. Horrendous. Thanks for the video.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Ecuadorean Agents Launch Security Operation In Azuay Prison

A view of the Azuay province high-security jail, Ecuador. | Photo: Twitter/ @Qhubotvoficial

Published 10 May 2022 (3 hours 29 minutes ago)

On Tuesday, Ecuador’s National Police officers and the Armed Forces developed an operation in the Azuay province high-security prison to prevent a possible riot.

“Our security forces maintain full control of the Azuay detention center. Nevertheless, we do not rule out that violent acts occur in other prisons after the May 9 riot in Santo Domingo City's Bella Vista jail, in which 44 prisoners were killed,” Police Commander Fausto Salinas stated.

He attributed this incident to the rivalry between rival gangs Los Lobos and R7 members, who were blamed for introducing four rifles, three pistols, a revolver, four grenades, 1,800 caliber cartridges, and three clips of ammunition in the Bella Vista jail.

Taking advantage of the guards' loss of control of the prison, 220 detainees escaped from the Bella Vista jail. Nevertheless, authorities managed to recapture 200 of them hours later.

More:
https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Ecuadorean-Agents-Launch-Security-Operation-In-Azuay-Prison-20220510-0015.html

[Judi Lynn]

3. Amnesty International says imprisonment in Ecuador is almost a 'death sentence'

May 10, 2022

Imprisonment is nearly “a death sentence” in Ecuador, Amnesty International warned, a day after the latest prison riot left dozens of inmates dead.

In a statement on Tuesday, the human rights group’s Americas director Erika Guevara Rosas said “repeated mistakes” by the Ecuadorian authorities have led to the deaths of hundreds of people in the country’s prisons.

“Being deprived of your liberty in Ecuador has almost become a death sentence,” she said.

“The authorities must address, once and for all, the structural causes of this problem, such as overcrowding, corruption and impunity, through a comprehensive prison policy focused on human rights. All deaths and human rights violations of persons deprived of their liberty must be thoroughly, independently and impartially investigated.”

More:
https://cuencahighlife.com/amnesty-international-says-imprisonment-in-ecuador-is-almost-a-death-sentence/