A Rally Against Crime in Guayaquil was Heard

Due to the increase violence in the City of Guayaquil, a demonstration was organized in the City Hall Square. Several participants arrived past 2 p.m to express their contempt regarding the crime wave of the latest months. People are afraid but at the same time they want to overcome fear and put an end to the insecurity present on the streets of the City. “If we fear them, we loose” said Romulo Barcos, a local journalist who recently lost his ten year-old son due to a mug attempt on which a stray bullet instantly killed him.

Since the police do not organize themselves many citizens agree that they have some power and now want to do something about it. The organizers of the event created a manifest that they want to deliver to the Governor of the City, Roberto Cuero and the Mayor, Jaime Nebot.

When the Mayor appeared the crowd acclaimed his presence by saying repeatedly: “Justice!” and “We want more security!” The popular Mayor made a statement on favour of the protest. “The insecurity in the city has grown even after the Government decided to not receive any help from the City Hall. The result of this action has increased the crime in the city even when the City Hall gave the Government officials all their work. People want results from the law, but it is necessary to fulfil some requirements. It is not possible that the criminals are freed because of a loophole on the judicial system. What’s worse is that with the money of the people paid the salary of 114 lawyers who set free 10,945 criminals, assassins, thieves and rapists. As citizen you can count on me ll the time,” said Jaime Nebot.

During the protest Romulo Barcos affirmed: “One of the assassins knows were I lived… I’ll wait for him because I’m not afraid, I’m a public man and people know were I work, they know my daily routine, I am a man of the town, and if the assassin shows up the only thing he will do is to make our fight bigger, even if I am victim that crime will not go unpunished like the crime of my son Bruno.”

During the event several local television personalities, such as Andres Guschmer and Carlos Victor Morales, also arrived to the event. Relatives of the victims from crime also attended the protest to expose their cases and the lack of police action.

The organizer of the rally, Jorge Zavala, distributed a manifest to the members of the crowd. The document contained eight items regarding the social insecurity in the City and a proposal for the Governor and the Mayor.