Every year the American ambassador, Michael Fitzpatrick, issues a public statement that shakes certain sectors of the country. Usually, on issues of corruption and organized crime.
The United States Ambassador, Michael Fitzpatrick, arriving at Carondelet, on November 23, 2023.
December became the favorite month of the United States ambassador, Michael Fitzpatrick, to shake up the Ecuadorian scene. For three consecutive years, the diplomat has launched harsh criticisms of corruption to different actors in the country.
This time it was the turn of “the national passion”. Fitzpatrick warned of the use of some football equipment to launder assets born from corruption. In 2022, it was the justice system, which he accused of being “a camouflage to protect drug traffickers, thugs or their front men”.
And in 2021, in interview with PRIMICIAS, he pointed out to the law enforcement forces. He described it as an open secret, as he argued that he only mentioned out loud what people in the country were already saying quietly. “narco generals”, when he declared that in Ecuador there are
Each of these statements has caused a stir among public opinion and tremors among the authorities. And the public and private actors, referred to directly or indirectly, have ‘ran’ to look for solutions or to try to defend themselves.
This time, Fitzpatrick even issued a warning to those who collaborate with organized crime: “to those public officials, party leaders, businessmen, judicial authorities and even entertainers who tell themselves that ‘no one is going to catch me’(…) allow me tell them: you are wrong“.
At an event in Quito, where he gave his last speech, he stated that criminal organizations are now strong enough to defend themselves and ” ;they no longer simply bite the hand that feeds them, they shoot to kill“.
Security cooperation
Like the governments of Lenín Moreno and Guillermo Lasso, the new president Daniel Noboa aims to maintain and increase the , especially in matters of security, one of the main current crises of the country.United Stateswith cooperation
The Minister of Government and Interior, Mónica Palencia, announced, on December 13, 2023, that the government intended to close a with Washington. To finance “a number of components” security.agreement for USD 200 million
President Noboa himself, before assuming power, met with Ambassador Fitzpatrick and the USAID administrator, who was visiting Ecuador. After the meeting, the now President stated that the United States would support him in his plan to reduce violence.
While Fitzpatrick explained that cooperation in security it does not only imply delivering dollars, but also the development of capabilities of State officials and institutions. This has been increasing since his arrival in the country in 2019.
However, the American diplomat added that, among the different entities in his country, they contribute around USD 100 million annually in cooperation alone of security with Ecuador.
In its last months, the government of Guillermo Lasso concluded agreements for reward financing to capture criminals and terrorists, an agreement for military cooperation with the Navy to combat drug trafficking and a memorandum of understanding on security matters.
They are all objectives that now depend on President Noboa and his cabinet. However, little has been said regarding security, under the argument of reserve and security of the authorities involved and those in uniform.
The impact of the diplomat
Fitzpatrick’s latest statements were taken with “gratitude” by Minister Palencia, head of Government and Interior, for “saying which is a reality (…) and that obliges us to act against corruption.
Six days after the ministries of Government and Interior signed an agreement with the Internal Revenue Service (SRI) and the Financial and Economic Analysis Unit (UAFE), for create a Joint Investigation Unit on Tax Fraud and Money Laundering.
The objective is to “review” the veracity of the assets of citizens who are suspected of tax fraud and money laundering, monitoring the origin of the money and assets that may be subject or consequence of criminal actions.
While the president of the Ecuadorian league (LigaPro), Miguel Ángel Loor, rejected the accusations with an almost indignant tone and said that the teams are now audited “like never before in their history”.
As in 2022, Fitzpatrick also recalled the danger to the independence of judges and prosecutors. Therefore, four days later, Wilman Terán, president of the Judiciary, invited the diplomat to a meeting to talk about the controversial competition for judges of the National Court.
But in 2021, when Fitzpatrick spoke about the narco generals, the Ministry of the Interior, the Foreign Ministry, the Police and former President Lasso himself < /span>of the case and information that the diplomat reveal, they demanded to rule out a connection between their generals.
Who is Michael Fitzpatrick?
The American diplomat is getting closer to completing five years on his mission in Ecuador. He arrived in Quito in June 2019 and has witnessed the expansion of organized crime and the deterioration of institutions, especially security and control.
Michael Fitzpatrick has a long and award-winning career in the United States Foreign Service. He was Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs; Acting Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States; Foreign Policy Advisor to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau.
Among his previous positions abroad are missions in Nairobi (Kenya), Brussels (Belgium), Bogotá (Colombia), Manila (Philippines), Asunción (Paraguay) and Lima (Peru).
