The coca guards attacked the military
Ecuadornews:
The wounded in the confrontation are stable. The head of the Assembly announced the creation of a Special Security Commission for the Northern Border. The two soldiers affected after a confrontation in the sector El Pan, in San Lorenzo, province of Esmeraldas, are stable.
This was confirmed by the Ministry of Defense through a statement. Patricio Zambrano, head of the aforementioned State portfolio, visited yesterday the wounded recovering in the general hospital of the Armed Forces, in Quito.
The victims were identified as Jorge Franco and Virgilio Navarro. One had injuries to the legs and another in the back; both are out of danger. The official explained that the military patrolled the border when they were attacked by surprise by those who were guarding a coca plantation on the Colombian side. The confrontation occurred at 18:05 on February 19 and lasted until approximately 18:40.
“The work done by the police and the military is so strong that the criminals see their interests affected. Rest assured that we protect our border and our territory. “The Joint Command of the Armed Forces reported that it is presumed that two mortar explosive charges were used in the attack.
Two days before, on Saturday at 1:00 pm, in the same sector El Pan an attack was registered against the Ecuadorian uniformed from the Colombian side. After that attack, a minor was isolated, who according to the inhabitants of the community is Colombian and has mental problems.
In order to protect the agents leave the area and transfer the suspect, air patrols were carried out. These two new attacks take place after security was reinforced at the border following the attack on the San Lorenzo Police Command on 27 January.
As a result of that the President of the Republic, Lenin Moreno, decreed the state of emergency in the border cantons of San Lorenzo and Eloy Alfaro. The document included police and military control operations.
José Serrano Salgado, president of the National Assembly, announced yesterday that he will propose the creation of a special parliamentary commission to analyze security on the northern border with Colombia. This was stated in his Twitter account and said he will formulate the initiative before the Legislative Administration Council (CAL), as well as before the plenary session of Parliament.
“The actions of protection to our citizens in this sector must be comprehensive and forceful,” he wrote without providing more details.
Commitment
The country will fight against narcos
Ecuador, through the Ministry of Defense, ratified its support for the fight against drug trafficking and transnational crime. The Armed Forces, the Police, the Ministry of the Interior and Foreign Affairs will work in coordination.
72 illegal steps used by organized crime have been identified on the northern border.
Ministers met yesterday
César Navas and Patricio Zambrano, interior and defense ministers, analyzed the state of emergency in San Lorenzo. (I)