Ecuadoreans give nod to tightened security amid persisting gang violence
Al JazeeraMore than half of voters on Sunday voted to support President Noboa’s plans for tighter security measures. The result of a quick vote tally announced by the country’s National Electoral Council after voting finished late on Sunday showed that 60 to 73 percent of voters supported the referendum. The results of Sunday’s referendum “will define the course and the state policy that we will take in order to face the challenge of fighting against violence and organised crime”, Noboa had said as voting began in the capital Quito. Posting on Instagram after the tally was announced, the president said: “We have defended the country, now we have more tools to fight against crime and return peace to Ecuadorean families.” Noboa had declared in January a state of “internal armed conflict”, with about 20 criminal groups blamed for a spasm of violence prompted by the jailbreak of a drug boss, who is still on the run. Nearly 13.6 million of the country’s 17.7 million inhabitants were eligible to cast a “yes” or “no” ballot over the 10 hours of voting.
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