The generals in passive service, Paco Moncayo and Wagner Bravo took office in President Guillermo Lasso’s cabinet to strengthen security and crime-fighting policies.
Moncayo, who assumes as National Security Advisor, stressed that the current insecurity situation requires “a forceful response that must come from society as a whole and from all levels of politics.”
He advanced that “a unified strategy against international organized crime is essential,” which should allow coordination with all functions of the State to respond to the Ecuadorian people.
For his part, the new Secretary of Public Security, General (sp) Wagner Bravo, highlighted the importance of advancing in the joint work of the security forces and endorsed the words of the President: “You have said a strong hand, because the 99.9% of Ecuadorians want a culture of peace and a democratic territory”.
Bravo indicated that they will work to control insecurity in the short term, but at the same time, they will advance a vision “for a permanent state of peace.”
Against terrorism
The lawyer and specialist in military matters, Rafael Oyarte, was satisfied with the appointment of both officers, taking into account the Government’s new direction to classify criminal gangs as “terrorist groups.”
“A Secretary of Public Security and a Security Advisor who have sufficient experience and expertise are required, due to their military career and their successes within those areas. This congratulates us,” he said.
Oyarte acknowledged that the Government “always makes itself seen with bad appointments and this, fortunately, is one of those few exceptions. Let’s hope it’s already to rectify “.
He indicated that both officers have extensive knowledge of managing strategy and intelligence.
In Oyarte’s opinion, the incorporation of Moncayo and Bravo breaks the solitude in which General Luis Lara Jaramillo found himself to advance in the issues of the nation’s defense.
He believes that one of the first actions to be taken by officials will be to recover military intelligence and judicial work to end “corrupt structures.” “As well as recovering the capacity of the security forces so that they can successfully confront criminal groups,” he said.
‘Smart team’
For his part, Major (sp) Fidel Araujo considered that the President, at this moment, is forming an “intelligent” work team. “This changes the country’s scenario to face, not a threat, the reality of violence and crime that affects Ecuadorians,” he said.
The expert in military operations believes that the appointment of the Cenepa Heroes “is a wise decision” since it will provide the Government with knowledge and strategy. These capabilities have already been demonstrated in the defense of the territory.
Recalling that this April 27, the Public and State Security Council (Cosepe) will take place, Araujo urged the authorities that will participate in the instance to put aside political differences.
“This is not a political situation; we are facing the survival of the country…. He pointed out that we must neutralize these groups that use weapons to create collective panic”.
He reminded the authorities participating in Cosepe that the Ecuadorian people “cry out for firm decisions.”
‘exaggerated measure’
The FLACSO security expert, Freddy Rivera, for his part, considered that the new appointments are part of the Government’s “political desperation” and indicated that the reclassification of organized crime gangs as “terrorist groups” is a measure “exaggerated, amplified, demagogic and out of context.”
Rivera acknowledges that organized crime groups have generated terrorist actions but maintains that the situation is much more complex and requires activities and strategies outside Moncayo and Bravo’s areas of expertise.
For Rivera, “neither of them has experience in combating transnational organized crime, it is not a defect. But the scenario they face has very difficult conditions”.
He warned that the conditions that the generals in passive service will face are not what they suppose, since in the military academy, there is no doctrine nor a chair that prepares them for the fight against transnational organized crime, which becomes a “limitation and a challenge.”
