2024 raid on the Mexican embassy in Ecuador

Coordinates: 0°10′40″S 78°28′42″W / 0.17778°S 78.47833°W / -0.17778; -78.47833
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2024 raid on the Mexican embassy in Ecuador

A video of the raid
Date5 April 2024
Location
Quito, Ecuador
0°10′40″S 78°28′42″W / 0.17778°S 78.47833°W / -0.17778; -78.47833
Result
Parties involved
 Ecuador
• President Daniel Noboa
• Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld		  Mexico
• President Andrés Manuel López Obrador
• Foreign Secretary Alicia Bárcena

On 5 April 2024, the Mexican embassy in Quito was raided by Ecuadorian police and military forces. Mexico and numerous other countries decried the raid as a violation of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the 1954 Caracas Convention on Diplomatic Asylum.[1]

The raid was carried out to arrest the former vice president of Ecuador, Jorge Glas, who had been sentenced for corruption and had been living in the embassy since 17 December 2023.[2] A few hours before the attack, he had been granted political asylum.[3]

The assault led to Mexico severing its relations with Ecuador.[4] The following day, Nicaragua followed suit in solidarity with Mexico.[4][5]

Background

Mexican embassy compound in Quito where the incident took place (c. 2016)
Jorge Glas in 2017

In December 2023, former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas, who had served as vice president under presidents Rafael Correa and Lenín Moreno, entered the Mexican embassy in Quito to request asylum, alleging political persecution.[6] The former vice president had been sentenced in December 2017 to serve eight years in prison for two sentences: one of six years for illicit association and another of eight years for bribery.[7] In November 2022, Glas was released but could not leave the country during the remainder of his sentences. The attorney general's office then said it was insisting on charging Glas with respect to the case involving public funds collected to aid the reconstruction of Manabí Province after a 2016 earthquake.[8]

On 3 April 2024, the president of Mexico Andrés Manuel López Obrador alluded in a press conference to the fact that Luisa González, the presidential candidate of the pro-Correa Citizen Revolution Movement, had an advantage in polling for the 2023 Ecuadorian general election, but that after the murder of Fernando Villavicencio her polling numbers had dropped,[9] implying the assassination had affected the election results.[10]

After the president's comments, on 4 April, Mexican ambassador Raquel Serur Smeke was declared a persona non grata and the Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry invoked the principle of "non-intervention" in the internal affairs of another country and Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations to request her departure.[9][11] The Mexican government granted political asylum to Glas[3] after the expulsion of its ambassador. Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa reiterated that he would not issue the necessary safe conduct for Glas to leave the country.[12]

On 5 April, the Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alicia Bárcena called for the Government of Ecuador to arrange safe passage as soon as possible so that Glas could leave for Mexico.[13]

Raid

At around 22:00 on 5 April, an elite detachment of the National Police of Ecuador forced their way into the embassy and took Glas into custody.[14] They possessed a battering ram, and at least one agent climbed the walls.[15] They took Glas to the attorney general's office, then to an airport for a flight to Guayaquil, with plans to transfer him to a maximum security facility. Glas's attorney said that police kicked his client multiple times while Glas was resisting arrest, and dragged him out of the embassy. Mexican foreign minister Alicia Bárcena said that some of their diplomats were injured during the raid.[16] Police also pointed a gun at the embassy's acting head, Roberto Canseco, when he tried to block their path.[17]

  • Police outside the Mexican embassy in Quito
    Police outside the Mexican embassy in Quito
  • Police tackle Roberto Canseco, the acting head of the Mexican mission, to the ground.[18]
    Police tackle Roberto Canseco, the acting head of the Mexican mission, to the ground.[18]
  • Units of the National Police scaling the walls of the Mexican embassy
    Units of the National Police scaling the walls of the Mexican embassy

Aftermath

Glas's attorney, Sonia Vera, said that she and other members of his defense team were not allowed to speak with Glas while he was at the prosecutor’s office in Guayaquil, and said that they were filing a petition for habeas corpus. Vera also expressed concern that "something could happen" to Glas in custody. As Glas left the prosecutors' office, people gathered outside chanted "strength".[16]

On 9 April, prison authorities said that Glas had been hospitalized in the Guayaquil naval hospital after not eating for 24 hours, adding that his condition was stable.[19] He was returned to prison shortly afterwards.[17]

At the request of the delegations of Colombia and Ecuador, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States met on 9 and 10 April to discuss the raid and its implications.[20] On 10 April, by a near unanimous vote (Ecuador voted against, El Salvador abstained, and Mexico was absent), the Permanent Council adopted a resolution "strongly condemn[ing] the intrusion into the premises of the Embassy of Mexico in Ecuador and the acts of violence against the well-being and dignity of the diplomatic personnel of the mission".[21][22]

A special meeting of the foreign ministers of the member states of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) was also held on 9 April. Mexico's Alicia Bárcena sought backing from the other countries for the planned filing of an action at the International Court of Justice, and consideration was given to a summit of the bloc's heads of state and government. Ecuador's Gabriela Sommerfeld also addressed the meeting, arguing her country's position and describing the granting of asylum to Glas as "a provocation".[23]

Reactions

Ecuador

Commenting on the raid, President Noboa said he made "exceptional decisions to protect national security, the rule of law and the dignity of a population that rejects any type of impunity for criminals, corrupt people or narco-terrorists", and that he would "not allow sentenced criminals involved in very serious crimes to be given asylum", arguing that such actions were against the Vienna Convention and other international agreements.[24] Noboa later said that wished to resolve the diplomatic issue with Mexico, but added that "justice is not negotiated" and that "we will never protect criminals who have harmed Mexicans".[19] Foreign minister Gabriela Sommerfeld defended the raid, saying that the decision was made by Noboa after the government had determined an "imminent flight risk" on the part of Glas and after it had exhausted all possibilities for diplomatic dialogue with Mexico. She added that it was not "legal to grant asylum to people convicted of common crimes and by competent courts".[16]

Mexico

Immediately following the raid, Roberto Canseco, head of the embassy's consular section and acting head of mission, called the incident "crazy" and expressed concern over Glas's life.[16] After the news spread of the raid, on the same day, President López Obrador announced on Twitter the severing of all diplomatic relations with Ecuador. Mexico also announced plans to take Ecuador to the International Court of Justice for violations of international law.[25] It also said there were no plans to expel Ecuadorean diplomats from Mexico City.[19]

On 9 April, the Mexican foreign ministry released footage of the raid. Foreign minister Alicia Bárcena praised the embassy staff, who returned to Mexico following the raid, for "the defence they made of our sovereignty".[17]

International

The embassy raid provoked what The Guardian newspaper described as "an unusually intense outpouring of outrage from across the political spectrum in Latin America".[1]

  • Argentina: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and Worship condemned the attack and called for full observance of the 1954 Convention on Diplomatic Asylum and the 1961 Convention on Diplomatic Relations.[26]
  • Chile: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the raid and recalled the 1961 Convention on Diplomatic Relations. It also urged Ecuador and Mexico to "promptly overcome" their dispute.[27]
  • Colombia: President Gustavo Petro announced that he will request precautionary measures in favor of Glas from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and will also call an emergency meeting of the Organization of American States to examine Ecuador's breach of the Vienna Convention.[28]
  • Nicaragua: The government condemned the violation of international law, severed its diplomatic relations with the Ecuadorian government, and expressed its solidarity with Mexico.[29]
  • United States: The State Department condemned any violation of the Vienna Convention and called on Ecuador and Mexico to resolve their dispute.[16]
  • Uruguay: The Ministry of Foreign Relations issued a statement in which it expressed its regret over the events and called for full observance of the Caracas Convention, highlighting that diplomatic asylum should not be granted in cases of common crimes.[30]

Supranational

  • European Union: The bloc condemned the assault and emphasized the importance of respecting the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations between states. EU spokesperson Peter Stano said that any violation of diplomatic mission premises is a breach of the Vienna Convention and must be rejected. The EU stressed that safeguarding diplomatic missions' integrity and personnel is crucial for international stability and cooperation, echoing the sentiments of EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who called for respect for international diplomatic law.[31]
  • Organization of American States: The regional body rejected the police incursion into the embassy and proposed a meeting of its Permanent Council; it also called for dialogue between both parties and expressed its solidarity with the Mexican diplomats.[32][33]
  • United Nations: Spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said that Secretary-General António Guterres was "alarmed" at the incident and reaffirmed the cardinal principle of the inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises and personnel. Guterres also called for moderation and exhorted the two countries to solve their differences peacefully.[34]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Phillips, Tom (8 April 2024). "UN chief joins condemnation of Ecuadorian raid on Mexican embassy". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 April 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Policía saca a Jorge Glas de la Embajada de México en Quito" [Police remove Jorge Glas from the Mexican Embassy in Quito]. El Universo (in Spanish). 6 April 2024. Archived from the original on 6 April 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b "México concede asilo político a exvicepresidente ecuatoriano" [Mexico grants political asylum to Ecuadorian ex-vice president]. DW Español (in Spanish). 5 April 2024. Archived from the original on 5 April 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  4. ^ a b Gutiérrez, Fidel; Chen, Heather; Shortell, David (6 April 2024). "'Outrage against international law': Mexico breaks diplomatic ties with Ecuador over embassy raid". CNN. Archived from the original on 7 April 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Nicaragua kutter forbindelsen med Ecuador etter omstridt ambassadeaksjon" [Nicaragua cuts ties with Ecuador after disputed embassy action]. Adresseavisen (in Norwegian). 6 April 2024. Archived from the original on 7 April 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  6. ^ Mella, Carolina (1 March 2024). "La Cancillería de Ecuador pide entrar en la Embajada de México para capturar al ex vicepresidente Jorge Glas" [The Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry requests entry to the Mexican Embassy to capture ex-vice president Jorge Glas]. El País América (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 17 March 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Quién es Jorge Glas, el exvicepresidente en el centro de la ruptura diplomática de México con su país" [Jorge Glas, the ex-vice president of Ecuador at the center of Mexico's diplomatic rupture with his country]. BBC News Mundo (in Spanish). 6 April 2024. Archived from the original on 6 April 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  8. ^ Valencia, Alexandra (22 December 2023). "Former Ecuador VP asks for asylum in Mexico -lawyer". Reuters. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Esto fue lo que dijo el presidente López Obrador que molestó a Daniel Noboa" [This is what President López Obrador said that annoyed Daniel Noboa]. Primicias (in Spanish). 4 April 2024. Archived from the original on 6 April 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  10. ^ "Amid diplomatic spat, Mexico grants former Ecuadorian vice president asylum". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 6 April 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  11. ^ "Ecuador declara persona 'non grata' a embajadora de México tras declaración de AMLO" [Ecuador declares Mexico's ambassador persona non grata after AMLO's statement]. Forbes México (in Spanish). 4 April 2024. Archived from the original on 6 April 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  12. ^ "AMLO: México suspende relaciones diplomáticas con Ecuador tras ingreso a embajada en Quito" [AMLO: Mexico suspends diplomatic relations with Ecuador after raid on embassy in Quito]. El Universo (in Spanish). 5 April 2024. Archived from the original on 6 April 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  13. ^ Vélez, Roger (6 April 2024). "México rompe relaciones diplomáticas con Ecuador, tras irrupción policial en Embajada" [Mexico breaks diplomatic relations with Ecuador after police raid on the Embassy]. Primicias (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 6 April 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  14. ^ "Jorge Glas es capturado por la Policía dentro de la Embajada de México, en Quito" [Jorge Glas is captured by the Police inside the Mexican Embassy in Quito]. La Hora (in Spanish). 5 April 2024. Archived from the original on 7 April 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  15. ^ "Mexico withdraws diplomats from its embassy in Ecuador after raid". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 7 April 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  16. ^ a b c d e "Mexico severs diplomatic ties with Ecuador after police storm its embassy to arrest politician". AP News. 6 April 2024. Archived from the original on 7 April 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  17. ^ a b c "Mexico releases footage of Ecuador police storming its embassy in Quito". Al Jazeera. 10 April 2024. Archived from the original on 9 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  18. ^ López-Castro, Fernanda (6 April 2024). "Él es Roberto Canseco, el jefe de Cancillería sometido por la policía que defendió la embajada de México en Ecuador" [Roberto Canseco, the head of the Foreign Ministry subdued by the police who defended the Mexican embassy in Ecuador]. Infobae (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 9 April 2024. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  19. ^ a b c "Ecuador ex-VP Jorge Glas hospitalised after capture from Mexico embassy". Al Jazeera. 9 April 2024. Archived from the original on 9 April 2024. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  20. ^ Meléndez, José (8 April 2024). "Ecuador y Colombia convocan a sesiones urgentes de la OEA tras irrupción a embajada de México en Quito" [Ecuador and Colombia call urgent meetings of the OAS after raid on the Mexican embassy in Quito]. El Universal (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 8 April 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  21. ^ "OEA condena la intrusión en la Embajada de México en Ecuador". CNN Español. 10 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  22. ^ "CP/RES. 1253 (2494/24): The Intrusion of the Ecuadorian Police into the Embassy of Mexico in Violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, and the Institution of Diplomatic Asylum". Organization of American States. 10 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  23. ^ Zerega, Georgina; Vidal Liy, Macarena (10 April 2024). "Mexico seeks regional support for ICJ lawsuit against Ecuador over Jorge Glas embassy raid". El País. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  24. ^ "Ecuadorians wanted an action man. President Noboa has fulfilled that role — embassy raid included". Associated Press. 9 April 2024. Archived from the original on 8 April 2024. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  25. ^ "México rompe relaciones con Ecuador tras irrupción policial en Embajada mexicana en Quito" [Mexico breaks relations with Ecuador after police raid on the Mexican Embassy in Quito]. Xinhua Español (in Spanish). 6 April 2024. Archived from the original on 6 April 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  26. ^ "Comunicado de Prensa: Situación en Ecuador" [Press Release: Situation in Ecuador]. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio Internacional y Culto (in Spanish). 6 April 2024. Archived from the original on 6 April 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  27. ^ Neira, Cristian (6 April 2024). "Chile expresa su "más enérgica condena" a irrupción de Ecuador en embajada de México". El Desconcierto (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  28. ^ "Colombia pedirá a la CIDH "medidas cautelares" a favor del exvicepresidente Glas" [Colombia will ask the Inter-American Court for "precautionary measures" on behalf of ex-vice president Glas]. La Hora (in Spanish). 6 April 2024. Archived from the original on 6 April 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  29. ^ "Nicaragua brinda apoyo pleno a México y denuncia la barbarie política neofascista del Gobierno de Ecuador" [Nicaragua offers full support to Mexico and denounces the neo-fascist political barbarism of the Government of Ecuador]. Canal 2 (in Spanish). 6 April 2024. Archived from the original on 6 April 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  30. ^ "Sobre la situación en Ecuador" [About the situation in Ecuador]. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (in Spanish). 6 April 2024. Archived from the original on 8 April 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  31. ^ "La UE condena asalto a la embajada mexicana en Ecuador" [The EU condemns the assault on the Mexican embassy in Ecuador]. DW Español (in Spanish). 7 April 2024. Archived from the original on 8 April 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  32. ^ "OEA rechaza incidente en embajada de México en Ecuador y propone reunión de su Consejo Permanente" [OAS rejects incident at the Mexican embassy in Ecuador and proposes a meeting of its Permanent Council]. Voz de América (in Spanish). 6 April 2024. Archived from the original on 6 April 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  33. ^ "Statement from the OAS General Secretariat on Events in Ecuador". Organization of American States. 6 April 2024. Archived from the original on 6 April 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  34. ^ "Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on raid of Mexico's embassy in Ecuador". United Nations: Office of the Secretary-General. 7 April 2024. Archived from the original on 9 April 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
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