Ecuador's Correa says Jorge Glas on hunger strike after failed suicide
3 Min Read
Correa says that he received confirmation that "the medical emergency was a suicide attempt" by Glas.
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Vice President Jorge Glas, right, accompanied by former Vice President Lenin Moreno, left, and President Rafael Correa, in Quito, Ecuador, Oct. 1, 2016. (AP)
Ecuador's ex-Vice President Jorge Glas, who is now imprisoned after a dramatic raid on Mexico's embassy in Quito, has gone on hunger strike after a failed suicide attempt, former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa and Glas' friend said Wednesday.
Correa, who ruled from 2007 to 2017, took to the social media platform X to break the news.
Por fin sus hijos y sus abogados pudieron conectarse con Jorge Glas vía Zoom.
— Rafael Correa (@MashiRafael) April 10, 2024
Hemos confirmado que la emergencia médica fue intento de suicidio. No ha comido nada y se encuentra en huelga de hambre.
Responsabilizamos a Daniel Noboa por la integridad física y emocional de Jorge.… pic.twitter.com/YLMyjtrgbL
He stated that he received confirmation that "the medical emergency was a suicide attempt" by Glas, who was returned to prison after being admitted to the hospital having refused to eat for 24 hours.
Sonia Vera, one of his lawyers, posted on X that he was refusing to eat and released a video in which he claims he was beaten.
Finalmente establecimos contacto con Jorge, quien está en huelga de hambre. Expresó su agradecimiento hacia el gobierno mexicano: "El asilo no me dio la libertad, pero me dio la dignidad de ser un perseguido político". pic.twitter.com/T1Gm9wIOOI
— Sonia Gabriela Vera García (@sonicorver) April 10, 2024
Ecuadorian police stormed the Mexican embassy in Quito using armed vehicles to arrest Glas, and two days ago, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa announced that he ordered storming to protect national security and arrest Glas.
"I have made exceptional decisions to protect national security, the rule of law, and the dignity of the people, who reject any impunity for criminals, corrupt officials, and narco-terrorists. My duty is to carry out the decisions of justice, and we could not allow criminals convicted of serious acts to seek asylum," Noboa announced in a statement on April 8.
Read next: Mexico says will take Ecuador to the ICJ
A quick rundown
Ecuador's storming of the Mexican embassy was publicly condemned by at least 20 countries, and numerous international organizations, as well as the UN.
Mexican authorities released footage of the storming of the embassy by Ecuadorian forces to arrest former Ecuadorian VP Jorge Glas.#Ecuador #Mexico pic.twitter.com/v05abVfHLT
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) April 11, 2024
Glas, who held a position in the administration of leftist Rafael Correa from 2013 to 2017, sought refuge in the Mexican embassy in December last year following the issuance of an arrest warrant against him on charges of corruption.
The government of Mexico granted him political asylum after which he sought refuge at the Embassy of Mexico in Quito. The government of Ecuador labeled the embassy's decision an "illicit act" and dismissed the idea of providing safe passage for Glas to leave and called Mexico's ambassador in Quito, Raquel Serur, persona non grata.
Mexico complained of "harassment" after the Ecuadorian government increased police presence outside the Mexican embassy, which Mexico's President slammed on April 5 during his daily address, saying, "This is what fascists are like."
Alicia Bárcena, Mexico's Secretary of Foreign Affairs, informed the Mexican President of this "flagrant violation of international law and Mexico's sovereignty," an act which prompted the President to announce that he "instructed our Foreign Minister to issue a statement on this authoritarian act, proceed legally and immediately declare the suspension of diplomatic relations with the government of Ecuador."
