In a statement, the Communist Party of Ecuador (Partido Comunista de Ecuador- PCE) condemns the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio (photo) in Quito and demands the punishment of those responsible for the crime.

More specifically the statement signed by General Secretary Ab. Winston Alarcón Elizalde reads:

The Communist Party of Ecuador condemns the assassination of the candidate for the Presidency of the Republic Fernando Villavicencio and demands the Law investigations and the punishment of the actual and moral instigators who are responsible for such an execrable crime.

The PCE rejects the attempt to suspend the electoral process and the intention to
use the state of violence and crime for the purpose of justifying a coup of state of "civilians and military" as they have already stated.

Together with all the Ecuadorian people, we demand from the national government the guarantees necessary for all candidates, political and social leaders, the dismantling of all national and international cartels that operate with impunity in our country with the complicity of senior government officials oligarchic linked to the CIA.

(We demand) Unity of all the progressive and revolutionary democratic forces against the crime and for the rescue of a national government for the people.