Ecuadors Disappeared Family Seeks Answers After Years of Searching

Ecuador Reports 51 Disappearances During Military Operations Since Early 2024

A total of 51 people have gone missing since early 2024, according to preliminary investigations by Ecuador’s Attorney General. The cases are currently under investigation and are being handled rigorously to present evidence to the courts.

The disappearances occurred during military operations aimed at combating cocaine trafficking routes along the coast. President Daniel Noboa has implemented heavy police and military deployments across the country in an effort to reduce violence.

However, allegations of human rights abuses have been raised, including enforced disappearances. The Attorney General’s office is conducting 34 preliminary investigations, with 51 victims identified so far.

Families of the missing individuals are seeking answers about their loved ones’ disappearance. One family, whose brother Jonathan Villon has been missing for almost a year and a half, has expressed frustration with the slow pace of investigation.

Security footage shows soldiers patrolling Jonathan’s neighborhood on the day he was detained. A neighbor’s mobile phone video captures the moments after Jonathan was forced into a truck’s bed. The family has recorded the license plate numbers of the municipal vehicle used by the soldiers but has received no response from the military regarding their case.

Lawyers representing the family claim that the Ministry of Defense has refused to cooperate with the Prosecutor’s Office, despite having requested information. Only one case, known as “The Malvinas 4”, has garnered national attention, leading to soldiers being held accountable for the disappearance of four Afro-Ecuadorian boys.

The Attorney General’s office emphasizes the need for objective and rigorous investigations to present evidence in court. The families of the missing individuals continue to push for accountability and answers about their loved ones’ disappearance.

Source: Al Jazeera