Ecuador's Armed Forces apologise over deaths of four teenagers in Guayaquil
The Armed Forces acknowledged responsibility for the forced disappearance and death of Josué, Ismael, Steven and Nehemías following a military operation in 2024.
Apology ceremony in Guayaquil for deaths of four teenagers in military operation
Ecuador's Armed Forces issued a public apology on Thursday in Guayaquil for the forced disappearance and death of four teenagers from the Las Malvinas neighbourhood, according to reports from prensa-latina.cu. The ceremony took place in compliance with a Constitutional Court ruling that ordered the apology to be made to the families.
The four youths—Josué, Ismael, Steven and Nehemías, aged between 11 and 15—disappeared following a military operation that occurred in December 2024 and their deaths were subsequently confirmed.
The ceremony took place at the Hemiciclo de la Rotonda in the centre of the port city and drew hundreds of people, including relatives of other victims of disappearances linked to military operations.
Commander Machuca read the text ordered by the Constitutional Court, in which the State acknowledged its responsibility for the events and institutional failures recorded in the case. "The Armed Forces failed in their primary function: to protect the rights, freedoms and guarantees of citizens," Machuca said during his remarks. No other senior military commanders or ministerial representatives from Daniel Noboa's government were present at the ceremony.
Billy Navarrete, executive director of the Permanent Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDH), described the ceremony as a historic moment for the families and for the country. According to Navarrete, the State's acknowledgement constitutes a vindication of the victims' right to memory, although he warned that dozens of families continue searching for their missing loved ones.
Ana Lorena Delgadillo, rapporteur of the United Nations Working Group on Enforced Disappearances, stated that militarisation for the control of internal security facilitates human rights violations. Delgadillo considered that the act represents an important step within the processes of truth, justice and reparation demanded by the victims.
The parents of the four minors expressed their gratitude during the ceremony to those who have accompanied them in the process of demanding justice, and specifically mentioned the CDH, Guayaquil's mayor Aquiles Álvarez, and Citizen Revolution assembly members Paola Cabezas and Ricardo Patiño.
The ceremony concluded amid chants of "Out Noboa, out," "Murderous government" and "Down with dictatorship," and with the swift departure of the general commander of the Air Force. Families of another 51 victims of forced disappearance also attended the ceremony.
Source: Google News EC — Crime