Autopsy reports disprove suicide of Polish activist in Ecuador: confirm murder by strangulation
Forensic examinations of the body of Monica Martyna Koniuszek, found on 8 June in Montañita, Santa Elena, revealed a fracture of the hyoid bone that contradicts the Interior Minister's initial account.
Autopsy reports disprove suicide of Polish activist in Ecuador: confirm murder by strangulation
Forensic examinations carried out on the body of Polish citizen Monica Martyna Koniuszek, known as Monika Silva, have determined that she was murdered, which undermines the initial thesis of Ecuadorian authorities. The 41-year-old woman was found dead on 8 June at her home in the seaside town of Montañita, located in Santa Elena province, in the south-western region of the country.
Following the discovery of the body, the Interior Minister, John Reimberg, stated that it was a case of suicide and indicated that the deceased had sent a farewell message to her romantic partner. However, subsequent technical reports revealed a fracture of the hyoid bone and traumatic signs consistent with mechanical asphyxiation by strangulation, elements that point to the involvement of one or more other persons.
The director of the Ecuadorian Centre for the Promotion and Action of Women (Cepam), Lita Martínez, announced via a virtual press conference that the current forensic findings allow them to rule out any hypothesis of suicide. "Today with the forensic reports we have the certainty that we are facing a violent death. Therefore, this alleged reference to suicide collapses," said the lawyer. Both Cepam and the Permanent Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDH) are providing support to the family members of the deceased, who left two minor daughters.
During her time in Ecuadorian territory, Koniuszek worked as a community activist, environmentalist and whistleblower of alleged corruption offences in the public administration of Santa Elena, including irregularities in land tenure and damage to the ecosystem. These reports generated lawsuits for alleged defamation, one of them brought by the Comptroller General Mauricio Torres.
Prior to her death, the European woman had publicly stated that her physical safety was at risk. "Monika warned that her life was being threatened," Martínez reiterated. For this reason, human rights organisations are calling on the Public Prosecutor to analyse whether the motive for the attack is related to her reports and to not rule out the charge of femicide.
For his part, Billy Navarrete, head of the CDH, argued that the murder should be understood within a broader context. "She was murdered. This crime is not unique; it must be understood as a context of, so to speak, deterioration of freedoms," he asserted, also warning that those who defend fundamental rights in the country are in a situation of vulnerability. Martínez added that the manner in which death occurred denotes deliberation and cruelty, indications that the act was planned in advance.
Faced with the complexity of the case, the Ecuadorian executive activated mechanisms for international cooperation. The Foreign Ministry succeeded in having Argentina's Supreme Court of Justice send two specialists in forensic medicine to oversee the investigative procedure. Simultaneously, officials from Poland—the nation from which the victim originated—initiated a parallel investigation into the homicide in order to assist in the search for truth.
The diplomatic representation of the European Union in Quito issued a statement on the matter, demanding a swift, complete, independent and transparent investigation. Similarly, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights urged the Ecuadorian government to conduct a neutral investigation and to determine whether there is a link between the homicide and the activism activities carried out by Koniuszek.
Social organisations, residents of the area and relatives of the victim continue to demand that the perpetrators and intellectual authors of the crime be identified and that all details of the incident be clarified.
Information compiled from Informed Sources, La Nación and Latin Press
Source: Google News EC — Crime