Ecuador confirms that the charred bodies belong to four missing children Military news

A judge ordered that 16 soldiers remain behind bars while the investigation into the deaths continues.

The Ecuadorian Public Prosecutor has confirmed that the charred remains found last week in the city of Taura are the bodies of four minors who disappeared on December 8.

The prosecutor’s office announced the findings on Tuesday after the boys’ disappearance sparked outrage across the country, as well as questions about the Ecuadorian military’s involvement.

The office said in a statement, “The results of forensic genetic analyzes confirm that the four bodies found in Toura belong to the three teenagers and a child who disappeared after a military operation on December 8 last year.” Social media sharing.

The families of the four missing boys, aged between 11 and 15, said they had been out in the coastal city of Guayaquil to play soccer when they disappeared.

Surveillance camera footage appeared to show two of the four boys being taken away by soldiers in a pickup truck.

But the Associated Press news agency reported that the investigation into the boys’ disappearance appeared to have stalled. While authorities obtained surveillance footage a day after the suspected kidnapping, an investigation into the military’s involvement was not announced for another 15 days.

An investigation into the military’s alleged involvement began only after family members pressed for more information on social media and in the press.

The boys’ disappearance occurs amid a crackdown on gang-related crimes in Ecuador, which has included numerous crimes State of emergency declarations.

These orders granted wide-ranging powers to state security forces, but critics warned that increased militarization could open the door to human rights. Violations.

Last week, 16 members of the Ecuadorian army were arrested in connection with the boys’ disappearance.

Shortly before their remains were identified on Tuesday, Judge Denis Ugalde Alvarez ordered the 16 military members held behind bars until an investigation into their alleged involvement began.

Antonio Arroyo, the uncle of two of the missing boys, told Reuters news agency after Tuesday’s ruling that he had hoped to see the military members involved in the case locked up.

“Let them go straight to prison where they belong. We want them to be detained (in prison) and not in a military base,” Arroyo said.

Protests over the disappearances, known collectively as the “Malvinas Case” or “Malvinas Case”, broke out in the capital Quito as well as in Guayaquil.

“We will not accept that. We are angry and upset because the government and the authorities did not say anything,” retiree Fernando Bustamante, 70, told Reuters as he stood with protesters outside the court in Guayaquil where the judge issued the ruling.

In his efforts to address A Violent crimes escalate In Ecuador, Pres Daniel Noboa It has designated some 22 criminal groups as “terrorist” organizations and declared several states of emergency to allow the military to assist the police.

In April, voters too It was approved overwhelmingly A series of measures aimed at giving law enforcement authorities broader powers to combat crime.

However, such emergencies have a long and troubled history in Latin America, where security forces sometimes claim extraordinary powers in the name of Fighting crime.

State abuses such as corruption, torture, and Enforced disappearance It has often been linked to such emergency announcements.