Ecuador Confirms Bodies of Missing 'Guayaquil Four' Boys in Shocking Turning Point Amid Protests

ECEcuador|

Ecuador's attorney general's office has confirmed that the incinerated bodies found on Christmas Eve belong to four missing boys, collectively known as the "Guayaquil Four." The boys, aged between 11 and 15, disappeared on December 8 after being apprehended by air force soldiers near their homes in Guayaquil. The tragic identification poses significant challenges to President Daniel Noboa's controversial "war on drugs," which has faced increasing scrutiny.

The boys, residents of the disadvantaged Las Malvinas neighborhood, were returning home from a football game when they were detained. They were allegedly released approximately 26 miles away in an unfamiliar area before their disappearance. Initial denials from the Ministry of Defence regarding military involvement were later contradicted when the ministry admitted to the soldiers' role in their apprehension.

Following the confirmation of their deaths through forensic testing, emotional protests erupted, with around 200 people gathering outside a court in Guayaquil, expressing their grief and outrage. The families of the boys are calling for justice as the government investigates the circumstances around their deaths, with 16 air force personnel being held in custody for their alleged involvement in the boys' disappearance and possible forced disappearance, which carries a severe prison sentence.

This incident has ignited widespread protests across Ecuador, with experts warning that underlying tensions could lead to further violence in vulnerable communities. As the country grapples with this tragic event, public faith in the government's security strategy continues to erode.

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