In response to the public ceremony held today in Guayaquil, where the Commander General of the Ecuadorian Air Force, on behalf of the Armed Forces, publicly apologized to the families of Nehemías Arboleda Portocarrero, Steven Medina, Ismael Arroyo and Josué Arroyo, known as “the four boys from Las Malvinas,” who were victims of enforced disappearance by members of the Armed Forces on 8 December 2024, Ana Piquer, Americas Director at Amnesty International, said:
“In light of this historic moment, we reiterate our solidarity with the families of the four boys and with all the families of the 51 people who disappeared following security operations carried out by the Armed Forces on Ecuador’s coast.”
In light of this historic moment, we reiterate our solidarity with the families of the four boys and with all the families of the 51 people who disappeared following security operations carried out by the Armed Forces on Ecuador’s coast.”
Ana Piquer, Americas Director at Amnesty International
“Public apologies are a key milestone and represent an essential component of comprehensive redress for the harm caused by this terrible crime that deeply marked Ecuador. We welcome the implementation of these measures ordered by the Constitutional Court, following its historic ruling on the Las Malvinas case.”
“We regret the lack of willingness by the Armed Forces to listen to the demands of the other families of disappeared people who were present at the event and exercising their legitimate right to protest.”
“At the same time, we are alarmed by reports that, on 2 June, military patrols allegedly harassed a relative of one of the boys from Las Malvinas at her home. It is unacceptable that families continue to face intimidation by agents of the very institution that has already caused them so much harm. We call on the Ministry of Defence to put an end to this harassment. The Ecuadorian state must guarantee the protection of the families.”
“To ensure that these serious crimes do not continue to occur, it is essential to reverse the militarized approach to public security policy, which has led to serious human rights violations. The Ecuadorian authorities must fully comply with all the measures ordered by the Constitutional Court in its historic ruling on the Las Malvinas case, including the adoption of reforms to strengthen the prevention, investigation and punishment of enforced disappearances.”
“To ensure that these serious crimes do not continue to occur, it is essential to reverse the militarized approach to public security policy, which has led to serious human rights violations.”
Ana Piquer, Americas Director at Amnesty International
“It is also essential to make firm progress in criminal investigations into enforced disappearances. It is unacceptable for these processes to remain stalled due to the lack of cooperation from the Armed Forces, which continue to resist sharing information by claiming it is ‘classified information.’ All victims and their families should have access to truth, justice and redress.”
“While the Las Malvinas case has seen important progress, it cannot be the only case in which a ruling is secured and redress measures are adopted. The risk of impunity remains high for other victims and families who are still waiting for answers from the state.”
In addition to the families of the four boys from Las Malvinas and representatives of the Ministry of Defence, the ceremony was attended by the Permanent Committee for the Defence of Human Rights in Guayaquil (CDH Guayaquil), which legally represents the victims; the Committee of Families for Truth and Justice; representatives of the international community, including the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances; and the Ombudsperson’s Office, which acted as mediator for the event. Amnesty International supported the event.
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