Ecuador probes charred bodies in military case

The Ecuadorian attorney general's office has confirmed that four charred bodies discovered in Taura are those of young boys who disappeared on December 8 in Guayaquil. The victims, aged 11 to 15, were last seen going to play football in the Las Malvinas neighborhood, leading to what became known as the "Caso Malvinas."

Surveillance footage showed soldiers taking at least two of the boys away in a pickup truck. Military commanders initially claimed the children were detained during an alleged robbery attempt and were released after being taken to a military base. However, the investigation into military involvement was delayed for 15 days, only proceeding after families raised awareness through social media and press coverage.

Sixteen military personnel have been ordered detained by Judge Dennis Ugalde Alvarez while their alleged role in the disappearances is investigated. The case has sparked nationwide protests, particularly in Quito and Guayaquil, with demonstrators demanding answers and justice.

The incident occurs amid President Daniel Noboa's border crackdown on gang-related crime, which has included declaring multiple states of emergency and designating 22 criminal groups as terrorist organizations. These measures have granted expanded powers to security forces, though critics warn this increased militarization could lead to human rights abuses.

Antonio Arroyo, uncle of two victims, demanded the military members be held in regular prisons rather than military bases. The case has highlighted concerns about potential state abuses during emergency declarations, a historically problematic issue in Latin America where such measures have sometimes been linked to corruption, torture, and enforced disappearances.

Families of the victims gathered outside the judicial complex to mourn their loved ones after the confirmation of their deaths through forensic genetic testing.