Ecuador: 11 Soldiers Sentenced to 34 Years Over Boys' Murder
The Spin
Pro-government narrative
Ecuadorian institutions have finally wrapped up this shocking forced disappearance case, holding the perpetrators accountable for their heinous crimes after almost one year in pre-trial detention. This case was never about a systemic failure, but rather about some really bad guys who happened to have infiltrated the armed forces. Now, they will face disciplinary action for submitting false reports and failing to comply with protocols.
Government-critical narrative
While it's a relief these perpetrators are being held accountable for their crimes, one must have in mind that it was President Noboa's militarized security strategy that has enabled such severe human rights violations against children in the first place. In addition, the military's lack of cooperation in the investigation has revealed that the government never had victims and their families as a priority.
