Ecuador's attorney general's office is investigating eight extrajudicial killings that allegedly occurred during the country's most recent state of emergency, after human rights groups warned that authorities were not taking steps to prevent abuses.
Detainees, local activist groups and victims' families have reported abuses, including the murders, which allegedly occurred during the state of emergency between January and April.
President Daniel Noboa declared the emergency amid a spiral of violence in the Andean country, which authorities blame on drug trafficking gangs.
With the measure, Noboa placed thousands of soldiers on the streets and in prisons. Security forces conducted more than 18,000 arrests.
The attorney general's office said it was investigating dozens of allegations of torture and other abuses.
Neither the government nor the Armed Forces responded to requests for comment on the alleged abuses.
The repression in Ecuador mirrors strategies used in other countries, especially in El Salvador, where President Nayib Bukele's tactics have led to an “alarming regression” in terms of human rights, according to Amnesty International. Bukele denies abuses.
Noboa defended the behavior of the security forces and had already rejected comparisons with Bukele.
“I will not tolerate any non-patriot telling us that we are violating the rights of anyone when we are protecting those of the vast majority,” Noboa said in February.
Source: CNN Brasil
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