By Kaitlyn Degnan
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America
QUITO, Ecuador — Ecuador will try five former military officers and an ex-police officer on charges of crimes against humanity. This is the first trial of its kind in Ecuador.
The trial, which was to begin on November 9 in front of the National Court of Justice, was postponed after one of the accused fell ill. Javier Arregui, legal counsel for accused Mario Apolo presented the court with a medical certificate stating that Apolo suffered health issues that prevented him from attending the preocedings. The trial start was rescheduled, but the start date was not released.
Ecuador’s Attorney General Galo Chiriboga said of the delay, “the logical thing would have been to begun the trial, and wait on a reaction by the hospital to know when the officer could be available.”
The charges surround alleged human rights violations committed against Luis Vaca, Susana Cajas and Javier Jarrin. All three were members of Alfaro Vive Carajo, a leftist guerilla group, active during the 1980s. The violations were reported to have occurred between 1985 and 1988, during the presidency of Leon Febres Cordero.
The defendants are accused of subjecting Vaca, Cajas and Jarrin to physical and psychological torture, as well as sexual abuse. The three were forcibly disappeared in 1985. Cajas and Jarrin were released after 15 days in detention, while Vaca remained detained for three years.
The detentions were confirmed in a statement by Ecuador’s fiscal general of state.
The trial will hear from 69 witnesses, 11 expert testimonials, and review more than 70 documents related to the incident.
The trial is the result of the Truth Commission launched by current President Rafael Correra in 2007 to look into allegations of rights abuses under the Cordero administration.
The victims and their families are hopeful for justice after almost 30 years of impunity.
For more information, please see:
TeleSur – Truth, Justice and Repatriation in Ecuador for Human Rights Day – 14 December 2014
La Hora – Militares retirados respaldan a procesados – 7 November 2015
TeleSur – UPDATE: Trial in Ecuador for Crimes Against Humanity Postponed – 9 November 2015
