Ecuador Sentences 11 Soldiers for "Disappearing" Four Boys

An Ecuadorian court has sentenced 11 air force personnel to decades in prison. They were convicted for the forced disappearance of four Afro-Ecuadorian boys. The boys, aged 11 to 15, vanished during military security operations in Guayaquil last year. Their case became known nationally as the "Guayaquil Four." The sentences are a major development in a case that drew international attention. It has highlighted alleged human rights abuses under President Daniel Noboa's security policy. President Noboa, a right-wing leader, placed the military at the center of a crackdown on drug gangs. His "iron-fist" approach is popular but faces scrutiny over its methods. The court's decision focuses attention on the conduct of state forces during this crackdown.