Ecuadorian fishermen recount trauma of US military ops at sea

Ecuadorian fishermen have shared harrowing accounts of their experiences during joint US-Ecuador military operations at sea. Eduardo Holguin, a 41-year-old fisherman, recounted how his crew was forcibly removed from their boat and its subsequent destruction by the US military on September 2. The fishermen claimed they were innocent of any involvement in drug trafficking, as they simply sought to earn their living by fishing.

The US Southern Command stated that the boat was targeted due to its alleged use in supporting drug trafficking by the Ecuadorian crime syndicate Los Choneros. Four Ecuadorian vessels have been destroyed in counter-narcotics operations since August 28.

Human Rights Watch has reported that at least eight people went missing when three Ecuadorian vessels were attacked by US forces between January and March. However, Washington denies any involvement in these disappearances. During the operations, the fishermen were subjected to harsh treatment, including being given hoods and earmuffs, with little food despite the distressing circumstances.

After being released without facing criminal charges, fishermen like Holguin and Juan Carlos Posligua, who was also on the intercepted vessel, expressed their unease about returning to their profession. Posligua, a 44-year-old crew member, said he had not slept or eaten for three days since the ordeal. The lack of alternative employment opportunities has left them with little choice but to go back to sea, despite the risks involved.