Two days ago, the life of César Suárez, a brave prosecutor in charge of major cases, was cowardly silenced by assassins’ bullets. Rest in peace to his grave. Ecuador has lost a great warrior in its fight for peace and justice. In the complicated security scenario we live in, the prosecutor’s job is becoming more and more dangerous and more and more vital. In the midst of the growing war against the Mafia, it is imperative to resolutely address the need to protect these professionals, a demand painfully echoed by the recent murder of César Suárez, who paid the ultimate price for his dedication to justice.

Violence against prosecutors in Ecuador has increased and will continue to increase. Faced with highly organized criminal organizations and without an iota of humanity, these defenders of the law are constantly on the front lines. The tragic case of César Suárez is nothing more than a grim reminder of the brutality they face every day. This climate of fear tends not only to undermine the ability of prosecutors to act, but also directly undermines the ability of our justice system to fight organized crime and restore peace to Ecuador.

Who was César Suárez, the prosecutor from Manabi killed in Los Ceibos

Risks in the middle of an armed conflict

If these officers cannot perform their role without fear of retribution, prosecuting complex and dangerous cases will become an impossible task. Our judicial system cannot depend on our judicial operators being willing to become martyrs for the country.

The effectiveness of our justice system, therefore, depends on the state’s ability to ensure that its members protect their lives and the lives of their families. Without this key ingredient, the war on crime is lost.

The state’s failure to protect the life of César Suárez is a tragedy that should prompt today’s government to take urgent and strong measures to guarantee the safety of prosecutors and other judicial officials.

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This includes providing substantial resources, such as escorts, security devices and armored vehicles, as well as establishing effective threat management protocols. Furthermore, in a technological era like ours, it is absurd to require prosecutors involved in the most dangerous cases to work in person, unnecessarily exposing their lives to assassins’ bullets.

Protection of plaintiffs in Ecuador cannot be delayed. The memory of César Suárez, whose life was cut short in the line of duty, demands a strong response. Guaranteeing the safety of these experts is not only a necessity, it is an imperative to preserve justice in Ecuador. Only through a serious and sustained commitment to the safety of prosecutors can the administration of justice be strengthened, society’s trust in the legal system restored, and peace restored to our country. The fight for justice cannot afford one more victim in its ranks. (OR)