On the 8th of January of 1988, Santiago and Andres Restrepo-Arismendi disappeared, they were 14 and 17 years old and until today their remains have not been found. In her documentary, María Fernanda Restrepo-Arismendi tells the story of her family’s unceasing fight to find out what happened to her two brothers when she was 10.
Although all three children were born and raised in Ecuador, the family was originally from Columbia. For a long time, up until now, Columbians in Ecuador have faced racism and discrimination. During the right wing reign of León Febres Cordero’s government it escalated. The Restrepo boys were not the only people who disappeared during the 80s in Ecuador, but theirs is certainly the most notorious case, not least because Fernanda’s family created a huge movement within the country. Absolutely everything was extremely well documented with pictures, videos and testimonials, as Fernanda’s aunt was a journalist who covered the story. Up until now Fernanda’s father has gone to the main square in Quito every Wednesday to protest in front of the government. They have never given up.
Here Fernanda shares a family picture with her audience on the official website.
Courtesy of www.conmicorazonenyambo.com/english
The family was betrayed on various levels. A low level police officer, Doris Morán, and her mother were deployed to keep the family ‘informed’ about the latest news on their sons whereabouts and well-being for 9 months. However, everything the pair ever told the family was complete fabrication, to steer the family in the wrong direction and divert suspicion from the police itself. The police fabricated various stories in written reports, later denied the same reports and provided new ones.
It is believed that at some point the boys were dumped in a lake called Yambo, hence the title of the documentary ‘Con mi Corazon en Yambo’, with my heart in Yambo.
The Unidad de Delitos de la Comisión de la Verdad, a truth commission, was created during the 90s to help the families of victims of the previous right wing regime that suffered from injustices. The Commission has identified 186 cases of disappearances, torture, and rapes. In response, the current president of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, has offered a $200.000 reward for any information that would lead to finding the boys’ bodies. Posters have been put up all over the country, adverts are shown on TV advertising this grand move.
Talking to Ecuadorian friends of my generation, in their twenties and thirties, about this case I realised what a strong connection they had to it. They had followed the story when they were children and youth themselves and it created a deep distrust toward authority and in particular the police. I am not sure finding the bodies or bringing to justice the perpetrators can even remedy that.
The most striking thing about this documentary is the gentle closeness of the narrator to the story. Fernanda lays her family’s suffering bare, she shares intimate moments of grief and longing with the viewer, while keeping a clear mind when recounting the facts. I strongly recommend watching this documentary if you have the chance, it is extremely well made!
www.conmicorazonenyambo.com/english
Love from Quito!
Chiara Gerlich
Merci pour cet article très instructif.
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