SIC-10, a repressive structure of the police that arose from the Criminal Investigations Service (SIC) began to function and it clandestinely endeavored to “repress and eliminate” members of “Alfaro Vive Carajo” and other organizations.24 39. During the presidency of Rodrigo Borja (1988-1992), although there was a greater respect for political rights and freedom of expression, the security and repressive policies continued. During this period, police and Armed Forces groups accused of human rights violations were not dismantled nor were measures adopted with regard to those responsible for the violations committed during the government of Febres Cordero.25 40. According to the Report of the Truth Commission, there were 17 forced disappearances from 1985 to 2004 in Ecuador.26 Of the 17, three were known as members of “Alfaro Vive Carajo” and one was associated with “Montoneras Patria Libre.” In the cases known to the Truth Commission, the forced disappearances began with the detention of the victims by State agents who “abused their authority and used unjustified and excessive force” in the context of repressive or routine operations.27 The Truth Commission also indicated that the modus operandi was characterized by a pact of silence among the members of the institutions of the public forces who participated in the human rights violations and a similar pact among other members who had or could have information, as well as by the destruction of incriminating records and documents, misinformation and a public denial of the events denounced by family members and public opinion.28 41. Other sources also refer to the statistics on forced disappearances in Ecuador. Thus, according to the Inter-American Commission’s “Report on the Situation of Human Rights in Ecuador” of 1997, from 1985 to 1995, there were between 25 and 30 forced disappearances.”29 For its part, the UN Working Group on Forced and Involuntary Disappearances informed on 17 cases of disappearances in Ecuador between 1985 and 1992, and indicated that the majority of the cases referred to persons who had been detained by members of the SIC of the National Police.30 responsibility of this policy of the elimination of the subversion and of the alleged subversives falls on the former President of the Republic, León Febres Cordero and his Ministers of Government and Defense” (evidence file, folios 2207 to 2236). Cf. Executive Summary. Sin Verdad no hay Justicia. Final Report of the Truth Commission of Ecuador, 2010 (evidence file, folio 2582). 24 The Report of the Truth Commission of Ecuador states: “Since 1988 to date, successive governments in which in some of them many of the security doctrines and policies remained unchanged, while others only changed in name and form. Although the extent of human rights violations has diminished in terms of State policy, the repressive basis of many of the practices remained in different periods without substantial change with respect to the doctrine of security and some of the practices, such as torture and the undue use of force.” Cf. Executive Summary. Sin Verdad no hay Justicia. Final Report of the Truth Commission of Ecuador, 2010 (evidence file, folio 2514). 25 26 Cf. Executive Summary. Sin Verdad no hay Justicia. Final Report of the Truth Commission of Ecuador, 2010 (evidence file, folios 2466 and 2466). Cf. Executive Summary. Sin Verdad no hay Justicia. Final Report of the Truth Commission of Ecuador, 2010 (evidence file, folio 2467). 27 Cf. Executive Summary. Sin Verdad no hay Justicia. Final Report of the Truth Commission of Ecuador, 2010 (evidence file, folio 2467). 28 Cf. Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Report on the Situation of Human Rights in Ecuador, OEA/Ser.L/V/II.96, Doc.10 rev. 1, April 24, 1997, Chapter IV: RIGHT TO LIFE, E. Complaints on disappearances. Available at: http://www.cidh.org/countryrep/ecuador-sp/Capitulo%204.htm 29 Cf. United Nations, Economic and Social Council, Report of the Working Group on Forced and Involuntary Disappearances, UN Doc. E/CN.4/1995/36, December 21, 1994, para. 145. 30 11