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Whistleblower investigating Ecuadorian president’s family business was murdered, activists say
TL;DR
Monika Silva Koniuszek, a Polish anti-corruption activist in Ecuador, was found murdered in her home, contradicting initial claims of suicide. Activists believe her death is linked to her investigations into the president's family business.
Key points
- Monika Silva Koniuszek was found dead in Montañita, Ecuador.
- Initial reports suggested suicide, but autopsy revealed murder.
- She investigated allegations against Ecuador's president's family business.
- Activists claim her death was to silence her anti-corruption efforts.
Mentioned in this story
Monika Silva KoniuszekEcuadorJohn Reimberg
Campaigners in Ecuador say a Polish anti-corruption activist who investigated allegations against the family business of the country’s rightwing president was murdered to silence her.
Monika Silva Koniuszek, 41, was found dead in her home in Montañita, a coastal town in Ecuador’s Santa Elena province. The single mother of daughters aged four and nine, was found on the floor with a noose around her neck on 8 June.
A day after her death, and before autopsy results had been released, Ecuador’s interior minister John Reimberg said that the initial hypothesis was that it was a suicide: “The necessary evidence to reach that conclusion was found at the scene,” he told local media.
However, on Friday, a postmortem in Guayaquil found that the cause of death was a blow to the head and strangulation.
The Polish activist had been speaking out against land grabbing and environmental damage. Photograph: Gerardo Menoscal/AFP/Getty Images
“Based on the forensic reports, we are certain that this was a violent death; therefore, the alleged suggestion that it was a suicide falls apart,” said attorney Lita Martínez, director of the Ecuadorian Centre for the Promotion and Action of Women.
Silva Koniuszek had spent the last decade denouncing environmental crimes and corruption on social media, and working with local journalists. She stated in her social media profiles: “You don’t need to be born in Ecuador to love it and defend what is right.”
“Monika was the bravest person I have ever met,” said Beth Pitts, 47, a British author and fellow activist who collaborated with her in local campaigns.
“She was often a lone voice, publicly and vociferously denouncing corruption and environmental crimes when everyone else was too afraid to speak out,” said Pitts, who has lived in Ecuador for 13 years and lived near Silva Koniuszek in a neighbouring village.
“Beyond her activism, she was a dedicated single mother and a wonderful friend. Even when she was receiving death threats, she would still take the time to ask how I was doing and offer her support,” she added.
Q&A
What happened to Monika Silva Koniuszek in Ecuador?
Monika Silva Koniuszek was found dead in her home in Montañita, Ecuador, with evidence suggesting she was murdered.
What were the initial claims about Monika Silva Koniuszek's death?
Initially, Ecuador's interior minister stated that the evidence pointed to suicide, but later autopsy results indicated she died from a blow to the head and strangulation.
Why do activists believe Monika Silva Koniuszek was murdered?
Activists claim her murder was intended to silence her investigations into allegations against the family business of Ecuador's president.
What is known about Monika Silva Koniuszek's background?
Monika Silva Koniuszek was a 41-year-old Polish anti-corruption activist and a single mother of two daughters.
