Mikel was a long, happy guy, hope. He played in the popular Batucada eardrum, which accompanied TAZ in April for a report and which plays in the poor quarters of the Ecuadorous Coastal city of Guayakil, attracts young people with the rhythm of music and Joey de Vivre – far from the gangs, which were especially noticeable in boys.
Last year, Grandmother Mikel struck the ball when she washed the laundry on her farm. Since then it has been disconnected. On Saturday, he caught Michel. He was on the street of his quarter Flora de Bastion with a friend when he heard his shots. They ran away to hide next to Michel’s house. But she chased equipment and shot.
It was around 5:30 pm. Relatives brought the wounded to several hospitals, but in any case there were no beds, equipment and specialists. Mikel Mesaas Gutieers died in the third hospital, at about 0.30 in the morning. His friend also succumbed to shots. On the same day, the gait shot two adults.
Mikel was curious about
Mikel turned 13 years old. “He was so curious, really wanted to study,” says Xavier Seasira, director of Batucada. “He was the first in his quarter to learn the most difficult tool – a front drum.” When Mikel came to a rehearsal, his elongated “Taaaaa Locoooo” sounded from afar – “This is crazy!”. Everyone is excellent.
His death breaks his heart, says Xavier Moreir. Mikel was in the new Batucada program: “Dreams that sound, Batukada that change.” Young people won a competition for this, financed by the United Nations. And he was the youngest in the Batucada program for young managers.
Maybe this is in the family: his mother is a leader in the district, like many mothers there, she raised Mikel and his sister alone. She works as a nurse in the State Center for Children’s Development. Nevertheless, the Ministry of Economic and Social Integration did not pay wages for several months. The Michel family should now collect donations for his funeral. The lack of money for social relations, schools and culture in the vicinity, as well as jobs.
30 dead in one weekend
President Daniel Nobe prefers to spend money on his security policy, even more military, police and mega. In the eyes of security forces, young people in the quarter, especially black people, such as Mikel, are one thing: criminals for whom he is increasingly increasing, and their human rights can be violated. Gangs often enjoy great confidence in the vicinity than in the police. Result: shooting and massacre. 30 who died in the gang war between Tiguron Phoenix and Igualatos in one weekend in May.
Ecuador currently has the highest level of murders in Latin America and the third largest number of internal refugees: 101,000 people in 2024. Drug trade, the struggle for areas and protective equipment is to blame. For the first time, people in the spring have been in the city since the violent mass killings. Parents send their children, so neither the police nor the gang forced the boys or they do not kill them. But the main one has not changed. Therefore, Michel’s mother planned to move away from the quarter next week.
