Statement on Crimes against Humanity in Ecuador

Oct 15, 2019 |

 
October 15, 2019

The Network in Defense of Humanity expresses deep concern for the

undermining of democracy and persistent institutional deterioration in
Ecuador during the last two years, especially during the last month in
which, openly adopting dictatorial expressions, the Lenin Moreno
Administration has violently abused human rights against those who
express to be in opposition with harsh economic and social measures.
The entire world has witnessed astonishing abuses committed by
governmental forces against the population because they publicly
demonstrated against an agreement with the International Monetary
Fund (IMF), which they felt were detrimental for the Ecuadorean
population and institutions. This aggression has resulted in 8 deaths;
1,192 prisoners; 1,340 injured; and 100 disappeared victims.

The Ecuadorean people have expressed their disagreement with a series

of regressive “initiatives” in the economic, geopolitical fields, in matters
of safety, social policies, and others, aimed at presenting a structural
option opposed to the Constitution and sovereign planning. We warn
that seeking to hide such incongruence the Government has carried out
an authoritarian assault without precedents in the recent history of the
country.

The Network urges the immediate return to democratic institutionalism,

demilitarizing of the country, to fully reinstate universal human rights,
and to respect international instruments that regulate the relationship
among countries.

We denounce the violations of the freedom of expression and we

condemn that some media outlets have been closed, journalists have
been intimidated, along with censorship and threats being leveled
against universities and social organizations.

The Network strongly condemns the intensified political persecution

against leaders and militants of the Citizen Revolution Movement. We
denounce the encouragement of hatred, discrimination and the
criminalization of politics, used by the Government against those who
defend ideas related to progressivism, socialism, and other thinking to
improve the conditions of humanity.
We demand the immediate release of Prefect Paola Pabon, arrested
without any warrant or legal procedure; we demand as well the release
of Virgilio Hernandez, interim president of the Citizen Revolution
Movement, and we urge an end to the persecution and threats against
members of the parliament who have been forced to seek refuge in the
Embassy of Mexico. All those arrested are protected with constitutional
rights to disobedience and they must be released.

We call on the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights to

investigate, draft a report and issue a statement about the violations of
human rights of the Ecuadorean people, including the identification of
judicial abuses.  We urge corresponding reparations and compensations
for victims, their families, and communities. All practices undermining
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; hindering the
fulfillment of economic, social and cultural rights; or contrary to
protections established in the Universal Declaration, in instruments
protecting the indigenous peoples and in the Inter-American Convention
on Human rights, shall be identified and rectified.

We urge the U.N. Secretary General to foster the drafting of a report on

the infringement of democratic institutionalism and irregularities
underlying the violation of the rule of law caused under the Lenin
Moreno Administration during the last two years.

We stand on alert against the encouragement of xenophobia and

accusations issued against other countries by President Moreno himself,
arousing hostilities among sister nations and even backing the United
States’ intention to occupy the region and totally control its territories
and resources.

The Network in Defense of Humanity welcomes the achievements of the

Ecuadorean people, the indigenous movement, women, and people’s
organizations who altogether, bravely and firmly, peacefully and
heroically, managed to revoke Decree 883, which was intended to be
imposed by the Ecuadorean Government in collaboration with the IMF,
the two of them indifferent to the people’s suffering. We urge national
and international vigilance so as to prevent that this Decree is not
replaced by another with a different number but with the same contents.
Secretary of the Network of Intellectuals, Artists and Social Movements
in Defense of Humanity