Ecuador: Authorities misuse judicial system to stop protests (Amnesty International)
Ecuador’s judicial system is being used by the authorities to clamp down on indigenous and campesino leaders in what appears to be a deliberate attempt to prevent them from protesting against projects that will affect their environment and lands, said Amnesty International in a new report today.
The report ‘So that no one can demand anything’ Criminalizing the right to protest in Ecuador? explores the stories of 24 leaders targeted with what appear to be unfounded charges, arbitrary arrests and strict bail conditions simply for campaigning against laws and polices on the use of natural resources.
They have faced a total of 20 charges of terrorism, 10 charges of sabotage, four charges of blocking roads, and one charge of homicide – all of which are related to protests that took place in 2009 and 2010. In many instances, charges and arrests have been dismissed by judges as baseless. Nevertheless, at the time of writing, eight of the 24 were still under investigation, involved in court proceedings or subject to bail restrictions. None are currently imprisoned.
“The fact that 24 leaders faced questionable charges in an 18-month period demonstrates a worrying pattern, which is having a chilling effect on entire communities that now think twice before voicing legitimate concerns against measures that affect them,” said Tamaryn Nelson, Ecuador researcher at Amnesty International ...
http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/ecuador-authorities-misuse-judicial-system-stop-protests-2012-07-17
