First modification:
The magistrate justified as legal the arrest of the president of the Conaie and released him during the early hours of Tuesday. However, he must report frequently to a competent authority and is prohibited from leaving the country. Meanwhile, Ecuador is experiencing the third consecutive day of protests against the economic policies of the Guillermo Lasso administration.
On the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, Judge Paola Bedón determined the conditional release of Leónidas Iza, the leader of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities (Conaie). The promoter of the mobilizations against the economic measures and the escalation of prices of the Government of Guillermo Lasso was accused of stopping the proper functioning of public services.
After denying the chance to enact preventive detention, the magistrate imposed alternative measures. For example, Iza was unable to leave the country and he must also appear periodically before the court on Wednesdays and Fridays. Bedón described the leader’s arrest as “legal.”
The judge, who conducted the hearing via videoconference, said that the paralysis of public services was evident, which is why Iza was detained in the Andean province of Cotopaxi.
“The alleged commission of crimes that affect the rights of Ecuadorian citizens is verified, including the right to mobility and free movement,” said the magistrate.
The formulation of charges was the responsibility of the prosecutor Marisela Yánez and the Prosecutor’s Office had requested preventive detention for investigation purposes, but it was rejected by the judge. However, Bedón ordered the prosecution against Iza for the alleged crime of paralysis of public services. The hearing will take place on July 4.
The defense stated that no consideration was given to the constitutional rights of the accused. Lawyer Carlos Poveda denounced that his client was detained arbitrarily and by force by the special groups of the Police and the Army.
Also that, during the time his whereabouts were unknown, his rights were not read to him when he was arrested and that he was kept incommunicado. In addition, Iza accused that he suffered aggression from the agents.
After his arrest, President Lasso justified the arrests by alleging vandalism, despite the fact that this did not appear in the ministers’ reports. “We cannot be victims of vandals who only want to create chaos,” he emphasized.
Third day of protests
The “national and indefinite” mobilization carried out by the indigenous continues and this Wednesday included the blocking of roads in various parts of the country, generating severe inconveniences in circulation, according to the Integrated Security Service FCU 911.
A curious situation occurred in Santa Rosa, in the south of the territory, where heavy transport units were affected by the cut and the carriers took advantage of the framework to join the indigenous protest.
Representatives of the ‘Man Truck’ group told the EFE agency that they are not part of the demonstrations, but that “it will gain more strength as the day goes by.” Truckers are calling for increased safety measures and improvements in fuel quality.
On the afternoon of last Tuesday members of Members of the Federation of University Students of Ecuador and other social groups marched in the streets of Quito and joined the indigenous mobilizations.
With EFE and local media
#Ecuadorian #judge #conditionally #releases #indigenous #leader #Leónidas #Iza