Tens of thousands of indigenous people have been marching across Ecuador since last week to protest a wave of neoliberal economic measures that threaten to lock the country in a deepening cycle of inequality, corruption, environmental degradation, and natural resource extraction.
In response, the Ecuadorian Government has declared a State of Emergency, facilitating increased military and police violence, arbitrary detentions, and restrictions on freedom of association and mobility. Hundreds of indigenous protesters have been jailed, including Land is Life partner Marlon Santi, who was held overnight on Thursday of last week. We are alarmed by the deaths announced by CONAIE (Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador) and also by yesterday’s attack by governmental forces on the safe zones that were providing medical attention to the injured, and housing children and indigenous peoples. Human rights groups have issued reports citing widespread human rights violations.
By making a donation now, 100% of your donations will go to:
- Medicine, food and blankets to the tens of thousands of people arriving in Quito
- Legal costs to defend and free hundreds of indigenous protestors detained arbitrarily