Human rights organization points out that the president of Ecuador does not guarantee a safe environment for social leaders

The Alliance of Organizations for Human Rights indicated that the statements of President Guillermo Lasso against the President of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE), Leonidas Iza, constitute a breach of his duty. This is because a safe environment is not respected or guaranteed for defenders of human, collective and nature rights.

🔴 #Atención | @DDHH_Alianza asevera que declaraciones del presidente @LassoGuillermo contra el presidente de @CONAIE_Ecuador, @LeonidasIzaSal1, constituyen “incumplimiento de su deber de respetar y garantizar un entorno seguro para la labor de defensores/as de derechos humanos”. pic.twitter.com/KmeqPzGUpQ

— Radio Pichincha (@radio_pichincha) December 22, 2021

This statement comes after the president, in an interview, referred to Iza in derogatory terms, accusing him of various crimes, and threatening to put him in jail.

“Leonidas Iza is an anarchist. He hates democracy. He hates the institutionality of Ecuador. He is efficient at setting public buildings on fire. He is efficient in promoting the kidnapping of journalists and policemen. He is efficient in sending someone to throw a stone in the back, in a cowardly way, at a journalist, as they did in October 2019 (…) (Iza) ends up with his bones in jail, because there is no alternative if they want to anarchize this country, “said President Lasso.

Given these words, the Alliance indicates that it is a violent and contemptuous speech, which stigmatizes the work of social and political leaders, and social and indigenous movements.

“It attacks Leonidas Iza in an unfounded and reckless way (…) and reduces the processes of resistance, decided collectively and democratically within the organizations, to mere individual actions. By attacking the leadership, obviously, it seeks to send an intimidating message to the entire community, “the statement said.

In addition, the text indicates that President Lasso is not the competent authority to send anyone to jail. Nor threaten to deploy state violence against those who defend human rights and disagree with “arbitrary, abusive and unconstitutional” policies.

The statement adds that the interview with President Lasso began with a business portfolio promotion, Ecuador Open for Business. She promotes extractive, hydrocarbon and mining activities. “For this reason, we warn that in this context, the government’s announcements of repression would be related to giving way to extractive activities to the detriment of defenders of nature,” says the text.