Defiant protesters in Ecuador parade captured police amid deadly unrest

QUITO, Oct 11, 2019, The Guardian. Indigenous protesters in Ecuador paraded a group of captured police officers on stage in a brazen show of defiance to the government of Lenin Moreno, as protests against austerity-measures dragged into a second week, reported the South China Morning Post.

Eight uniformed officers were brought onto a stage Thursday and forced to address a crowd of thousands of activists who have occupied the Casa de Cultura theatre in the capital Quito. A group of journalists was also temporarily prevented from leaving the theatre.

The officers looked scared but were not physically harmed as they were asked to remove their helmets, bullet proof vests and boots. The lone female officer in the group was seen wiping away tears.
The police were later released, unharmed.

Jaime Vargas, leader of the indigenous confederation Conaie called on the officers to join opposition protesters in their campaign against the removal of fuel subsidies which has triggered Ecuador ’s worst unrest in a decade.

“We’re going to radicalise with more force, my friends,” said Vargas, before sending a direct message to the president: “Don’t play with indigenous people”.

Vargas, complained that media coverage of the protests had ignored police brutality, before calling local television crews on stage and ordering that they broadcast live.

At least three private broadcasters complied, as indigenous and trade union leaders took it in turn to address the crowd. But the mood turned violent as local TV reporter was attacked by a mob as he tried to leave the building. Other activists attempted to defend the journalist but he was left unconscious and bleeding from the head.

Thousands of protesters from across the country – many in traditional indigenous dress – have descended on the capital to protest Moreno’s austerity measures.

Violence has flared across the country as demonstrators clashed with police, looted shops and blocked motorways.

Nearly 800 people have been arrested and hundreds injured.

Ecuador’s human rights ombudsman’s office said an indigenous leader and four other people have died. But a spokesman for the president’s office said on Thursday that only two people had died in the clashes.

Jose Valencia, Ecuador’s foreign minister, said the government wants dialogue but will not negotiate under the threat of violence and vandalism.

“This is an extremely critical situation which is not a decision of the indigenous leaders – we trust their word,” he said.

“We have evidence that this is the result of calls by opposition leaders to use violence, to take control of public institutions and roads and attack the forces of order with violence,” he said.

He denied reports that police had used excessive force he said they had followed “strict protocols [which were] drawn up under international norms”.

Valencia said around two dozen foreigners, including Venezuelans, had been arrested.

Moreno, 66, has accused his predecessor and one-time mentor Rafael Correa of fomenting the unrest. He has also accused Venezuela of backing a plot to topple his government, without providing evidence.

Additional reporting by DPA

Tags: Ecuador