200 Indigenous Began Protesting for Their Leaders

Today about 200 indigenous protested in the Ecuadorian capital to demand the release of their three Shuar leaders, detained since last week in the Amazon region.

The protest, led by the President of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE), Marlon Santi, covered about 20 blocks from El Arbolito park, located in north downtown of Quito until the Provincial Court of Justice.

Indigenous people demand the release of Pepe Acacho, Pedro, Pedro Mashiant, and Fidel Kaniras who were linked to the death of the Shuar Professor Bosco Wisum, who died from a gun shot in 2009 during clashes between police and indigenous people who were rejecting a draft State law on water management in 2010.

Coordinator of the Pachakutik party, Rafael Antuni told Sonorama radio that the three were taken to Quito when they should be prosecuted in the courts of Morona Santiago.

Through a newsletter, the Indigenous union Ecuarunari, appealed to the solidarity and support for social sectors to seek habeas corpus to the Provincial Court of Justice, whose hearing was held in the Labour Court, located on the third floor, in La Pradera and Diego de Almagro Streets near the FLACSO.

Tito Puanchir , president of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of the Ecuadorian Amazon Region (Cofeniae), also called for the solidarity of the social sectors, teachers, and students in order to protest against the arrest of 189 people of their union members.

Source: AP