Approaches to the criminalization of the Saraguro 29

OPEN LETTER AGAINST THE CRIMINALISATION OF THE SARAGURO 29

The actions of the so-called Justice system in our country have given free rein to the criminalization of social and community activists, particularly the legal proceedings that the Prosecutor's Office has brought against 29 comrades from Saraguro, who in their legitimate right to peacefully mobilize against extractive practices that affect their territories have been violated, arrested and subsequently prosecuted in an illegitimate, illegal and arbitrary manner.

The actions of judicial authorities who, based on false testimony and distorted evidence, hand down unjust and disproportionate sentences, which can only be explained in the context of discrimination and racism.

The cases of Luisa Lozano and Amable Angamarca, who on May 30 were unjustly sentenced to four years in prison for the alleged crime of paralyzing public services, are two notable examples.

This sentence was issued without taking into account the testimony of the accused and ignoring Article 98 of the Constitution of Ecuador, which states:

“Individuals and groups may exercise the right to resist actions or omissions by public authorities or by non-state natural or legal persons that violate or may violate their constitutional rights, and demand the recognition of new rights.”

In light of this situation, we propose:

1. Demand recognition of the indigenous justice system that declared the innocence of the prosecuted comrades, under the protection of the constitutional norm.

2. That a proper investigation be carried out into the events that occurred on August 17, 2015, taking into account the testimonies of the Saragura community and the evidence (photos and videos), which show police and military entering the homes of Saraguro in a violent and unlawful manner, leaving dozens of people injured, including children, pregnant women and the elderly. 3. Questioning the lack of independence of the judicial system, whose operators are subordinate to the orders of the executive to discipline the population and suppress social protest. Censure the judges who made this arbitrary ruling, because instead of being the guarantors of the rights of the accused and of due process, they have become accomplices of a patent injustice.

4. Solidarity with the social activists who are being illegally and abusively prosecuted by the Ecuadorian State; support for their families and friends.

5. Solidarity with the people of Saraguro, who continue to raise their voices to proclaim the right to resist and defend their territory and culture.