FIRST REPORT, MONDAY 20

Human Rights Watch
First Report
12h00

Cañar, 09h00 in the morning. In Panamericana Cuenca Street - Loja, the entrance to Nabon around 600 people met and were repimanded by the National Police who used tear gas bombs against the protesteres, in the middle of the group of protesters were children, young people and women. No one was arrested.

In the region Pedro Moncayo, San Juan Loma. At approximately 10:45h in the morning, three protesters were arrested: José Cascota, Alfredo Cavascango y Galvino Cavascango. We received additional information that Franciso Farinango, a reporter, was also arrested in Cayambe at approximately 11h00 in the morning. The whereabouts of the detainees are unknown
National Police impede the progress of the indigenous people to Quito: 5 buses with groups of indigenous protesters from Imbabura where halted in their progress to El Arbolito Park. They were intercepted at Rumiñahui Stadium. The uniformed officers began to take the indigenous people prisoners when they exited the buses, without more of an argument other than pretending that the indigenous peoples had been responsible for "acts of violence" which violated the peoples' rights to a peaceful protest. The five buses are being escorted by the National Police to Quito.
Pisalqui-Otavalo. Entrance to Cotopaxi. People experienced repression by aproximately 200 police officers who threw tear gas bombs at the approximately 1,000 people who had gathered in a peaceful meeting. We have learned that five people have been arrested but at this time thier names and whereabouts are unknown.
Armenia – Nanegalito: Approximately 40 people of the province of Intag have met in Calacali road. At La Indipendencia, a small community along the road the movement met with violent reprimands from members of the National Police. We do not know if anyone was injured by police violence.

Imbabura: At the end of this report we know that 4 police have been injured in Imbabura and are being transported in an ambulance to quito.
Report of the Human Rights Watch
Anaité VargasAPDH del EcuadorTelefax: (593-2) 2569823Email: anaite@apdh.ecWeb: www.apdh.ec