Solidarity Statement from Amigos de la Tierra América Latina y el Caribe (ATALC)

Amigos de la Tierra América Latina y el Caribe (Friends of the Earth Latin America and the Caribbean) expresses solidarity with the Ecuadorian people in the face of the violations of their human rights and the repression of peaceful mobilization and protest, which are being perpetrated by the far-right government of President Noboa.

The claims and demands of the Ecuadorian organizations and social movements in response to the unjust policies and setbacks in the guarantee of rights are legitimate in light of the government’s failures to fulfill its obligations and the impositions of measures that go against the will of the primary constituent body. For example, the attempt by presidential decree to impose the return of Ecuador to the mechanisms of international arbitration, even though it was rejected by the people in the referendum held in 2024, constitutes a clear expression of authoritarianism and disregard of the constitutional and legal order of the country. The increase of the cost of gasoline, and therefore of the costs of living for the Ecuadorian people, in order to satisfy the demands of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), represents a guarantee of impunity for International Financial Institutions and their transnational agents that profit from impositions that favor the private sector and the accumulation of capital at the expanse of the rights of Ecuadorians.

In the context of a legitimate exercise of peaceful social protest, the Ecuadorian people have been harshly repressed, resulting in one person being murdered and hundreds being injured as well as being imprisoned. This represents a clear policy of criminalization through a combination of different forms of violence. Freedom of speech has been reduced and threatened, several journalists have been deported from the country and the communication media of the indigenous movements have been shut down.

We are also aware of the persecution suffered by social organizations that have historically fought for access to justice, truth, full reparation for victims and affected people, as well as a guarantee of non-repetition, considering the impunity with which companies like Chevron act. The persecution actions include selective surveillance of leaders, intimidation, interceptions and the implementation of criminalization systems attempting to silence the voice of the people in order to impose policies against acquired rights. Social leaders that have been detained are being unjustly accused and prosecuted for terrorism. ATALC calls the government of Ecuador to end the violence and repression, to guarantee the right to peaceful protest and mobilization and to stop imposing measures that go against the popular decisions resulting from the referendum organized by the very same government. We call on the international community on the social organizations and movements to express solidarity and speak up against the governmental strategy that seeks to disable the action of the social organizations and movements through laws on foreign agents that involve registration requirements, restrictions on the reception of financial contributions and limitations on territorial support actions for the communities that have been subjected to injustice and repression, among other on-going anti-democratic measures. Enough repression against the people’s fair demands.