Political persecution and human rights violations have intensified in the post-election days, REDH stated.

On Wednesday, the Network of Intellectuals and Artists in Defense of Humanity (REDH) expressed its concern over the political situation prevailing in Ecuador following the second round of presidential elections, which resulted in the reelection of President Daniel Noboa.

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More specifically, REDH referred to the political persecution that members and supporters of the leftist Citizen Revolution movement are experiencing, as denounced by former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa. Below is the full statement issued by the Network of Intellectuals:

“In a militarized context, amid internal armed conflict and under a State of Emergency declared by the candidate-president Daniel Noboa 24 hours before the militarized elections held on April 13, political persecution and human rights violations have intensified in the post-election days.

A list of 100 individuals has been publicly barred from leaving the country. This list includes the presidential ticket of Luisa Gonzalez and Diego Borja, the campaign team of the Citizen Revolution Movement, as well as leaders of that movement, local authorities, journalists, and others.

Furthermore, following statements by the president about putting an end to ‘Correismo,’ what is emerging is not only an expression of political authoritarianism aimed at suppressing the opposition, but also a real threat to the lives and safety of adherents and supporters of the Citizen Revolution Movement—which, electorally speaking, involves around half of the country.

Moreover, the use of non-state actors, such as the case of the mercenary Erik Prince, with whom the president has signed a ‘strategic agreement,’ violates the rights-based constitutional framework, which establishes democratic procedures for any action involving the citizenry.

In an environment where citizens’ fundamental rights are suspended, serious threats—such as the one made against the life of journalist Orlando Perez—demonstrate that in Ecuador, the rights to freedom of opinion and thought are being trampled, along with freedoms related to journalistic activity. This also affects the public’s right to access diverse information.

In light of the above:

1. We call upon international organizations and defenders of democracy and human rights to ensure Ecuador’s return to constitutional order, democratic institutions, the full enforcement of rights and freedoms, and an end to all authoritarian actions.

2. We urge an end to the belligerent actions and the hate campaign promoted by the government of Daniel Noboa and echoed by many media outlets, which stigmatizes the opposition, fosters an increase in intimidating actions committed with impunity by security forces, and incites hostility in society.

3. We call on the government to adhere to the democratic principles enshrined in the Constitution and legislation. The recurring emergency decrees undermine democratic rule. Decree 599, issued in the context of the election without any extraordinary event justifying the suspension of fundamental rights, must be immediately repealed. This decree contradicts legal doctrine and international norms, which establish that states of emergency must not affect political rights or democratic processes—such as the current electoral and post-electoral context.

4. We demand the immediate restoration of the freedom of assembly, the right to free movement, the inviolability of one’s home, and other rights that have been violated in a manner reminiscent only of dictatorial regimes. We particularly urge the reinstatement of the right to the inviolability of correspondence and the cessation of the obligation to ‘collaborate,’ which pressures telecommunications and related service providers to hand over correspondence, data, and personal or institutional information to law enforcement agencies.

Ecuador deserves to live in democracy and to return to being a state of peace.”

teleSUR/ JF

Source: REDH

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