A dead protester is the result of police repression in Ecuador

Published at: 28/09/2025 04:17 PM

The social crisis in Ecuador dramatically escalated this Sunday when an indigenous protester was confirmed killed by a bullet in the province of Imbabura, in the context of the anti-government protests that are seven days old.

The Regional Human Rights Advisory Foundation (Inredh) reported the death of Efraín Fueres, an indigenous community member who died in a hospital after being injured in Cotacachi. The organization categorically rejected the lethal and illegitimate use of force and demanded an immediate investigation to determine responsibility for the crime.

The Foundation's complaint comes amid reports of strong military and police repression in rural areas. The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (Conaie), which maintains the call for a national strike, reported that during the night and early morning, a security convoy entered communities such as Ilumán and Cotacachi, using tear gas bombs and live ammunition. In addition, one more person remains in serious condition because of the violence, according to Inredh.

According to Telesur, the serious situation of violence generated a wave of international alerts against the Government of Daniel Noboa. Gina Romero, UN special rapporteur on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, expressed deep concern. The official denounced that the Ecuadorian Executive “seems to have launched a persecution against civil society”, warning of the excessive use of force and the arbitrary arrests of the demonstrators.

The UN statement extended to the demobilization tactics used by the Government. Romero described the freezing of indigenous leaders' bank accounts as “harassment not aligned with international standards.” In addition to the condemnation, the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues also urged Noboa to guarantee freedom of expression, the right to peaceful assembly and due process for the hundred detainees who, according to official figures, are being held in custody.

For his part, President Noboa maintains an immovable position, reiterating in an interview with Ecuavisa that “the Police and the Army will be responsible for restoring order”. The president justified the repression by asserting that the protest ceased to be social, arguing that there are intelligence reports that link the demonstrators to illegal mining, to organized crime.

Mazo News Team