The Human Rights Actions Network
www.derechos.org/human-rights/actions/
ACTION REQUEST
Derechos Human Rights requests your immediate attention and action on the arbitrary detention and possible torture of more than 10 people, including members of the Otavalo Indigenous community in Ecuador. On February 12, 1998, members of the Ecuadorian army broke into the home of Servulo Rodrigo Tenorio, and arbitrarily detained him, taking him to an unknown location. More than 10 other people were detained and possibly tortured while detained at a military base, among them a member of the Huaycopungo indigenous community. Members of the Regional Foundation for Human Rights Aid, together with members of Derechos Human Rights, visited the Huaycopungo indigenous community and established that members of the Ecuadorian army went into the community wearing hoods and heavily armed in order to detain several indigenous people, accusing them of selling military uniforms. The detainees were held incommunicado for more than four days at a military base, where they were interrogated and reportedly tortured by the military. Under Ecuadorian law the Army is not allowed to arrest or hold civilians on military bases. Please send letters and/or faxes to the following addresses: - expressing concern at reports that the detainees have been arbitrarily detained, held incommunicado, and tortured - seeking assurances that those detained will be protected from further torture - requesting that those detained be transferred into the custody of civilian law enforcement and granted access to lawyers, medical care, and their families Addresses: General Ramiro Ricaurte Yanez Ministro de Defensa Ministerio de Defensa Quito Ecuador Dr. Fabian Alarcon Presidente de la Republica Palacio de Gobierno Quito Ecuador Fax: +593.2.580.735 Fax: +593.2.580.142 Fax: +593.2.580.750 Fax: +593.2.580.716 Telphone: +593.2.584.833 Fundacion Regional de Asesoria en Derechos Humanos http://www.derechos.org/inredh/ Derechos Human Rights http://www.derechos.org/
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