Cablegate: Human Rights Activist Detained by Military
VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHQT #1624 1842015
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 032015Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY QUITO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4754
INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA PRIORITY 5758
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 1847
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ JUL 9929
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 0727
RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL PRIORITY 0773
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
UNCLAS QUITO 001624
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV MOPS EC
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST DETAINED BY MILITARY
1. (U) Summary: Human Rights activist Wilman Adolfo Jimenez
Salazar was detained by the military on June 19 in Payamino,
Orellana province. He is charged with violating the state of
emergency and was held incommunicado until June 26. Amnesty
International considers Jimenez to be a prisoner of
conscience. Ecuadorian human rights activists fear future
mistreatment and a civil court has requested jurisdiction
from the military to try the case. Provincial leaders are
striking for Jimenez's release and the lifting of the state
of emergency. Defense Minister Oswaldo Jarrin defended the
detention as justified under the state of emergency declared
in Orellana province since March. End Summary.
2. (U) Wilman Jimenez Salazar, a member of the Orellana
Human Rights Committee, was arrested in Payamino near Coca,
the provincial capitol of Orellana province, on June 19 while
protesting with peasant communities from Payamino and taking
photos to document any police abuses. He is accused of
throwing rocks at police, though human rights activists deny
this. Police and military used tear gas and rubber bullets
to break up the demonstration. During the protest Jimenez
reportedly received six rubber bullet wounds and another man
was also injured.
3. (U) After his arrest, Jimenez was taken to Coca's Public
Hospital for medical treatment and then to Coca's Judicial
Police Station. Human rights activists went to the police
station on June 19 and were given Jimenez's camera and
personal belongings. When they returned the next day they
were told that he had been transferred to a military brigade
in Pastaza province. The same day, a habeas corpus writ was
filed on his behalf and granted by the civil court but
rejected by the military, which has jurisdiction under the
state of emergency decree. Until June 26, no one was allowed
to visit Jimenez despite the Sucumbios District Attorney's
order of a medical examination on June 21.
4. (U) After an urgent action appeal sent by Amnesty
International, Jimenez was allowed to see family and his
lawyer on June 26. He is being attended to by a military
doctor, according to human rights contacts. Once access was
granted to his lawyer, Jimenez did not allege torture or
mistreatment but the military will not permit an outside
doctor to assess his condition according to human rights
contacts. A civil court submitted a request to try the case
and Gonzalo Mesa, commander of the fourth army division in
the region, said that he would answer within two weeks. In
the meantime Jimenez will be held in a military facility.
5. (U) David Cordero of the Ecumenical Commission on Human
Rights (CEDHU) told us on June 30 that public opinion may
pressure the military to hand the case over to a civil court.
Cordero worried that a military trial would not be impartial
and that torture could occur during further interrogation.
Jimenez, a civilian, can be tried by a military court under
Ecuador's National Security Law. Cordero stated that
although the protest took place within the oil installations,
reports of violence were exaggerated by authorities to
justify their actions. He claimed that no damage had
occurred to property.
6. (U) A moving strike led by the Mayor of Coca and the
Prefect (US governor-equivalent) of Orellana province began
on June 28 and has continued for two days. Strikers mounted
mobile roadblocks on rural roads, demanding an end to the
state of emergency and the release of Jimenez.
7. (U) Minster of Defense General Oswaldo Jarrin defended
the detention in a June 30 radio interview. Jimenez had
violated the emergency decree which limits freedom of
assembly and suspends habeas corpus. He said that "in a
state of emergency, no activist... has the right to use
violence, to assault, to raid a privately owned oil
installation." Jimenez attempted to damage private property
and will not be released, he said.
JEWELL