The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

Minister's trial for repression begins in Ecuador in 2019

2020-11-25T16:52:38.069Z


The political trial of the Minister of Government, María Paula Romo, begins in Ecuador for the repression of protests in October 2019


Ecuador: what are the protests looking for?

2:53

(CNN Spanish) -

This Tuesday, the political trial against the Minister of Government, María Paula Romo, began in a virtual way in the Ecuadorian Assembly, for alleged breach of functions during the protests registered in October 2019.

The grounds for this impeachment, according to the Assembly Supervision Commission, which led to the prosecution, have to do with the use of expired tear gas canisters and police repression in centers that housed the protesters.

In responding to the accusations, Minister Romo defended the actions of the Police in the protests and the operational instructions given in that context.

"It is dangerous for democracy to question the legitimacy of the Police to impose order according to the law," said Romo.

He insisted that the raison d'être of the police is "to respond to violence" and not to become a police "indifferent to chaos and anarchy."

In addition, he expressed his rejection of social sectors that carried out kidnappings and retention of people against their will during the demonstrations.

Romo did not deny the possibility that expired tear gas bombs were used on their expiration date.

However, he assured that they were within a margin allowed by the manufacturer of the same to be used.

advertising

One of the assembly members questioning this impeachment, Amapola Naranjo, said that the protests left pain, injuries and deaths.

"The evidence shows that the police went out to provoke and break up the peaceful demonstrations," Naranjo added.

"This trial is for the systematic violations of the minister against the human rights of citizens," he emphasized.

1 of 10

|

Protesters throw objects at police officers Tuesday in Quito, Ecuador's capital.

(RODRIGO BUENDIA / AFP via Getty Images)

2 of 10

|

Protesters drag a tree through the streets of Quito amid the protests.

Thousands of people came out on Tuesday to protest in the streets of the capital.

(RODRIGO BUENDIA / AFP via Getty Images)

3 of 10

|

A riot policeman fires a tear gas canister at protesters gathered around the National Assembly headquarters in Quito.

(MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP via Getty Images)

4 of 10

|

A riot police officer kicks a tear gas canister away from the horse of a mounted police officer.

(MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP via Getty Images)

5 of 10

|

A soldier fires tear gas to disperse the protesters surrounding the National Assembly.

(MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP via Getty Images)

6 of 10

|

A protester in front of the National Assembly amid the protests.

(MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP via Getty Images)

7 of 10

|

Hundreds of protesters surrounding the National Assembly in Quito were dispersed by the police, who fired tear gas.

(MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP via Getty Images)

8 of 10

|

Riot police confront protesters in Quito.

(RODRIGO BUENDIA / AFP via Getty Images)

9 of 10

|

A soldier covers his face during protests in the Ecuadorian capital.

(MARTIN BERNETTI / AFP via Getty Images)

10 of 10

|

Protesters with masks around the headquarters of the National Assembly in Quito.

(RODRIGO BUENDIA / AFP via Getty Images)

Lenín Moreno defends Minister María Paula Romo

In his Twitter account, President Lenín Moreno defended the actions of Minister Romo during the protests of October 2019. “The effective work that María Paula Romo carried out in the terrible days of October 2019 must be recognized.

His actions managed to maintain the political and social stability of the country.

He defended democracy and Ecuadorians and continues to do so every day, "said the president.

In her intervention, Minister Romo affirmed that the events of October 2019 left damage in the historic center of Quito, police were injured and burned, seizure of oil wells, seizure of 8 governorates, momentary seizure of the Assembly, attack on a military barracks, kidnapping of police and journalists, fire in the Comptroller's Office, attacks on the media, robberies in shopping centers, attacks in neighborhoods of Quito, closed roads, ambulances attacked, police units destroyed, flights canceled and more than 820 million dollars in economic losses for Ecuador.

To achieve the censure and dismissal of Minister Romo in this political trial, the votes of at least 91 of the 137 assembly members are required.

The protests in October 2019 originated after the elimination of the gasoline subsidy and negotiations with the International Monetary Fund.

According to the Ministry of Government, nine people lost their lives.

Source: cnnespanol

All news articles on 2020-11-25

You may like

News/Politics 2024-02-16T11:40:23.213Z

Trends 24h

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.