Ecuador: Disappearance and death of human rights worker

ECU 002 / 9812 / OBS 088
Disappearance and death
ECUADOR
11 December 1998

    The Observatory for the Protection of Human 
    Rights Defenders, an FIDH and OMCT venture, 
    requests your URGENT intervention in the 
    following situation in Ecuador.
    
    Brief description of the situation
    
    The Observatory has been informed by the 
    Comisión Ecuménica de Derechos Humanos 
    (CEDHU) and the Confederación Ecuatoriana de 
    Organizaciones Clasistas Unitarias de Trabajadores 
    (CEDOCUT) of the enforced disappearance and 
    subsequent death of the Cooperative Movement 
    Secretary, (executive member of the Confederation) 
    Mr. Saul Filormo Cañar Pauta.
    
    According to the reports, on Thursday 26 
    November 1998, at around 13:30, Mr. Saul Filormo 
    Cañar Pauta left the Welfare Ministry, in Quito, 
    after doing some administrative tasks. Apparently 
    he had to go to the Housing Cooperative 14 de 
    Enero but he never arrived there.
        
    The CEDHU and the CEDOCUT as well as his 
    family have made inquiries about his whereabouts 
    from police and military facilities, detention centers 
    and hospitals without result.  According to the 
    information received, on 3 December 1998, some 
    phone calls were received at the Housing 
    Cooperative and at the house of one of his 
    companions.  According to these phone calls, he 
    was in an abandoned houses in the suburbs of 
    Quito.  The information turned out to be false.
    
    On 3 December 1998, Mr. Saul Filormo Cañar 
    Pauta's corpse was found at a trash disposal.  The 
    corpse had marks of torture, including mutilation.  
    On 7 December 1998, the corpse was identified by 
    his family.
    
    According to the CEDHU and the CEDOCUT, this 
    event coincides with the launching of joint anti -
    criminal operations by the police and the military. 
    According to the police, these operations stepped 
    up during the last few days, due to the alleged 
    presence of new subversive groups in the country.  
    It is further reported that several persons were 
    detained in connection with this operation.
    
    Action requested
    
    Please write to the authorities of Ecuador urging 
    them to :
    
    i.	carry out a thorough and impartial investigation 
    into the forced disappearance, torture and death of 
    Mr. Saul Filormo Cañar Pauta., in order to determine 
    responsibility and bring them to trial applying the 
    appropriate penal, civil and/or administrative 
    sanctions provided by the law;
    
    ii.	ensure adequate compensation and reparation 
    to the family's victim;
    
    iii.	ensure the effective respect of human rights 
    and fundamental liberties in accordance with 
    international human rights standards.
    
    Addresses
    
    Dr. Jamil Mahuad, Presidente de Gobierno, Fax (+ 
    00593-2) 58 07 35 
    
    Dra. Ana Lucía Armijos, Ministra de Gobierno y 
    Policía, Quito,
    Ecuador. Fax  (+ 593-2) 58 00 67   
    
    Diplomatic representatives acredited to your 
    country.
    
    Geneva- Paris, 11 December 1998

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