Ecuador: The Federation of High School Students of Ecuador (Federacion de Estudiantes Secundarios del Ecuador); its activities in a May 2000 general work stoppage and the treatment of its members by authorities, particularly in the city of Azogues
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 25 November 2002 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ECU39694.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ecuador: The Federation of High School Students of Ecuador (Federacion de Estudiantes Secundarios del Ecuador); its activities in a May 2000 general work stoppage and the treatment of its members by authorities, particularly in the city of Azogues , 25 November 2002, ECU39694.E , available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3f7d4d8e26.html [accessed 4 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Sources indicate that the Federation of High School Students of Ecuador (Federacion de Estudiantes Secundarios del Ecuador, FESE) is a student-based organization involved in the defence of student rights and state-subsidized education, and that it "contributed significantly to the downfall in 1966 of the military junta, which had abolished university autonomy and student-faculty government" (1UpInfo n.d.; Juventud Revolucionaria del Ecuador n.d.). In addition, the FESE is also active in defending the rights of the general public and is currently "fighting" (luchando) against the privatization of education (ibid.).
According to the FESE's Website, the current national president of the FESE is Paul Velasquez, and the National Secretary is Cristian Coral (n.d.). An article of 19 January 2000 stated that Richard Hurtado was president of the FESE, while other leaders were Gerardo Marcillo, Bolivar Galarza, and Paul Velez (El Defensor).
No references to a work stoppage in Azogues nor to the treatment of FESE members in that city could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, 1 May 2000 was a day of protests commemorating May Day in Ecuador (The Militant 15 May 2000). Although the article states that the FESE participated in demonstrations held in Quito, no mention is made of Azogues, nor to the police disrupting or intervening in the demonstrations (ibid.).
The following provides information about the treatment of FESE members by security forces.
In a report of 19 January 2000, leaders of the FESE stated that in recent demonstrations, members of the "public force (fuerza publica) had brutally repressed student protestors using tear gas and bullets, while others were "unjustly arrested" (detenidos injustamente) (El Defensor). In addition, FESE leaders told the Ombudsman (Defensor Adjunto Primero), Dr. Ruben Chavez del Pozo, that the military constituted a "threat" (ameneza) to students protesting in the streets (El Defensor 19 Jan. 2000).
In another article, Amnesty International reprimanded Ecuadoran authorities in the shooting death of Damian Patricio Pena Bonilla, president of the Cuenca chapter of the FESE during 11 January 2002 street demonstrations in Cuenca (AI 17 Jan. 2002). Moreover, Amnesty International expressed concern over reports that students arrested during the demonstrations in Cuenca (among them Cesar Guaman, the FESE president of Azuay province) had been tortured and beaten while in custody (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
1UpInfo. n.d. "Ecuador: Students." Amnesty International (AI). 17 January 2002. "Ecuador: Las autoridades deben respetar los derechos de los manifestantes." El Defensor [Quito]. 19 January 2000. "FESE acude a la Defensoria del Pueblo." Federacion de Estudiantes Secundarios del Ecuador (FESE). n.d. "Federacion de Estudiantes Secundarios del Ecuador." Juventud Revolucionaria del Ecuador. n.d. "Federacion de Estudiantes Secundarios del Ecuador." The Militant. 15 May 2000. Hilda Cuzco and Juan Villagomez. "Ecuador Marches [to] Protest Dollarization." Additional Sources Consulted
IRB databases
Internet sites:
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
Diario La Hora [Quito]
El Comercio [Quito]
El Universo [Guayaquil]
Hoy [Quito]
Human Rights Watch (HRW)
La Haine
La Liga Antimperialista
Rebelion Internacional
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