In the following we want to publish a unofficial translation of a statement by Frente de Defensa de Luchas del Pueblo (Front of Defense of People's Struggles):
The Frente de Defensa de las Luchas del Pueblo del Ecuador (Front of Defense of People's Struggles of Ecuador) demands the immediate release of comrade Cristian Montero. Comrade Cristian, together with the peasant masses, has been developing a firm struggle against large-scale mining in the provinces of Cotopaxi, Bolívar and Los Ríos. The struggle, which was carried out by the peasant masses in these provinces, adheres to the slogan that the struggle against large-scale mining is a struggle for land, a fundamental demand of the poor peasantry. The land for those who work it, not for the large estate owners, much less for the mining companies.
In the same way comrade Cristian played an important and legitimate role in the peasant-popular uprising of October last year. It is precisely for having been at the forefront of the poor peasants in Los Ríos province against the methods of deliverance and of IMF pleasing of the Moreno regime, that he has been arbitrarily detained today, without any legal basis, by the repressive State apparatus.
The workers and poor peasants demand his immediate release and hold government minister Paula Romo responsible for the physical and psychological well-being of the comrade. The regime has skinny dreams if it considers that by persecuting and imprisoning the fighters for land it will constrain or limit the growing popular protest; on the contrary, repression fuels the rebellion of the poor peasants.
NOTHING AND NO ONE WILL BE ABLE TO STOP THE GREAT WORKER-PEASANT STORM!
THE STRUGGLE AGAINST MINING IS A STRUGGLE FOR LAND!
IMMEDIATE FREEDOM FOR COMRADE CRISTIAN MONTERO!
LONG LIVE THE AGRARIAN REVOLUTION!