HRF Sends Letter Denouncing Ecuador's Treatment of Prisoner of Conscience Guadalupe Llori; Correa's Government Responds

NEW YORK, NY (August 7, 2008) — Reports from Ecuador confirm that Guadalupe Llori, who has been illegally detained for 8 months in Quito’s El Inca prison, is being mistreated and humiliated by prison custodians.

In a letter sent earlier this week to Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa Delgado, the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) denounced the physical and psychological abuse of Llori, who has been subjected to beatings, degrading treatment, and forced labor.

Llori, the former governor of the province of Orellana, has been alternately held on charges of terrorism and of embezzlement. Both her lawyer and local human rights organizations maintain that none of the charges have ever been proven, nor can they be substantiated by evidence. It is important to note that Llori was granted amnesty from the Ecuadorian Constituent Assembly on March 14 for the initial charges of terrorism, due to lack of incriminating evidence.

Llori has been cruelly beaten by prison guards for failing to give them her personal belongings. Guards awaken Llori early in the morning, standing over her as she is forced to scrub the prison floors, scraping off discarded chewing gum from other inmates. The guards encourage the other inmates to pick fights with her.

Llori is also being held incommunicado, prohibited from seeing her family.

These punishments have created much anxiety and stress for Llori. She has developed hypertension, for which she is currently undergoing psychological treatment.

According to Article 1 of the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, “torture means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions.”

In its letter, HRF demands that President Correa cease the cruel treatment of Llori and reminds him that the Ecuadorian state could be held internationally responsible for torture, if these human rights abuses are proven.

Ecuador’s Minister of Justice responded to HRF’s accusations by saying that Llori’s human rights are being guaranteed.

HRF has substantial information to the contrary: "HRF believes that the government of Ecuador is depriving Guadalupe Llori of her most fundamental human rights, among them, her right to physical integrity. We will continue investigating Llori’s case and, if the violations continue, will exercise all available international legal recourses," said Sarah Wasserman, chief operating officer of the HRF.

HRF is an international nonpartisan organization devoted to defending human rights in the Americas. It centers its work on the twin concepts of freedom of self-determination and freedom from tyranny. These ideals include the belief that all human beings have the rights to speak freely, to associate with those of like mind, and to leave and enter their countries. Individuals in a free society must be accorded equal treatment and due process under law, and must have the opportunity to participate in the governments of their countries; HRF’s ideals likewise find expression in the conviction that all human beings have the right to be free from arbitrary detainment or exile and from interference and coercion in matters of conscience. HRF’s International Council includes former prisoners of conscience Vladimir Bukovsky, Palden Gyatso, Armando Valladares, Ramón J. Velásquez, Elie Wiesel, and Harry Wu.

Contact: Thor Halvorssen, Human Rights Foundation, (212) 246.8486, info@thehrf.org