Ecuador: Indigenous Activists Free 30 Soldiers

​Thirty military members were released by Indigenous activists in an Ecuadorean canton Thursday after they tried to prevent protesters from taking over communication facilities.  

The Indigenous Movement of Tungurahua, an Andean province 140 kilometers south of the capital, Quito, freed the soldiers after detaining them for a few hours in a community center on Thursday morning.

The soldiers had been detained when trying to prevent protesters from taking over the transmission antennas of various radio and television media of this province.

Indigenous leaders said they had planned to disrupt the transmission of a weekly televised program in which President Rafael Correa addresses the nation.

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According to one of the detained soldiers, they decided to approach the protest peacefully and not use tear gas to prevent any harm from coming to the protesters, particularly women and children who were present at the site.

Upon the soldiers´ release, Indigenous leaders read out their demands, including the liberation of detainees who were arrested during violent protests, the revoking a constitutional amendment that could allow Correa's re-election, and the continuation of gas subsidies.

Member of the National Assembly, Betty Carillo, approached the community to initiate dialogue with them.

"I considered my presence in this place necessary to inform what the government is doing and clarify doubts. I'm not afraid to be here because I know that the people are good,” Carillo said according news agency El Telegrafo.

Both Indigenous leaders and soldiers affirmed the detainees were not mistreated.