Defiant protesters in Ecuador parade captured police amid deadly unrest
- Eight uniformed officers were brought onto a stage and forced to address a crowd of thousands of activists but were not harmed
Indigenous protesters in Ecuador paraded a group of captured police officers on stage in a brazen show of defiance to the government of Lenin Moreno, as protests against austerity-measures dragged into a second week.
Eight uniformed officers were brought onto a stage Thursday and forced to address a crowd of thousands of activists who have occupied the Casa de Cultura theatre in the capital Quito. A group of journalists was also temporarily prevented from leaving the theatre.
The officers looked scared but were not physically harmed as they were asked to remove their helmets, bullet proof vests and boots. The lone female officer in the group was seen wiping away tears.
The police were later released, unharmed.
Jaime Vargas, leader of the indigenous confederation Conaie called on the officers to join opposition protesters in their campaign against the removal of fuel subsidies which has triggered Ecuador ’s worst unrest in a decade.