Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of an attack on human rights defender, Ms Rosa Etelvina Misacango Chuñir on 22 April 2009. Rosa Etelvina Misacango Chuñir is a member of the Frente de Mujeres Defensoras de la Pachamama (Women Defenders of the Pachamama Front), an organisation addressing the issue of challenges facing women as a result of mining projects.

Further Information

On 22 April 2009, approximatively at 7pm, Rosa Etelvina Misacango Chuñir was attacked both physically and verbally at her home in the neighbourhood '13 de Abril', of the parochial center of Molleturo.

Her attackers were identified as Raúl and Wilson Gutama, and their wives, Mayra and Isabel Gutama. The aforementioned group arrived to the human rights defender's home and started to insult her saying “Vaga, por vaga andas haciendo problema” (Lazy, for being lazy you are causing trouble), “no ves que las mineras van a traer trabajo” (can't you see that the mines are going to bring employment?), “vaga porque no tienes que hacer andas fastidiando” (Lazy, have you nothing better to do, you're annoying people).

They continued to force their way into her home and attacked her, and her son, physically in the presence of her two small grandchildren, aged 2 and 5, who were terrified by the attack on their grandmother and their father who attempted to defend his mother. The attackers kicked and punched Rosa Etelvina Misacango Chuñir and dragged her by the hair into the streets where the attack was halted by passers-by. As a result of the attack, the human rights defender has reported pain all over her body, and specifically to her left hand. She also has areas of swelling on her head as well as intense pain where they pulled her hair out. The following day she reported the attack to the Cuenca District Attorney General's office.

Members of Women Defenders of the Pachamama Front believe that this attack was directly related to Rosa Etelvina Misacango Chuñir's human rights work in the area, in particular her addressing the issue of challenges facing women as a result of mining projects. The attackers are all related to each other and individually are expecting to be offered work in the mining area, in particular with the company EcuadorGold.

This is not the first attack on members of Women Defenders of the Pachamama Front. On 25 December 2008, human rights defender Gloria Livia Jiménez Berrezueta, aged 50, was also verbally and physically assaulted in the parish of Victoria del Portete. Her attackers have still not been brought to justice.

Front Line is extremely concerned for the security of Rosa Etelvina Misacango Chuñir, Gloria Livia Jiménez Berrezueta and other members of Women Defenders of the Pachamama Front, and believes that these attacks are an attempt to sanction her legitimate work in defence of human rights in Ecuador.