Quito Police Brutally Repress Marchers

Quito, Apr 5 (Prensa Latina) Ecuadorian police viciously overpowered thousands of indigenous people who came to Quito to exhibit their products, which would disappear if the country signs the free trade agreement with the United States.

Pedro de la Cruz, from Ecuador's Federation of Farmers and Negroes (FENOCIN), denounced the brutal repression against his comrades, who have been prevented from gathering in El Arbolito Park.

He said special troops beat and removed the people and carted off their farm products, which were to be sold at the Anti-FTA Fair.

FENOCIN leaders Luis Andrango, Luis Sarango and Edwin Navarrete were among those arrested for the supposed crime of bringing potatoes, corn, beans and bananas to sell to Quito residents, de la Cruz stressed.

In the wake of the repression of indigenous people in El Arbolito, the farmers went to the House of Culture, where they were joined by university students, leaders of social and popular movements and socialist deputies.

At the moment, anti-riot troops are trying to prevent demonstrators from advancing toward the center of the capital, to Carandolet Palace (the Executive seat).

hr/ccs/rma/lgo