Ecuadorian indigenous movement condemns attack on journalist

Quito, Oct 11 (Prensa Latina) The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) denied responsibility for an attack against a journalist, after covering a rally of the organization at the House of Culture (CCE) in Quito.

The journalist, identified as Freddy Paredes, from the Ecuadorian Teleamazonas TV channel, was the victim of aggressions and was hit in the head with a stone as he left the CCE, despite being protected by CONAIE members.

The Confederation condemned the attack through a document posted on its Twitter account.

Likewise, CONAIE warned that for security reasons, it had decided to limit and restrict access to and exits from the CCE facilities, where an assembly and religious ceremonies were held on Thursday to pay the last respects to an indigenous leader from Cotopaxi province, who died as a result of police repression in Wednesday's national strike.

According to human rights sources, at least 31 reporters have been attacked during the escalating protests in Ecuador, while images of repression against media workers have been posted on social media.

A few days ago, the National Union of Journalists in Ecuador denounced security forces' physical and verbal aggression against media professionals.