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Ecuador begins landmark trial of crimes against humanity | Ecuador begins landmark trial of crimes against humanity |
(35 minutes later) | |
A court in Ecuador has begun hearings into the country's first-ever trial of alleged crimes against humanity. | A court in Ecuador has begun hearings into the country's first-ever trial of alleged crimes against humanity. |
Chief prosecutor Galo Chiriboga has requested that 10 army and police officers be put under house arrest. | Chief prosecutor Galo Chiriboga has requested that 10 army and police officers be put under house arrest. |
They are accused of torture, sexual violence and the abduction of three opponents of the government in 1985. | They are accused of torture, sexual violence and the abduction of three opponents of the government in 1985. |
The alleged crimes took place during the government of late President Leon Febres Cordero, who was in power between 1984 and 1988. | The alleged crimes took place during the government of late President Leon Febres Cordero, who was in power between 1984 and 1988. |
Mr Chiriboga also requested that the assets of the 10 retired officers - five army colonels, four army generals and one police general - be frozen . | Mr Chiriboga also requested that the assets of the 10 retired officers - five army colonels, four army generals and one police general - be frozen . |
The three victims - Susana Cajas, Javier Jarrin and Luis Vaca - will appear in court next week to give details of their ordeal. | The three victims - Susana Cajas, Javier Jarrin and Luis Vaca - will appear in court next week to give details of their ordeal. |
They were detained for alleged links with an illegal rebel group, the Eloy Alfaro Popular Armed Forces. | They were detained for alleged links with an illegal rebel group, the Eloy Alfaro Popular Armed Forces. |
'Tortured and beaten' | 'Tortured and beaten' |
Sitting in court next to Ms Cajas and Mr Vaca, Mr Chiriboga denounced the cruelty of the crimes committed 28 years ago. | |
"They were tortured, beaten, and submitted to particularly sadistic forms of torture, including electric shocks to their genitals" he said. | "They were tortured, beaten, and submitted to particularly sadistic forms of torture, including electric shocks to their genitals" he said. |
Defence lawyers at Quito's National Court of Justice have asked the prosecutor to clarify his accusations. | Defence lawyers at Quito's National Court of Justice have asked the prosecutor to clarify his accusations. |
Lawyers, politicians and human rights activists from other Latin American countries were at the National Court of Justice in the capital, Quito, for the landmark trial. | Lawyers, politicians and human rights activists from other Latin American countries were at the National Court of Justice in the capital, Quito, for the landmark trial. |
Among them was Ecuadorean Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino. | Among them was Ecuadorean Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino. |
The director of the Prosecutor's Office Truth Commission, Fidel Jaramillo, said crimes against humanity only began to be investigated in 2007, when left-wing President Rafael Correa came into power. | The director of the Prosecutor's Office Truth Commission, Fidel Jaramillo, said crimes against humanity only began to be investigated in 2007, when left-wing President Rafael Correa came into power. |
"They were never tried in Ecuador because there was never the political will to do so," the director of , Mr Jaramillo told the Efe news agency. | "They were never tried in Ecuador because there was never the political will to do so," the director of , Mr Jaramillo told the Efe news agency. |