Ecuador´s Health Ministry has a maximum deadline of two months to notify the appeal submitted by Accion Ecologica against the inicial decision of withdrawing its registration.

“We believe in the permament reinstatement of our registration, especially after hearing our President of the Republic last March 14th, who corroborated that our organization has complied with all the legal requirements”, states the organization in a communique.

In light of the various expressions of solidarity towards Accion Ecologica, many of them international, Ecuador´s Health Minister, Carolina Chang, stated that the measure was not a sign of persecution. However, to some sectors, the decision of the government was caused by the active opposition carried out by Accion Ecologica with reference to the passing of the new mining bill, which favours big transnational companies and jeopardizes the environment and water sources.

Chair of the organization, Ivonne Ramos, stated on behalf of Accion Ecologica that she was grateful for the “solidarity received by hundreds of peoples, communities, social and non governmental organizations, Parliament authorities, public figures, agencies, academics and writers of our country and the five continents, who were touched by the serious environmental situation of the planet and are supporting our organization, and in general to all who act in defense of the rights of nature and life”.