Edgar Fiallos, head of Pastazas Second Court, read his final decision in favour of the seven indigenous leaders from the jungle communities of Tiwino and Bataboro accused two years ago of sabotage and terrorism.

Judge Fiallos also revoked the precautionary measured the accused had been living under, including their order to present themselves at the court the first Monday of every month, and the ban on leaving the country.

“Now we can sleep easy and work for our families,” said Niwa Ima César Ytewe, one of the accused indigenous leaders.

The charges stemmed from accusations by the oil company Petrobell and the national Subsecretary of Hydrocarbons that inhabitants of the Huaorani indian communities of Tiwino and Bataboro paralized operations at the Tiwino oil field.

The company says the work stoppage cost them $3 million

The judge took his decision after district attorney Maribel Barreno abstained from laying charges against the accused. She said their investigation hadn’t been able to conclude who was responsible for the paralyzation of the oil company’s work.