E.P.C. is a Colombian refugee. For 12 years, he’s been selling toys and knick-knacks on the streets in downtown Guayaquil. Yesterday, he filed a claim at the Office of the Guayas People’s Defender (Ombudsperson) against the municipal police for discrimination and extortion. He claims officers have been harassing him for years, and have recently started interrupting his work if he doesn’t pay them bribes. 

The man, who looks to be in his 50s, has lived in Ecuador since he was kidnapped by guerrillas in 2000 and had to flee Colombia. He says he works as a street salesman because it’s difficult for someone “in his condition” to hold a steady job.

His problems started when he was picked up by police in 2006 for being on the street, and the officers found out where he was from. “They told me to go home, to get out of here,” he says.

A few months ago, he alleges, metropolitan police officers have been forcing him to pay $1 for every cop in the neighbourhood if he wants to have permission to sell on his regular street corner. “Some days I have to give them up to $5, and if I don’t have it, I have to go home,” he says.

He also says he has photo and video evidence of beatings he’s recieved over the years from a police officer identified as Number 39.

A UN refugee commissioner, a representative from Ecuador’s human rights committee and a lawyer representing the City of Guayaquil were at his hearing yesterday.

Billy Navarrete, from Ecuador’s human rights committee, says they’ve been aware of E.C.P.’s case for two years, and have helped him collect the evidence needed to pursue his claim.

“This is bigger than this single case: it’s about the municipality’s policies, their treatment of public space, and of informal salespeople,” he says.

The City of Guayaquil lawyer argues to have the case suspended. Instead, the People’s Defender’s office summoned the chief of police and the commander of the municipal police officers to address the claim.

Original story