Event Summary
On 1 April 2026, the environmental collective Yasunidos reported via its account on the social network X that David Fajardo, an environmental activist and coordinator of the “Cabildo por el Agua de Cuenca,” was subject to a new freeze on his bank accounts. According to this report, the measure is once again based on the regulatory reform introduced by the Organic Law of Social Transparency, which empowers the financial analysis authority to immobilize funds as a precautionary measure under the presumption of financial crimes. This freeze occurred two weeks after the Cabildo por el Agua filed a legal appeal to evaluate the constitutionality of the Organic Law for the Strengthening of the Strategic Mining and Energy Sectors. In its statement, Yasunidos also noted that Fajardo continues to face ongoing legal proceedings for alleged unjustified private enrichment and financing of terrorism, initiated by the Office of the Attorney General during the National Strike of September 2025.
Like the bank freezes reported in September and October 2025, these actions constitute a violation of the right to free access to personal funds for those participating in civil society and represent an attempt to obstruct the full exercise of the rights to freedom of association and assembly. Furthermore, this measure forms part of the national government’s attempts to weaken opposition from indigenous movements and environmental organizations to its extractive policies.
To date, no public statements have been recorded on this case from other civil society organizations.