Ecuadorian police detained five journalists associated with Ecuador Indymedia late Tuesday night, May 6th. Four of the five were released from custody on Wednesday afternoon. The government says that the four activists were detained because of their relationship with the fifth detainee, Ecuadorian resident and Colombian national Antonio Alcívar.

The government at first refused to issue a statement on the matter or inform the detainees of the reason for their arrests. The Regional Foundation for Assistance in Human Rights (INREDH) noted that this was a violation of the detainees' constitutional right to be clearly informed of the reason for their detention along with the identities of those who ordered and carried out the arrests.

CMI Ecuador: Comunicadores de Indymedia Ecuador víctimas de arresto arbitrario || URGENTE: SOLIDARIDAD CON COMUNICADORES INDEPE || Comunicado detención comunicadores de Indymedia Ecuador víctimas de arresto arbitrario || Periodistas populares fueron liberados (más información) || CMI Brasil: Comunicadores independentes são vítimas de prisão arbitrária || Upside Down World || Global Indymedia Feature