Expat Community > Ecuador

luckydawg
Joined 2011
Posts: 291

Government repression of Journalism

13 years ago

Below is an article that appeared this week in a Quito newspaper. Everyone should read it.

The organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) claims that the Ecuadorian government's attitude towards freedom of expression is "extremely worrying" and "serious setbacks."

This gave José Miguel Vivanco, director of the Americas division of this agency with a worldwide presence. In an interview with AFP, the spokesman said that "what is happening is very worrying."

Their analysis takes as its starting point the report last week made public the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), based in New York. The document says that President Rafael Correa has transformed his country into a "most restrictive for press" because "Ecuador has led to a stage of widespread repression."

CPJ's report takes into account the ruling the judge Juan Paredes issued last July against three executives of newspaper El Universo and former Opinion Editor. The decision provides for a fine of $ 40 million and sentenced to three years in prison for those accused of libel by the President.

"The sentence against The Universe is a shock that puts Ecuador on the map of countries where there are serious setbacks in freedom of expression. The international community must take this issue seriously and to show the government of Ecuador is making serious mistakes, "said Vivanco told AFP.

His thinking is based on the organization figures on attacks Fundamedios displays the work of journalists and CPJ also has disseminated. That is, between January 2008 and July 2011 have documented 380 violations of freedom of expression. Of 22 cases reviewed in the first year was stepped up in 2010 to 151.

For HRW, the CPJ's findings are very strong, insisting that so far "has not been enough attention from the international community to what is happening", as Ecuador has been on the radar, as was the situation the media in Venezuela which has monopolized the attention.

The alleged use of media in the service of the state to "discredit journalists" and "zero tolerance for opinions and reviews media, politicians, civil society members' concern to the HRW.

The AFP wire picks up the point of view of communications secretary, Fernando Alvarado, who has assured that the CPJ report responds to a "disinformation campaign by some private media."

The case of Big Brother in conciliation hearing

Today, at 08:00, in the Fifth Court of Civil Pichincha conduct the settlement hearing (routine procedure) for the trial that President Rafael Correa raised against the authors of the book 'Big Brother': Juan Carlos Christian Calderon Zurita for moral damages. To them, the President shall require an indemnity of $ 10 million. The case is still pending before a full sentencing opinion.

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Government repression of Journalism

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