Inter-American Court of Human Rights finds Ecuador responsible in El Universo libel case
New York, December 23, 2021 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today welcomed a recent decision by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights to hold Ecuador responsible for violating the right to free expression in a 2011 libel suit against the El Universo newspaper. “The Inter-American Court’s decision in the El Universo case offers long-overdue…
Ecuadorian authorities raid office of journalist Fausto Chimbolema, confiscate equipment
Bogota, September 22, 2021 — Ecuadorian authorities should return all equipment confiscated from journalist Fausto Chimbolema and disclose the reason for the recent raid on his office, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On September 14, police officers and agents from the local attorney general’s office raided Chimbolema’s office in the central Ecuadorian town…
Ecuadorian journalist Virginia Suárez receives death threats
Bogotá, September 2, 2021 – Ecuadorian authorities must investigate death threats made against journalist Virginia Suárez and hold the perpetrators to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Suárez, who covers politics in the central town of Ventanas for her twice-weekly live news program called “Tus noches con Virginia” (Your nights with Virginia) on…
Ecuadorian journalist Luis Eduardo Vivanco receives death threats
Bogotá, June 29, 2020 – Ecuadorian authorities should investigate threats made to journalist Luis Eduardo Vivanco and hold the perpetrators to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On June 24, Vivanco, founder of the satirical news website La Posta, was walking his dog in Quito, the capital, when an unidentified man began screaming…
Ecuadorian journalist Calixto Zambrano survives shooting
Bogotá, June 3, 2021 – Ecuadorian authorities should thoroughly investigate the shooting of journalist Calixto Zambrano and hold the perpetrators to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. At about 7:30 p.m. on May 28, two unidentified men on a motorcycle approached Zambrano as he was returning to his home in the western town of…
Ecuadorian congress passes ‘digital violence’ bill that threatens press freedom
Miami, May 11, 2021 – Ecuadorian President Lenín Moreno should require the country’s legislature to amend a recently passed bill to ensure that it does not threaten press freedom, or should veto that legislation, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On May 6, the National Assembly passed the “Law to Prevent and Combat Digital…
Former Ecuadorian president threatens, files suit against journalist Dayanna Monroy
Bogotá, February 9, 2021 – Ecuadorian authorities must swiftly and thoroughly investigate threats made to journalist Dayanna Monroy, ensure she has adequate protection, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On January 27, former Ecuadorian President Abdalá Bucaram Ortiz posted a video to his personal Facebook account in which…
Journalist Marilú Capa shot, severely injured in Ecuador
Bogotá, January 25, 2021 – Ecuadorian authorities should swiftly and thoroughly investigate the shooting of radio journalist Marilú Capa and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. At about 8 a.m. on January 19, in the northeastern town of Nueva Loja, an unidentified man entered a restaurant that Capa owns and…
Ecuadorian journalist Juán Sarmiento sentenced to prison for ‘discrediting’ local official
Bogotá, November 20, 2020 – Ecuadorian authorities should not contest journalist Juan Sarmiento’s appeal of a recent criminal conviction for critical comments about a local politician, and the country should remove speech laws from its penal code, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On November 12, the Justice Court of Napo, in central Ecuador,…
Cartoonist Xavier ‘Bonil’ Bonilla threatened by son of former Ecuadorian president
Bogotá, Colombia, August 13, 2020 – Ecuadorian authorities must swiftly and thoroughly investigate the threat to cartoonist Xavier Bonilla, ensure he has adequate protection, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On August 6, Jacobo Bucaram Pulley, the son of former President Abdalá Bucaram Ortiz, tweeted a threatening message…