Attacks on the Press in 2008: Ecuador
A July government takeover of almost 200 businesses, including two private television stations that drew nearly 40 percent of the country’s news audience, enabled leftist President Rafael Correa to further his political agenda and gain greater control of the media. After the move, Correa won a decisive victory in a referendum on a new constitution…
CPJ to Correa: Release journalists jailed for defamation
Dear President Correa: We are writing to express alarm at the imprisonment of two Ecuadoran journalists and to call for their immediate and unconditional release. Furthermore, we urge you to use the authority of your office to reform Ecuador’s archaic defamation laws, which are incompatible with international standards of freedom of expression and rulings by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.
Government seizes two TV outlets and closes a radio station
New York, July 8, 2008–Ecuadoran government agents seized two private television stations early this morning and shuttered a critical radio station late Monday night. The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by allegations that the actions were politically motivated. Members of the government’s Deposit Guarantee Agency (AGD), backed by dozens of police officers, seized the…
Governo intervém em duas televisões e fecha uma estação de rádio
Nova York, 8 de julho de 2008–Agentes do governo equatoriano intervieram em duas estações privadas de televisão nesta manhã e fecharam uma estação de rádio crítica na noite de segunda-feira. O Comitê para a Proteção dos Jornalistas (CPJ) está preocupado com as acusações que sugerem que tais ações tiveram motivações políticas.
Critical journalist shot to death in Guayaquil
New York, June 23, 2008—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Ecuadorian authorities to investigate the death of Raúl Rodríguez Coronel, who was shot to death this morning in Guayaquil. CPJ is investigating all possible links between Rodríguez’s work as a journalist and his death. Rodríguez, news vice president and host of the daily news…
Attacks on the Press 2007: Ecuador
ECUADOR President Rafael Correa regularly bashed the news media after taking office in January, reflecting increasing tensions between his young socialist government and the powerful business groups that control the country’s media. Correa immediately called for a new constitution that would expand the power of the executive branch, loosen term limits, and allow for greater…
Ecuadoran President Correa should drop libel suit
New York, May 15, 2007—Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa Delgado should immediately drop a criminal defamation complaint filed against a top newspaper executive over a critical editorial, and he should help bring the country’s press laws into compliance with international standards on free expression, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
ECUADOR: Journalist convicted on criminal defamation charges
MARCH 13, 2007 Posted: April 5, 2007 Nelson Fueltada, La Gaceta and Radio Latacunga LEGAL ACTION The Superior Court of the Ecuadorian province of Cotopaxi convicted Fueltada, the Pujilí correspondent for the Latacunga-based daily La Gaceta and Radio Latacunga, on criminal defamation charges. Fueltada was sentenced to 60 days in prison and to pay a…
Attacks on the Press 2006: Americas Analysis
Leftists Lean on the Latin American MediaBy Carlos Lauría Latin America’s new leftist leaders may try to portray themselves as good news for the press, using the rhetoric of liberal democracy. But political and media analysts say these recently installed left-wing administrations are deeply rooted in the region’s longstanding culture of authoritarianism.