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Alerts - Ecuador

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Ecuador

Government uses telecast to discredit journalist, human rights report

The telecast interrupted Ecuavisa's news programme and was aimed at discrediting interviewer Gabriela Baer and a report by the Simón Bolivar Andean University.

Ecuador

New media bill should be scrapped, says CPJ

In a letter to the President of the National Assembly, Fernando Cordero Cueva, the Committee to Protect Journalists expresses its concern about a new communications bill that includes new restrictions that could limit the rights of citizens to inform and be informed.

Ecuador

Correa questions IACHR and maligns Fundamedios

President Rafael Correa made the statements in relation to a recent meeting between a government delegation, led by Foreign Affairs Minister Ricardo Patiño, and members of the IACHR, to talk about the sentence against the newspaper "El Universo".

Ecuador

Trial against "El Gran Hermano" authors continues after proposed pardon is rejected

The authors’ attorney that the trial will continue because no legal procedure exists as a possible way to end a civil trial. "What the court has done is request that, if the process is to come to an end, that it is done according to the law".

Ecuador

State newspaper editor-in-chief receives death threats after publishing criticisms

Orlando Pérez, editor-in-chief and feature writer of the state newspaper "El Telégrafo", reported in his column that he has received several email death threats because of critical comments he made against the right wing political sector.

Ecuador

Government officials threaten, intimidate local journalists

The Minister of the Interior warned he may initiate legal proceedings against Teleamazonas TV station if it does not present evidence of information, allegedly voiced during its news program, stating that the police had used teargas bombs during the marches that took place in Quito.

Ecuador

Government media personnel prevented from covering indigenous movement march

Máximo Barba, a correspondent for Ecuador TV, was physically assaulted and prevented from covering an indigenous march as it passed through the city of Ambato.

Ecuador

Newspaper owner attacked by athlete

In the accusation filed before the town prosecutor’s office, Javier Granados detailed that Samuel Rivera hit him several times and attempted to strangle him, but was stopped by several people who were nearby.

Ecuador

Authors' attorney rejects offer of pardon from president

Ramiro Aguilar, the journalists’ lawyer, stated in a writ presented before the Second Civil Division of the Court of Justice of Pichincha, that "there can be no pardon in this case, because there is no outstanding obligation to pay”.

Ecuador

Camera operator attacked during anti-drug trafficking operation

Relatives of people detained by police threw stones at the TV station's vehicle, hitting and injuring journalist Geovanny Vinueza.

Ecuador

Government misrepresents Freedom House's position on free expression

Freedom House is very concerned that an article published on March 4, 2012 in "El Ciudadano" misrepresented their position on freedom of expression in Ecuador. The article included inaccurate facts about a meeting between representatives of the Ecuadorean government and Freedom House.

Ecuador

Environmental activists detained for demonstrating against mining

Eight women were violently evicted from the Chinese embassy in Quito and then detained by the Ecuadorian police when they were attempting to carry out a peaceful demonstration in protest against large-scale mining.

Ecuador

Official misrepresents Human Rights Watch position

An interview with Communications Minister Fernando Alvarado, in the 4 March edition of the official newspaper "El Ciudadano", flagrantly distorted what happened during a recent meeting he had in Washington, with Human Rights Watch.

Ecuador

Communications Secretary questions newspaper association director over contents of personal email

The official said that Cornejo’s wife had allegedly “written an email calling for a demonstration against this 'bad government', including an incitement to overthrow President Correa and a request for his resignation”.

Ecuador

Government supporters start campaign opposing international press and human rights organisations

The campaign is a movement against the national and international media, and organizations that defend freedom of expression all over the world, because of their rejection of the ratification of the conviction against the newspaper "El Universo", its directors Carlos, Nicolás and César Pérez, and its opinion editor Emilio Palacio.

Ecuador

President pardons "El Universo" executives and writers; drops lawsuit against "El Gran Hermano" authors

Correa emphasized that the trial “made evident the great biases of the IACHR, a commission that has the characteristics of an NGO rather than a legal institution, in which legitimacy is secondary. Thus they take on real or imaginary crusades”.

Ecuador

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights orders suspension of sentences against "El Universo"

(WiPC/IFEX) - 22 February 2012 - The Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) of PEN International welcomes the Inter American Commission on Human Rights' (IACHR) recent intervention in the criminal libel case against the Ecuadoran daily newspaper, El Universo. On 21 February 2012, the Commission ordered the Ecuadoran government to suspend the enforcement of the sentences handed down to the directors and former editor of the newspaper, pending a hearing between both parties. The hearing is scheduled for 28 March 2012 in Washington, DC.

Ecuador

Panama grants diplomatic asylum to "El Universo" director

The president of Panama, Ricardo Martinelli, granted diplomatic asylum to Carlos Pérez Barriga after a sentence was ratified that convicted the paper's directors, and former feature writer to three years in prison and the payment of $40 million for the crime of slanderous offenses against President Rafael Correa.

Ecuador

Judge claims president's attorney dictated original sentence against "El Universo"

Judge Mónica Encalada has stated, in a written document addressed to the Guayas District Attorney’s Office, that the original sentence had been written by one of the Chief of State's attorneys.

Ecuador

Sentence against "El Universo" is a setback for democracy

"This shortsighted ruling will only keep Ecuadoran journalists from investigating powerful politicians; it represents a serious setback for democracy in Ecuador," says CPJ.

Ecuador

Tribunal sets new date for the review of facts in "El Universo" case

The paper's lawyer has questioned the selection of the three judges who will now deal with the case.

Ecuador

Local media team banned from covering referendum vote counting

Journalist Carlos Sosa questioned the officers’ decision saying they had discriminated against Telecosta and other Emeraldas’ media outlets to give preference to national media teams who were allowed to do their work unimpeded.

Ecuador

Fundamedios and AEDEP challenge constitutionality of amendments to Democracy Code

They requested the provisional suspension of the challenged regulations, arguing that allowing them to come into force would constitute an affront towards the provisions of the Constitution and international treaties concerning human rights currently in force in Ecuador.

Ecuador

Fundamedios condemns million-dollar fines against journalists Calderón and Zurita

"We alert the international community to this attempt to silence Ecuadorian journalists. This sentence is no more than a warning of what can happen to those who dare to investigate and denounce cases of corruption during the exercise of power," says Fundamedios.

Ecuador

Government attempts to discredit journalist and his investigation

The government broadcast two videos aimed at discrediting journalist Fausto Yépez of Teleamazonas and his investigation into alleged spying operations by government departments.

Ecuador

Television correspondents threatened by unidentified individuals

Hubel and Alcibiades Onofre attribute the threats to a news report that linked a woman accused of being the mastermind behind a triple murder to a member of the national assembly.

Ecuador

Fundamedios condemns decision against precautionary measures on Democracy Code veto

The new regulations in the code would come into force on 4 February 2012, introducing preemptive censorship to the contents of the media and journalistic coverage of the upcoming electoral campaign.

Ecuador

President proposes restrictions to journalistic work during 2013 elections

The chief of state proposes prohibiting the media from broadcasting during the the 48 hours before the elections and until 5:00 pm on the day itself, "any kind of information issued by public institutions, as well as electoral propaganda, opinions or images."

Ecuador

Government launches smear campaign against human rights organisations

A message by the Ministry of Culture invited employees to join a campaign against an alleged complaint presented by Fundamedios against Catalina Botero of the IACHR.

Ecuador

Judicial police and prosecutor's office close down radio station, seize its equipment

The measure may be in reprisal for Perla Orense's critical stance against the local government and the administration of the Guabo mayor, a member of the governing party.

Ecuador

National Court of Justice ratifies three-year prison sentence against Emilio Palacio

The Second Criminal Division rejected an appeal for review of the case submitted by Palacio, former opinion editor of the newspaper "El Universo".

Ecuador

Editor sentenced to three months in prison for libel

Jaime Mantilla Anderson was sentenced based on a series of reports about allegations of influence peddling and problems faced several years ago by Central Bank president Pedro Delgado.

Ecuador

Tribunal dismisses charges against magazine

The magazine had been prosecuted for having allegedly broken the 48-hour electoral silence rule prior to an election by publishing an editorial that referred to the questions included in the popular consultation and referendum of 7 May 2011.

Ecuador

Judge shelves case against native leader

Although the national public administration secretary granted Monica Chuji a pardon, she says that because she didn't commit any crime, she has no need for the pardon.

Ecuador

Native leader sentenced to one year in prison, fined for offending government official

Vinicio Alvarado filed a complaint against Mónica Chuji after she referred to him as "nouveau riche" in an interview.

Ecuador

Twitter user receives warning from government official

National Assembly President Fernando Cordero was reacting to criticisms by Betty Escobar, an Ecuadorian citizen living in the United States.

Ecuador

News crew threatened by hospital security personnel

The news crew was threatened after the Ecuavisa television station reported on complaints about the medical care provided in the hospital's emergency department.

Ecuador

Radio broadcaster sentenced to six months in prison

Carlos Ignacio Cedeño was sentenced after being found guilty on an allegation of having defamed Doctor Melitón García on his radio programme.

Ecuador / Venezuela

New laws could undermine free speech, warns IAPA

IAPA expresses concern over a Communication Law being debated in Ecuador's National Assembly and a proposed law which would regulate how community media operate in Venezuela.

Ecuador

Journalist who appeared before IACHR reportedly drugged

Christian Zurita, who is facing a lawsuit for co-writing the book "El Gran Hermano", is presumed to have been drugged with a substance known as scopolamine.

Ecuador

CPJ to hold authorities accountable for threats

"We hold the Ecuadoran government accountable for the safety of Fundamedios staff and executive director César Ricaurte," says CPJ.

Ecuador

Municipal official threatens to pull radio station's advertising

Journalists at Radio Satelital refused to stop broadcasting information that embarrassed the mayor of Loja.

Ecuador

Government makes false accusations against Fundamedios in retaliation for its appearance before the IACHR

Following the hearing, Fundamedios has been targeted in radio and TV broadcasts, accusations by government officials and threats by the government's supporters.

Ecuador

Journalist prevented from leaving the country to attend IACHR session

Wilson Cabrera, a Radio Station Voz de la Esmeralda Oriental journalist, was prevented from leaving the country to attend a IACHR hearing on freedom of Expression in Ecuador.

Ecuador

Investigative journalist sued by president receives threat from unidentified individual

Investigative journalist Juan Carlos Calderón received a threatening telephone call from an unidentified individual who warned him that he "will be next."

Ecuador

Former columnist faces second lawsuit for slander

The Guayas Third Criminal Division has accepted a lawsuit for slander filed by the state-controlled TV station Ecuador TV against Emilio Palacio, accused of having committed slander against the station when calling it a "fascist media outlet".

Ecuador

SUPERTEL dismisses charges against seven radio stations

The head of SUPERTEL, Fabién Jaramillo, said the case was dropped after it was verified that the stations had done nothing illegal.

Ecuador

Official telecast used to discredit TV journalist, interrupt her programme

A government telecast interrupted the "La Mañana 24 Horas" programme, hosted by Janet Hinostroza.

Ecuador

"El Universo" threatened with two more lawsuits

President Rafael Correa announced that the newspaper may face legal action for having published a letter written by a member of parliament for the Madera de Guerrero movement.

Ecuador

Tribunal upholds sentencing of newspaper, its directors and former feature writer on defamation charge

The sentence issued previously by provisional judge Juan Paredes in a defamation case filed by President Rafael Correa was upheld in its entirety.

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