(AMARC/IFEX) – On 11 April 1998, journalist Felix Narvaez was the victim of vandalism. The windows on a vehicle used by Narvaez were broken while he was working. The attackers did not take the items of value that were in the car, but they did take documents related to a journalistic investigation. Several days earlier, […]
(AMARC/IFEX) – On 11 April 1998, journalist Felix Narvaez was the victim of
vandalism. The windows on a vehicle used by Narvaez were broken while he was
working. The attackers did not
take the items of value that were in the car, but they did take documents
related to a journalistic investigation. Several days earlier, Narvaez was
attacked by several armed unknown assailants. Although the attackers tried
to make it appear as though their motive was the robbery of Narvaez’s
vehicle, they later returned the journalist’s wallet and documents, credit
cards, and cash.
According to Narvaez, the stolen documents contained information about the
use of large sums of money by former government minister Cesar Verduga.
There are charges pending against Verduga and a warrant for his arrest.
Before Verduga fled to Miami, Narvaez had asked him what funds he had used
to build a mansion in a valley near Quito. Verduga responded that the
journalist should limit himself to reporting or he would find himself in
court.
The National Union of Journalists does not believe that the two attacks were
simple thefts. The organization believes that they are acts meant as threats
against the journalist.
The National Union of Journalists also denounced threatening phone calls
made to twenty other journalists. The journalists being threatened generally
cover political news and reports of corruption.
