The incident took place while the reporter was covering demonstrations about the visit of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez to Ecuador.
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 26 March 2010, Alba Aldean, a Carrusel radio journalist, reported that she was assaulted by Margarita Arosemena Gómez Lince, member of the board of directors of the Civic Council and director of the Casa del Hombre Doliente, a hospice for terminally ill patients.
The incident took place outside the Venezuelan consulate in Guayaquil, while the reporter was covering demonstrations against and in support of the visit of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez to Ecuador.
Aldean told IPYS and Fundamedios that Arosemena was insulting individuals who were demonstrating in support of Chávez’s visit. The journalist approached them to cover the incident but she was insulted and then kicked by the official.
Questioned by IPYS and Fundamedios, Arosemena denied the journalist’s version of events and threatened to sue her for libel.
