The journalist told IPYS and Fundamedios that he fears for his and his family's safety.
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 8 July 2010, Juan Alcívar Ríos, a correspondent for the newspaper “La Hora” and a journalist for radio station El Nuevo Sol, received a threat from unidentified persons who damaged his car. The incident occurred in Esmeraldas, northern Ecuador.
The assailants left a note that said: “Shut up, don’t screw with the mayor”. Alcívar Ríos was covering the regional police command’s rendering of accounts when he was informed that his car’s tires had been cut, its windows shattered and there were stones in the exhaust pipe.
The journalist told IPYS and Fundamedios that he fears for his and his family’s safety. He also stated that he had been threatened before.
The case has been reported to the police.
IPYS and Fundamedios condemn this intimidating tactic, which is aimed at ensuring that the journalist will restrict his activities.
