“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.
Correa lambastes press in Columbia speech
In a near hour-long speech given in English, the president was in turn pugnacious, scholarly, and withering in critiquing the private press that he alleged “lies” and has a “lack of love for the truth.”
IAPA calls attention to Correa’s conflicting positions on press freedom
A speech by President Rafael Correa at Columbia University in New York, “will serve to expose the inconsistent thinking of one who claims to support freedom of the press and of expression yet whose actions are totally opposed to such freedoms,” IAPA noted.
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.
Seven radio stations face sanctions for airing free expression programme
Seven radio stations in Quito, Guayaquil and Cuenca are facing steep fines for jointly broadcasting a special show on freedom of expression in honour of the country’s independence day.
RSF calls on Correa to take a firm stance regarding privately-owned media
President Correa cannot continue to hope to create a new pluralist order while continuing to respond in such an intransigent manner to minor criticism against him in the media, states RSF.
President’s attorney asks public prosecutor to initiate additional legal action against “El Universo” newspaper
Lawyer Alembert Vera characterised an article published by the paper as disrespectful of the “right to honour, good name, prestige, privacy and intellectual property.”
CPJ special report: “Confrontation, repression in Ecuador”
Aggressive legal harassment and intimidation of the news media, led by President Rafael Correa, is weakening free expression, CPJ has found.
Faced with ongoing legal action, journalist decides to leave the country
Emilio Palacio, a former writer for the daily “El Universo”, announced he “was forced” to leave the country due to “political persecution”.
Photojournalist detained during police raid
Stalin Díaz was detained despite having told police that he had gone to an alleged illegal club to cover a story.
Authorities cancel TV station’s licencing contract
An official in the province of Morona Santiago suspects the cancellation of Telesangay’s frequency is a retaliatory move owing to political differences.
Defence lawyers question judge’s independence in case against newspaper; opinion editor faces new lawsuit
The “El Universo” defence team is concerned that a new judge appointed to the case against the newspaper may have ties to the plaintiff’s lawyer.
Journalist sentenced to five years in prison in slander case
Freddy Aponte was sentenced after failing to pay damages to the former mayor of Loja, who had accused the journalist of having slandered him.
Journalist previously sentenced to time in prison for slander faces new lawsuit
Judge Ángel Rubio ordered a search of the home and the arrest of Peter Tavra Franco, who is facing a new US$10 million lawsuit.
Cyber activists hack municipality’s webpage in protest against government’s attacks on free expression
The “Anonymous” group criticised Rafael Correa’s government for censoring the media and condemned the recent ruling against the “El Universo” newspaper.
President urges legislators to file charges against journalist
Rafael Correa called for legal action against journalist Jeanette Hinostroza after she commented on negotiations for appointments with the National Assembly.