Articles by Fundamedios – Andean Foundation for Media Observation and Study
Ecuadorian police hold television reporter for 16 hours
On 15 July 2013, Ivan Casamen was detained by a police officer while covering a story on the collapse of a tunnel.The journalist was held for over 16 hours, while waiting for a hearing. He was then released after paying a fine of US$7.
Judge in Ecuador orders newspaper to correct headline
Judge Verónica Medina ruled that Diario Hoy must correct a headline that read “Correa says that gay marriage is just a fad”, reasoning it “was not duly verified” and “twists the truth”. The judge determined that the right to receive verified and true information had been violated, and ordered the newspaper to apologize.
Ecuador’s national assembly approves communication law
Along the approval process, the Communications bill had been observed by international agencies and organizations such as the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, Human Rights Watch, and the Committee to Protect Journalists, among others, because it did not comply with international standards on freedom of expression.
Ecuador’s President accuses Twitter user of inciting crime
Twitter user Danny Ayala, who uses the handle @DayalaEc on the social network, was notified of an urgent action against him requested by President Rafael Correa from the Prosecutor’s Office, because Ayala had allegedly “incited an attack against his life”.
Government arrests suspects in Ecuadorian journalist’s murder
On the evening of 22 May, the Minister of the Interior reported the arrests of seven people suspected of involvement in the death of journalist Fausto Valdiviezo, who was killed on 11 April 2013 in Guayaquil.
Former intelligence director reported for comments on drug trafficking in Ecuador
The Minister of the Interior has filed a formal complaint against the former chief of military intelligence for attempting “to disrupt the public order of the State” after he made some comments during a radio interview about an alleged link between security forces and drug trafficking.
Slow progress on free expression in Ecuador one year after U.N. review
Despite the acceptance of the vast majority of observations on free expression in Ecuador at the 2012 U.N. Universal Periodic Review, Fundamedios is concerned that in practice no advances are evident.
Political motive suspected in Ecuadorian radio programme suspension
On Thursday 2 May 2013, the radio programme “Hablemos Claro”, broadcast by Radio Marejada in the coastal province of Manabí, was taken off the air. According to the programme’s director, Trajano Andrade, it was suspended due to pressure exerted by the Municipality of Manta.