Fundamedios – Andean Foundation for Media Observation and Study

Since the evening of December 28 2015, the Communications Secretariat (Secom), via the Spanish company Ares Rights, has been attempting to close down Fundamedios’ website for alleged copyright violation.

In the early morning of December 16 2015, Ecotel TV Station of the city of Loja reported that a group from the National Police and officials of the telecommunications regulatory body violently entered the TV station’s facilities with orders to seize the equipment and leave the station off the air.

On 3 December 2015, the National Assembly approved a package of constitutional amendments proposed by ruling party members. One of the amendments turns communication into a public service, which could turn into a violation of the right to freedom of expression.

EcuadorTV’s news programme accused former journalist Martín Pallares of being a “political actor against the government”, stating that the journalist went to the USA to seek funding from right-wing extremist organizations, for which Fundamedios served as a nexus.

IFEX members support the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union’s draft law to decriminalise libel and defamation of public officials

Someone who sent a Facebook message to LaRepública.ec expressed his desire to burn the outlet’s facilities with all its staff inside, while another suggested they should be bombed.

Members of the IFEX network and other concerned organisations demand justice for wrongful imprisonment of Mohammed Ismael Rasaool

Ecuador’s communications body tells Fundamedios that because freedom of expression in protected in the constitution, it is up to the government, and not NGOs to defend it.