(IPYS/IFEX) – On 9 February 2004, Carlos Muñoz, president of the Telesistema television station, was injured in an attack that resulted in the death of his driver, Ricardo Mendoza. The incident occurred at 10:15 p.m. (local time), as Muñoz was heading home, on the road to Samborondón, Guayas province, Guyaquil, when his vehicle was intercepted […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 9 February 2004, Carlos Muñoz, president of the Telesistema television station, was injured in an attack that resulted in the death of his driver, Ricardo Mendoza.
The incident occurred at 10:15 p.m. (local time), as Muñoz was heading home, on the road to Samborondón, Guayas province, Guyaquil, when his vehicle was intercepted by another car. The assailants fired more than seven shots at Muñoz’s vehicle, injuring him and killing his driver.
Muñoz was unable to identify the assailants but dismissed the possibility that the attack was a robbery since the attackers fled without taking anything. A number of groups, including the National Journalists’ Union, the Journalists’ Guild, the Editors’ Association, the Television Stations’ Association and the Ecuadorian Broadcasting Association, condemned the attack and urged President Lucio Gutiérrez’s government to launch an extensive investigation so that those responsible are identified and punished.
Government officials also condemned the incident and announced that an investigation had been ordered. Nevertheless, there has been no further information to date as to the motive and this has become cause for concern. The incident comes on the heels of the recent assassination of Patricio Campana, Petrocomercial investigative officer, and the failed assassination attempt on Leonidas Iza, president of the Ecuador Indigenous Nations Confederation (Confederación de Nacionalidades Indígenas de Ecuador), and his family. In addition, journalists and media outlets that have criticised the government’s actions have received threats in recent weeks.
