Ecuadorian government rejects IACHR report

President Correa rejects IACHR report

The Ecuadorian government rejected the report of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression regarding the situation of Ecuador in 2012. Government officials indicated that the complaint will be made in a regional meeting scheduled for May 14 in Cochabamba, Bolivia.

“This is a shame, this is a farce, ridiculous (…) and we will take the steps we have to, Mr. Chancellor, Mr. Secretary of Communication, to the OAS, to the IACHR, to denounce these antics, these ridiculousness, this is corruption,” said the Ecuadorian president, Rafael Correa, in his Saturday broadcast, transmitted from Valencia, Spain, during their European tour.

The executive’s response came four days after the Inter-America Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) released its annual report, which is part of the Special Rapporteur, which devoted 26 pages to the situation of the country.

The report contained the murder of a photojournalist, legal reforms approved and it’s discussion, subsequent liability lawsuits, ‘stigmatized statements’, attacks and threats against journalists and media outlets, interrupting government newscasts, hurdles in journalism, involvement as well as media and the seizing of equipment and other relevant situations.

“With this report, all the respect to the Rapporteur is lost, and we can not believe anything. 26 pages to refer to the case of Ecuador! You’ll see the cases of violation of freedom of expression which refers to this alleged Rapporteur, but never speaks of the abuse of certain media (…), the defense of businesses dedicated to communication,” said Correa before showing a video where he discussed other issues contained in the annual report of the Commission.