El Universo Newspaper Publishes its Position on the 30S

One day after President Rafael Correa reiterated his offer to drop his lawsuit against El Universo newspaper on condition for the newspaper to retract and say “the truth” about what happened on September 30 (30S), the newspaper published an editorial in which it reiterates its position on the editorial published the day after September 30, 2010.

In this editorial, El Universo says that the President was kidnapped, it condemns the chaos generated by the police and it condemns the attack on press freedom that, according to its point of view, was the radio and television broadcast imposed by the Government.

In the editorial of the daily highlights these two ideas:

1. Freedom of expression in all parts of the world, and Ecuador is no exception, is based on respect for the plurality of criteria, which is expressed by media in diverse forms such as: editorials, cartoons, advertisements, letters to the editor, interviews, calls from listeners or viewers, and so on.

2. The position of El Universo newspaper is contained in an editorial published in the Opinion page. We therefore believe it is important to reproduce the editorial the day after the September 30, 2010. It reflects our position, which has remained over 90 years, in defense of democratic institutions. (FL)