IAPA condemns Correa’s comments as “acts of violence” against Palacio Journalist

The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) today, August 27, condemned the “threats” expressed by President Rafael Correa against the Journalist Emilio Palacio, exiled in Miami, and described as “extremely dangerous” for inciting “acts of violence. “

In the weekly address of Sunday August 23, the Ecuadorian President called Palacio “psychopath” and added:. “How will not to show indignant, fellows? For being democrat, tolerant, what would you do in my case if saw a guy with so much human misery as this (Palacio)? would not you kick him? “.

Correa’s comments reflects an “intolerant and obsessive attitude,” said Claudio Paolillo, President of the Commission on Freedom of the Press and Information of the IAPA, based in Miami.

Correa reacted against an article published by Palacio in last April about a “secret flight,” that he allegedly made ​​to New York, information that the President denied .

Palacio, sentenced and pardoned along with the Directors of daily El Universo, Carlos, César and Nicolás Perez to 3 years in prison and ordered to pay $ 40 million for the offense of libel against Correa on February 16, 2012. He left the country in 2011 in the midst of litigation claiming a supposed politic “persecution”.