The Inter American Press brands the national government as ‘fascist’

Image: Expreso/EFE

Latin America has suffered in the last year an increase in official measures to stifle the critical and independent journalist activity, warned yesterday in Charleston (South Carolina, United States) Claudio Paolillo, Chairman of the Commission for Freedom of Press and Information of the Inter American Press Association (IAPA).

Paolillo began presenting his preliminary report on the state of press freedom in Latin America with a serious warning: in many countries of the region ” leaders have taken a “quasi-monarchic and profoundly undemocratic position.”

In yesterday´s forum, Paolillo quickly dissected some examples, by country, where “lies” thrown by regimes to conceal their attempt to muzzle and stifle critical media are more evident.

As to the Government of Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa, the president of the Commission for Freedom of Press and Information of the IAPA said that Correa “does not cease to apply harsh repression against journalists and the media that want to make use of their freedom.”

In this context, he denounced the ‘gag law’ in force in Ecuador for two years, a standard he denounced, “exerts intolerable pressure that has led newspapers to file for resistance.”

He further disagreed with Correa by the continuous insults he proffers against newspapers, radio stations, television channels and journalists “that deviate from the official speech.”

He calls all of them “corrupt press.” And according to the spokesman of the Inter American, “he incites the population to attack those media and journalists,” a behavior he branded as an “evident deep-rooted fascism.”

Sources: http://expreso.ec/expreso/plantillas/nota.aspx?idart=8487872&idcat=38473&tipo=2