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U.S. Report: Ecuadorian Press Continued To Deteriorate in 2010
Posted On 10 Apr 2011
The U.S. State Department informed today in its 2010 Human Rights report, that the relationship between the Ecuadorian press and the government “continued to deteriorate” in the past year and that there were “allegations of censorship and self censorship” in the media.
“The legal and verbal attacks against the press by President Correa and his government continued during this year,” the report said and also “several political known radio and television commentators” resigned in 2010, attributing their decision to “government pressure” on their media. “In general, individuals can publicly criticize the government without consequences, however “insulting or threatening President Correa and the executive branch,” remains illegal and it is a crime punished with six months to two years or a fine of $ 77,” the report said.
According to the Monitoring Network Threats for Freedom of the Press, quoted in the report, there were 151 cases of harassment, threats, attacks, and arrests “against journalists and other media representatives.” President Correa regularly used his weekly radio announcement broadcasts and other public appearances to criticize the media, questioning their competence and professionalism, and accusing him of bias, often referring to journalists and media in particular,” the report informs.
The text noted in general that there are several human rights problems in Ecuador, including cases of “excessive use of force and impunity by the police.”
Source: EFE
