Media watchdogs condemn Ecuador libel ruling l

[naaman fletcher]

Source: Al Jazeera

Media watchdogs around the world have denounced an Ecuadorian court decision to send four journalists to prison and impose a $40m fine for libel against President Rafael Correa.

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Gonzalo Marroquin, president of the US-based Inter-American Press Association, called Wednesday's decision a "serious blow to the most essential principles of freedom of information".

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Jose Miguel Vivanco, the Americas director for Human Rights Watch, called the conviction a "major setback for free speech in Ecuador".

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France-based media watchdog Reporters Without Borders said it was "shocked" by the court ruling, saying it was contrary to the general trend in Latin America of decriminalising media offenses.



Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2011/07/20117224937865494.html

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The offense was an opinion writer calling the president a "dictator", according to the article.

[Bacchus39]

1. I'll have anyone who dares calls me a dictator thrown in jail!!! n/t

s

[COLGATE4]

2. Yup. Now wait for the 'Defend Correa at all costs' squad in 3....2....1...