"The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) expresses its deep concern over guidelines issued by the Joint Command of the Armed Forces of Ecuador (FF.AA.) for the coordination, accreditation, and management of media outlets and journalists at institutional events. The organization believes these measures establish a system of control, evaluation, and exclusion that amounts to prior censorship and an illegitimate restriction on the practice of journalism.
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According to information reported on Feb. 10 by the television network Ecuavisa and other local media, the guidelines establish 'previously defined technical criteria' to authorize or deny accreditations, including the evaluation of a media outlet’s editorial line, its historical coverage of the Armed Forces, and its alleged alignment with the institution’s mission and values. They also contemplate the assignment of scores, the creation of internal records, and the classification of media as 'aligned, neutral, or critical,' in order to justify decisions of inclusion or exclusion.
Following the publication of these provisions and the backlash from various sectors, the Armed Forces issued a clarification stating that the guidelines are not intended to restrict journalistic work, but rather to organize coverage and ensure security at official events and strategic facilities. However, the IAPA considers that the content of the document contradicts that assertion."
