“On Wednesday [Feb. 21], the Ecuadoran prosecutor's office announced terrorism charges against someone with the alias 'Negro Willie' as the main suspect in the violent armed occupation of a television channel in the coastal city of Guayaquil on Jan. 9. The public prosecutor's office, in a statement, indicated that the suspect identified as William Joffre […]
“A journalist from Radio Integración (whose name we are keeping confidential for security reasons) was forced with a threatening pamphlet to read a message from criminal groups, addressed to different sectors of the city of Tulcán and the province of Carchi [Ecuador], on the border with Colombia. 'When choosing journalism as an instrument to build […]
Journalists from Ecuador's public channel TC Televisión described the armed takeover by a group of men on the afternoon of Tuesday, Jan. 9 in Guayaquil as an “extremely violent attack.” According to what they said, the men shot a cameraman in the leg and broke another's arm. Around 2 p.m. on Jan. 9, and in […]
"Hooded and armed men entered the facilities of the television station TC Televisión, located in the north of Guayaquil [in Ecuador]. This news was reported during the afternoon of this Tuesday [Jan. 9] after 2:00 p.m. Part of the incident was recorded in the middle of the live broadcast of the public media outlet. [...] […]
“During the year 2023, Ecuador has experienced an alarming escalation of violence. Fundamedios has recorded 265 attacks this year, which have affected 343 journalists, media outlets, candidates, civil society organizations and activists. Attacks perpetrated by organized crime increased 870% compared to 2020, and 240% compared to 2022. Along these lines, threats represented 15% of total […]
"At least nine journalists have left Ecuador since April due to death threats from organized crime and at least six remain in exile so far, the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) recalled in a preliminary report. Three other journalists were relocated within the country after being intimidated, according to the Andean Foundation for the Observation […]
"A delegation of Ecuadorian journalists appeared this Nov. 6 at a hearing before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to expose the threats faced by the profession in a growing context of violence. César Ricaurte, executive director of Fundamedios, said that since 2007 the Ecuadorian press has suffered attacks by the political power 'and […]
“The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) presented Case 12.919 regarding Ecuador before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (I/A Court) on July 9, 2023. It concerns the death of photojournalist Julio García Romero during a demonstration in 2005 and the lack of a diligent and effective investigation of what happened. [...] In its Merits […]
“They wear bulletproof vests and helmets to practice journalism, although they are not in Ukraine or the Gaza Strip. They cover news from Ecuador, where violence linked to drug trafficking transformed their job into a high-risk profession. Killings between prisoners, murders in the streets, shootings, car bombs, political crimes. And the cartel war for drug […]
"Death threats against journalists doubled in Ecuador, this amid the growing wave of violence that is sweeping this Latin American country. According to organizations that defend freedom of the press, death threats doubled compared to 2021 and 2022, when there were between eight and seven. For the year 2023, exactly between January and August, there […]
"A group of Ecuadorian communicators presented on Thursday [Sept. 7] a Commission for the Protection of Journalists (MAPP, by its Spanish acronym), through mechanisms and concrete actions in the face of threats against the life or freedom of reporters. This coordinating forum among civil society actors, press media and communication workers seeks to create networks […]
"The political movement Partido Social Cristiano (PSC) posted a threatening text, in which it criticized and belittled a cartoon by Xavier Bonilla (aka Bonil), titled 'El repartidor [the delivery man].' The cartoon refers to the former assemblyman of the party, Pablo Muentes, and the multiple lawsuits he has filed for allegedly affecting his honor. The […]