MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Controversial media law approved in Ecuador conditions freedom of the press
Creating official media overseers, imposing sanctions for smearing “people's good name” and limiting private media to one third of radio and TV licenses, Ecuador's congress on Friday passed a restrictive new media law championed by President Rafael Correa. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesCome on Assange where's the wikileaks on your new home?
Jun 16th, 2013 - 08:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Funnily enough you would fall foul of these laws if you were what you say you are. So lucky you are in cozy with the government I guess.
Apparently they must take these drastic actions because freedoms like these offer alternative points of views. I would j=guess the other countries that will toss the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights out on their asses are bolivia, venezuela, argentina .....50/50 on brazil. Every one has freedom of expression as long as they agree on one point of view. As the PA countries move ahead, these dictocracies will flounder and ultimately fall in to chaos again.
Jun 16th, 2013 - 09:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Agreed Captain Poppy. These governments fail to realise that something as simple as free media can impact them economically. If I had a choice to invest in countries that restrict speech and have encroaching government control (Bolivar Alliance and Mercosur) and those that are moving in the opposite direction (Pacific Alliance), then I would choose the latter.
Jun 17th, 2013 - 01:19 am - Link - Report abuse 0Which seems to be what is happening.
“You can all express your view ... as long as it is MY view.”
Jun 17th, 2013 - 10:12 am - Link - Report abuse 0.....................................
media overseers imposing sanctions for smearing “people's good name”
but what person has *only* a good name?
Most people I know have a mixed blessing of attributes and 'wickednesses'.
Even (perhaps, 'especially') a president has 'skeletons in the cupboard'.
No, this is a blatant attempt to stop anybody expressing any criticism of those in power;
and, Yes; this is the check on abuse of power that Wikileaks brought to the table.
Those in positions of power can never allow untrammelled criticism or the wide exposure of hidden and inconvenient truths.
Patino has announced that Assange can stay for 5 years. Still not sure what they expect the UK to do? And why sack the ambassador as they are no better off now than they were before.
Jun 17th, 2013 - 11:39 am - Link - Report abuse 0@5 Curious. Patino rabbited on about Assange's “human right” to sunbathe. Had Assange taken the trouble to travel a further 2.8 miles, he could have reached the Australian High Commission in London. Unlike the premises of the Ecuadorian embassy, the High Commission has a roof. Could have sunbathed there with no problems. So why the Ecuadorian embassy? Because Ecuador (Correa), like argieland (CFK), only goes with agreements, laws, treaties that are “convenient. Think back. Ecuador didn't give Assange ”political“ asylum. It gave him ”diplomatic“ asylum. A different ”institution“. Not recognised outside latin america. Now, why would Assange go for the embassy of a non-democratic, repressive place like Ecuador? A cynical calculation that Ecuador would be more likely to ignore ”law” than Australia? And thus is Assange revealed. A narcissistic, self-important, cowardly, greedy conman. Must be really nasty for him. After a brief period of publicity, the world forgot him. A criminal fugitive caged in the premises of a foreign embassy. Voluntary imprisonment. And now he seeks more publicity. Listen up, Julian. Never mind 5 years, you can stay there for the next 50 years. And when you finally step outside, you will still be arrested. There is a question about whether you should be imprisoned in Britain for breaching your bail conditions before being sent to Sweden. One way or another, you may die in prison. A Swedish one, a British one or your own self-imposed one. And who cares? Not US. Just as long as you're somewhere where you can't cause any more trouble!
Jun 17th, 2013 - 12:31 pm - Link - Report abuse 0from BBC
Jun 17th, 2013 - 12:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22937293
“Speaking via a translator, Mr Patino said: ”The Ecuadorean government will continue to ensure that he continues with the protection we have given him under asylum in our country, protecting his life, his personal integrity, and particularly his freedom of expression. “
”and particularly his freedom of expression”
What a bunch of fork-tongued snakes!
News reporting that Ecuadorin and British talks have failed to resolve the matter of Assange.
Jun 17th, 2013 - 05:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Really! Wow! Now that is a surprise.
Not!!!!
I wonder if Assange is paying anything for board and rent?
Jun 17th, 2013 - 07:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Just a thought.
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