Ecuador Judge Orders Prison, Fine for Owners of El Universo

[Judi Lynn]

Ecuador Judge Orders Prison, Fine for Owners of El Universo
By Nathan Gill - Jul 21, 2011 12:00 AM CT

An Ecuadorean judge sentenced the owners of El Universo, the nation’s biggest newspaper, and a former editor at the publication to three years in prison and a $40 million fine for libel against President Rafael Correa, the government said yesterday.

Nicholas, Cesar and Carlos Perez, whose family owns Guayaquil-based El Universo, and Emilio Palacio, the former editor of the newspaper’s opinion section, must pay Correa $30 million for a February opinion piece written by Palacio, the government said yesterday in a statement in the presidential gazette.

The judge also fined El Universo $10 million for its role in printing the article, the statement said.

The opinion column dealt with an incident at a Quito hospital in September, when security forces opened fire in a rescue attempt to free the president, who was trapped inside by rioting police officers. The lawsuit has drawn criticism from press freedom groups, including Quito-based Fundamedios, concerned Correa is trying to stifle critics.

More:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-21/ecuador-judge-orders-prison-fine-for-owners-of-el-universo.html

[Bacchus39]

1. columnist called Rafa a dictator, I guess Correa showed him n/t

s

[joshcryer]

3. The outrage is a little silly, he can't be a dictator because the constitution doesn't allow it.

The Ecuadorian constitution is actually one of the best constitutions out there (even with the 'unique' environmental stuff), and it limits the President to two terms of four years each. Ergo, dictator is over the top.

Now, one can argue that the judicial sector is corrupted, and that he has used his powers in the past to do unsavory things, but calling him a dictator does likely fall under libel. Now if only it is implemented consistently.

[naaman fletcher]

2. It's always good to see the true colors

Of those who claim to support democracy, but really are totalitarians who use the government to suppress their political opponents.

[joshcryer]

4. It may have qualified as political speech, but I'd have to see what was written.

I think it's likely they had a case, though. Difference between "es un dictador" and "es como un dictador."