Ecuador

ECUADOR A letter bomb addressed to a television journalist and a wave of draft laws that threatened freedom of the press and expression are the two outstanding events of this period. There is concern over the attacks aimed at the press since the political debate that developed in the National Congress following the January 21, 2000, overthrew of President Jamil Mahuad. Other outstanding developments: November 25, 1999: Congress approves the national budget for 2000. It eliminates the sales tax (12%) on newspapers and magazines. The tax is charged on advertising sales. February 16, 2000: A letter bomb explodes in the hands of journalist Rafael Cuesta Caputi, of television channel TC. He suffers injuries to his body. The police determine that the bomb was intended only to “scare” him. Subsequently, there were reports of 10 other bombs intended for journalists, politicians and indigenous leaders. Two of the bombs were disarmed and nothing more was known of the others up to the time of this report. February 21: A story in the newspaper, El Universo, reports the administration of Jamil Mahuad planned to shut down live television broadcasts on the day he was overthrown. February 24: León Febres-Cordero, mayor of Guayaquil and former president of the country, charged the news media with being corrupt and of provoking the crisis enveloping the nation. Other politicians voiced similar accusations. February 25: Congress approves the law for campaign expenditures that permits the Electoral Supreme Court to fine, and subsequently to close for six months, any news medium that within 30 days of the election fails to report to the court the amounts spent with it on advertising by each campaign organization. The media has the right to appeal before being shut down. The law also requires the media to provide all candidates with comparable space. The bill first approved by the legislators allowed for a medium to be closed permanently with no right to appeal. The Ecuadorean Association of Newspaper Publishers (AEDEP) has prepared a package of legal reforms that have not yet been presented to Congress due to the existing precarious political situation. The aim is to change the code of criminal procedure and the article of the Constitution that deals with the press. The draft law on consumer protection forbids publishing advertising that is “false,” “deceptive” and “abusive.” The AEDEP has suggested in writing how to define these terms so they do not pose a threat to freedom of the press. The draft law to reform the practice of professional journalism has several aspects worthy of examination: —It applies to journalists, communicators and publicists when there are essential professional distinctions. —It establishes the right to protect sources only for the journalist, but not for the medium. —It continues to compel journalists to join an association and to be university graduates in order to practice the profession.