Ecuador

ECUADOR The press has not been restricted in recent months, but these events have created some concern: • instructions given to government public information offices shortly after President Durán Ballén took office contained extensive regulations on how the employees should deal with the press. The rules are seen as limiting access to official sources by setting specified times for such contact and requiring that junior officials always consult their superiors before making statements. • Patricio Ramos, a reporter far Radio Quito, was manhandled by a policeman while reporting on an official ceremony. He said he later received a call from the president's office expressing concem about the incident and explaining that the officer who attacked him was not a member of the president's security guard. • Journalist Hernán Ramos of the newspa per Hoy was thrown out of the vice president's office when he tried to obtain information. Officials there deny knowing anything about the incident. • The Journalists Colegio protested the firing of seven people - including some joumalists - employed in the press room at the president's office. They were accused of having given several news organizations a tape recording in which President Durán Ballén voiced his annoyance at complaints by relatives of the Restrepo brothers, missing for the past five years after being detained by police. Licensing of journalists remains in effect in Ecuador. A "right of reply' is provided for in the Constitution, but there has been no enabling legislation to bring the provision into effect.