Who: Journalist, director of the Institute for Press and Society of Peru (IPYS), author of Death in the Pentagonito.
Ecuador His visit coincides with a tense situation for freedom of expression: President Rafael Correa lawsuits against media and journalists, whom he calls corrupt or thugs ink, and a ballot initiative that promotes the adoption of a law and a board to control the information content. How does the situation?
concern because, based on the popularity of a president, is to establish mechanisms that control content and intimidate the media. If approved, it will be a permanent measure, because it goes against the freedoms that we have on this continent for citizens to express themselves freely.
Several international organizations, open letters to President Correa, has urged to ensure freedom of expression, which is a fundamental human right, but he will have rejected. What do you think?
is the wrong attitude, pride and, although based on a power that gives clear popular support, that power is fleeting and can drop by reckless actions, which are not based on principles that nations have been built for many years . I hope that the Ecuadorian president and not considered enemy listen to dissenting voices. I look up (Hugo) Chavez some features more tolerant than Correa.
Why do you think?
First, I clarify that, of course, Venezuelan society is oppressive mechanisms, but it seems that President Correa has an urge to attack the divergent, is more aggressive than any other Latin American president (Fidel) Castro included.
But there is one big difference: in Ecuador there is no dictatorship.
I definitely want to specify. Correa Castro is a dictator, no. But somehow, I think what is happening in Ecuador respond to particular characteristics of its president, who also has many virtues that I ignore.
What? Emphasize.
are obvious: it is brilliant on economic criteria, have fast reactions to benefit the population is brave to confront the powers that may affect their people. But it is too irritable to criticism and, quickly, use the repressive power of the state in a peculiar way. Is an outlier.
Is there traits of totalitarianism?
Totalitarianism, no, because the Ecuadorian society is more democratic than Venezuela, but if you control all the powers and if a president has so much weight, let an authoritarian model that is doomed to fail.
How long? The lasting
the president's popularity.
which, according to experts, is based on high oil prices, allowing you to sustain a welfare policy and patronage.
Sea for whatever reason, when the mood of the people change, you will see that these critics had a point, and that will be very hard for this president in terms of freedom of expression. It is advisable that a president has many powers that depends on their mood.
What is the future of independent media in Ecuador before this picture?
Ecuador has a very strong press, which has not yet given its full capacity. I see a progress in various media information efforts, I see companies that are healthy, they have not made the mistake of becoming political actors, as it has an important part of the Venezuelan press.
President Correa says the press has occupied the space for political opposition.
I called attention in several of our countries there is a crisis of representation, the traditional parties are not strong and independent media and underscore some mistakes of government, it is easy to say "Here's the opposition" .. . When there is no real opposition, a president such as Rafael Correa in the press sees its main enemy and wants to destroy.
Does that explain a question of the referendum that prohibits media owners own shares in other companies?
IPYS I belong to, independent organization of journalists, no media stockholders. I've had more problems than pleasant moments with the owners of the means in which I worked. The exercise report should be made with companies that allow public interest prevail.
In Ecuador, has formed the first Forum of Journalists. How important is freedom of expression for these spaces?
The societies of journalists in Latin America have been destroyed because they were heavily influenced by the Cold War. Some were anti-Communist, anti Cuba, and other anti-American. Today, in general, journalists from different ideological persuasions uphold the principles of democracy and how we seek to better inform the citizens: that is fundamental. (Mevo)
Source: Journal
TODAY 
0 comments:
Post a Comment