OPINION:
The Associated Press story on Ecuador’s nationwide ballot referendum (“Correa assails opposition media,” Web, May 2) wrongly suggests the government of Ecuador is out to shut down criticism with its proposal that journalists be impartial professionals and that newspapers and broadcast news outlets be free from excessive influence by their owners’ other financial interests. Most of your readers would say, I think, that ethical journalism demands both.
Anyone who visits our country would find it difficult to ignore the criticism of the government that comes from some elements of our private media. No one intends to suppress that and, indeed, the Ecuadorean people would never tolerate censorship. We value debate and the give-and-take of political discourse. That is precisely why President Correa called a national referendum, as a way to listen to the people’s collective voice. This is democracy in its most essential form.
As for the president’s criticism of some reporting, like any citizen, he is entitled to have an opinion and to take legal action when he feels it is appropriate. Our libel laws are not unlike those that exist in many countries in Europe and the Americas. In fact, they were enacted long before President Correa took office.
EFRAIN BAUS
Charge d’affaires
Embassy of Ecuador
Washington
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