Despite winning two
successive elections, Ecuador's president, Rafael Correa, has been
described as a dictator in some quarters. Photograph: Dolores Ochoa/AP
Guardian
The misinformation and ignorance circulating about Ecuador as the Assange case propels the country into the international arena are frustrating.
On Monday, the UK-based Daily Mail published a piece describing Ecuador as "a world of fear under a Left-wing dictator who responds to dissent with an iron fist".
This "dictator", the country's president Rafael Correa, has been
elected twice with overwhelming majorities, most recently notching up
52% in 2009, more than 20% ahead of his nearest rival. The freedom and
fairness of these elections have never been questioned by any country or
relevant entity. His current approval ratings are hovering just under 60%.
Concerns about freedom of speech are justified, but should not be exaggerated. According to last year's press freedom index,
published by Reporters Without Borders, press freedom in Ecuador has
worsened significantly in the past decade and especially in the past two
or three years under Correa. But although Ecuador finds itself in the
bottom half of the table, it is only four places below Brazil, and well
ahead of its Latin American neighbours Peru and Colombia, as well as
India and Turkey. Oft-quoted analyses by organisations such as Human
Rights Watch have been criticised for failing to discuss the whole picture.
