REUTERS

Ecuador's President Rafael Correa. Picture: Reuters/Guillermo Granja

Quito- Two Ecuadorean journalists have been fined $1 million (R7.5m) each in damages for libelling socialist President Rafael Correa, who faces mounting criticism he uses the courts to muzzle the media.

The pugnacious Correa has been sparring with local media ever since he took office in January 2007 promising a “citizens’ revolution” in the South American Opec member.

A civil court judge’s sentence against Juan Carlos Calderon and Christian Zurita stems from their publication of Big Brother, a book alleging Correa was aware that his older brother, Fabricio Correa, was awarded public contracts.

In Ecuador, it is illegal for the president’s close relatives to sign such deals.

“The sum is out of proportion, is absurd and irrational... This is the way in which they are punishing the work of journalists,” Calderon said, adding that the two authors would appeal against the sentence.

Correa’s lawyer, Alembert Vera, said the sentence proved the journalists’ real goal was to defame Correa.

Big Brother, an investigative book released in 2010, says Correa’s popularity suffered badly when local media reported that companies linked to his brother had oil and building contracts with the state worth nearly $170 million.

Correa denied he knew about the deals and he ordered the contracts be cancelled.

The ruling Alianza Pais is pushing two reforms in Congress that rights groups fear will be used to hamper freedom of speech. One of them calls for the creation of a media watchdog that could be used to censor journalists. – Reuters