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The $42 Million Op-Ed

Ecuadorean media executive Nicolás Pérez talks about the criminal case brought against him and his newspaper for publishing an op-ed piece that criticized Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa. Pérez shares the article that landed his paper in court on charges of criminal defamation of a public official, a charge that Pérezcalls “contempt of authority,” and fines totaling $42 million. Pérezwarns that, although the outrageous charges were eventually dropped because of international support for the defendants, the ruling sets a dangerous precedent for freedom of speech in Ecuador.

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