Event Summary
These cases of aggression against journalists reveal a systematic pattern of violations of fundamental civil rights and freedoms — particularly freedom of expression and press freedom — by the Ecuadorian State, in response to the demonstrations held in recent weeks and justified under the state of emergency declared due to “serious internal unrest.”
Organizations defending freedom of expression, such as Fundamedios, Fundación Periodistas Sin Cadenas, and various community media outlets, have expressed concern over the excessive use of force against journalists covering the protests across the country. They have called on the authorities to initiate investigations and sanction those responsible for violating press and expression freedoms.
During the National Strike called by the Indigenous movement and various social organizations, as of 15 October 2025, more than 50 cases of aggression against journalists by the National Police have been documented by civil society organisations defending freedom of expression. In different parts of the country, reporters have been victims of searches (such as Jorge Cano, from Wambra Medio Comunitario), physical assaults (Santiago Gil, from Ecuavisa), verbal attacks, and pressure to delete audiovisual material (Pamela Ledesma, from BN Periodismo), among other forms of violence. On October 14, the case of Edison Muenala, a journalist from the community channel Apak TV, was reported — he was shot in the shoulder and required urgent medical attention.