Ecuador Welcomes Assange But Not A Free Press

Many have been celebrating the decision by President Rafael Correa of Ecuador to offer political asylum to Julian Assange this week by declaring it a victory against British and American imperialism.  I'm not sure about that; but I am sure that by allowing Assange to live under the protection of his government, Correa is attempting to make people forget about his own terrible treatment of the Ecuadorean press.  As the Committee to Protect Journalists reported recently, "President Rafael Correa's press freedom record is among the very worst in the Americas."  That's saying something in a region that is home to other opponents of a free press including Cuba and Venezuela.  Assange may be resting comfortably and safely in the Ecuadorean embassy in London but when it comes to press freedom in Ecuador it's clear the Correa government is sticking to the "do as I say, not as I do" axiom of politics.