IV 
112TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 745 
Expressing concern regarding the conditions of democracy, freedom of the 
press, human rights, business and investment climate, counternarcotics 
cooperation, and the relationship with Iran, in Ecuador prior to the 
July 31, 2013, expiration of the Andean Trade Preference Act and 
the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 31, 2012 
Mr. MACK (for himself, Mr. ENGEL, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. SIRES, Mr. 
DIAZ-BALART, Mr. RIVERA, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. HARPER, and 
Mrs. SCHMIDT) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on 
Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing concern regarding the conditions of democracy, 
freedom of the press, human rights, business and invest-
ment climate, counternarcotics cooperation, and the rela-
tionship with Iran, in Ecuador prior to the July 31, 
2013, expiration of the Andean Trade Preference Act 
and the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication 
Act. 
Whereas since 2007, the Government of Ecuador has expro-
priated and fined magazines, newspapers, and radio and 
television stations, pursued criminal and civil legal action 
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•HRES 745 IH 
against journalists, media outlets, and political oppo-
nents, and utilized legislation to broaden official censor-
ship powers; 
Whereas, as a result of a February 6, 2011, opinion column 
regarding President Correa’s involvement in a September 
2010 protest by the National Police, Correa sued El 
Universo 
executives 
and 
an 
opinion 
editor 
for 
$80,000,000 dollars for ‘‘defamatory libel’’, and the lower 
court’s ruling against the El Universo defendants for 3- 
year jail terms and fines totaling $40,000,000 was subse-
quently upheld by Ecuador’s National Court of Justice, 
while the precedent from this ruling remained intact, it 
was not enforced as a result of a pardon request made 
by President Correa; 
Whereas the Inter American Press Association called the de-
cision by Ecuador’s National Court of Justice on Presi-
dent Correa’s libel suit against El Universo ‘‘a serious at-
tack on freedom of the press and gagging of independent 
journalism’’, and denounced ‘‘a judicial and legal struc-
ture that is used to make reprisals against those who dis-
sent from official policy’’; 
Whereas under President Correa, the Government of Ecuador 
has threatened and dismissed judges critical of or op-
posed to executive branch policies and legislatively altered 
the judicial system in a way that Human Rights Watch 
has cited ‘‘could lead to a significant increase in the gov-
ernment’s influence over the appointment and dismissal 
of judges’’; 
Whereas according to the United States Department of 
State’s 2011 Country Report on Human Rights Practices 
for Ecuador, the judiciary was ‘‘susceptible to outside 
pressure and corruption’’, reaching ‘‘decisions based on 
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media influence or political and economic pressures’’ 
while ‘‘in some cases the outcome of trials appeared pre-
determined’’; 
Whereas the United States Department of State’s 2011 
Country Report on Human Rights Practices for Ecuador 
described instances of ‘‘excessive force by public security 
forces, restrictions on freedom of speech and press, and 
official corruption’’ and ‘‘corruption and denial of due 
process within the judicial system’’; 
Whereas the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression 
of the Organization of American States Inter-American 
Commission on Human Rights has stated that censures 
of expression through criminal laws like those in Ecuador 
‘‘are unnecessary, disproportionate, and cannot be justi-
fied by any imperative social interest; they also constitute 
a form of indirect censorship given their intimidating and 
chilling effect on the discussion of matters in the public 
interest’’; 
Whereas according to asylum statistics provided by the 
United States Department of Justice Executive Office for 
Immigration Review, Ecuadoran citizens are increasingly 
turning to the United States for support and protection, 
applying for asylum 230 percent more in 2011 than in 
2007, and Ecuador is consistently among the top 12 na-
tionalities applying for asylum in the United States; 
Whereas the Government of Ecuador has expropriated assets, 
including in the media and energy industries; 
Whereas according to the United States Department of Com-
merce, ‘‘fundamental weaknesses in Ecuador’s judicial 
system and the rule of law are major challenges in doing 
business in Ecuador’’ and Correa has created a ‘‘chal-
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