When a government seizes two TV channels, it is reason enough to raise your freedom-of-expression eyebrows. No matter how much you try, it is quite hard to defend such an action without wondering about the future of the press, and of democracy itself.

Last week, the Ecuadorian government seized 190 companies said to belong to the Isaías Group, a conglomerate most Ecuadorians believe is partly responsible for the banking collapse of 2000. Among these companies were two TV channels, Gamavisión and TC.

This seizure has triggered protests from national and international press organizations such as the Inter American Press Association.

However, Ecuadorians are not likely to miss any relevant information produced by these TV stations. Both are known by their low production standards and their graphic approach to police stories. Their idea of political news is airing sound bites from politicians while providing little context. TC and Gamavisión are not exactly models of fine reporting.

It is confusing, to a certain extent, that these stations have become press freedom martyrs.

During the fall of the Lucio Gutiérrez government (2003-2005), thousands of protesters marched in the streets of Quito against the unconstitutional removal of the Supreme Court. TC reporters where reporting live, miles away from the action, telling their viewers that nothing was happening. Fortunately, Ecuadorians have other means of getting information.

In 1988, TC hid information during the election night broadcast. While other channels were claiming victory for Social Democrat Rodrigo Borja, TC insisted it was a tie. Their data changed when the other candidate, populist Abdalá Bucaram, admitted defeat in their set.

These examples illustrate the way the Isaías Group has tried to influence the press in the past. And at least one journalist was fired from another channel for reporting news about the Filanbanco collapse. Filanbanco is only the tip of the iceberg in this issue.

This bank, owned by the Isaías brothers, triggered the financial debacle that eventually led to the coup against President Jamil Mahuad in 2000. The Mahuad government gave 800 million dollars — roughly 3/4 of Ecuador’s international reserve — to rescue this bank. Against all sound advice, Mahuad went ahead and gave the money to the Isaías Brothers. Another fact, before we go any further: Filanbanco and TC counted the votes during election night in 1998 and Jamil Mahuad won in a highly contested election.

Coincidence?

After getting the money, Filanbanco still went broke a few weeks later leaving thousands of stranded account holders who are still fighting to get their savings back.

Most Ecuadorians might have felt a belated sense of justice after the Isaías Group holdings were confiscated. Even revenge is a good word for this action. But timing is questionable. It has been eight years since the collapse and the Isaías, so far, have evaded justice – they are living their “happily ever after” in Miami.

So the question is: Why now?

The Correa-backed Constitutional Assembly is in dire straits to finish the new constitution in a few weeks. The government has lost some of its popularity and they need it back before the constitutional referendum. One of his election promises was to bring “crooked bankers” to justice.

Nonetheless, the seizure of the channels is not dangerous for TC and Gamavisión only. It gives a powerful and scary message to other media outlets who might think twice before attacking the Correa government. The Ecuadorian president is known for his intolerance to criticism in the press. And adding to the mess: Last week a Guayaquil radio station was denied a broadcasting license and shut down.

Furthermore, if there is something Correa understands is media power, he has constructed his presidency through TV images. Having the media in control may create an autocracy similar to Russia’s where Vladimir Putin is backed by television with little opposition.

Before confiscating assets from the Isaías Group the state controlled one newspaper, El Telégrafo — previously own by another bank that went broke — and a public TV channel with less than a year on the air.

Correa insists that his government is not interested in owning those channels. Even if he is saying the truth the government will have enough time to silence some voices before the referendum.