According to information obtained by IPYS, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications ordered the closure of radio station Radio Libertad, which is located in the city of Trujillo, in the northern department of La Libertad. The radio station is accused of lacking the necessary legal documents, despite the fact that the station’s directors demonstrated that […]
According to information obtained by IPYS, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications ordered the closure of radio station Radio Libertad, which is located in the city of Trujillo, in the northern department of La Libertad. The radio station is accused of lacking the necessary legal documents, despite the fact that the station’s directors demonstrated that this was not the case.
The director-general of the station, Carlos Burmester, stated that Waldimar Huamaní Alfaro, an official from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, came to the radio’s offices on 9 December 1999, alleging that the radio station was clandestine, and ordered the station to cease functioning and disconnect its equipment.
According to Burmester, he showed the official the supreme resolution of 5 November 1951 which granted the station an operating licence, as well as documentation proving payments for the authorisation, periodic renewal of the licence, receipts for cancellation of fees and royalties, and certificates that demonstrate the station meets other requirements.
While at the Radio Libertad premises, Huamaní Alfaro telephoned the ministry offices in Lima and confirmed that all the station’s documents were in order. Nevertheless, he drew up a report ordering the closure of the radio station, under threat of civil, criminal and administrative sanctions, after having admitted that the station has held a licence since 1951.
In Parliament, opposition members of congress formally proposed that Minister of Transportation and Communications Alberto Pandolfi be asked to answer for the closure of Radio Libertad.
IPYS communicated with the Ministry’s Authorisation Office, which Huamaní Alfaro called from the radio station. Unfortunately, they would not respond to any questions nor provide any information.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
– protesting the arbitrary order to close the radio station
Appeals To
APPEALS TO:
Alberto Fujimori Fujimori
President of the Republic
Fax: +51 1 427 6722 / 426 6535
Alberto Bustamante Belaunde
President of the Council of Ministers
Fax: +51 1 447 1628 / 475 0689
Alberto Pandolfi Arbulú
Minister of Transportation and Communications
Fax: +51 1 433 9378
César Saucedo Sánchez
Minister of the Interior
Fax: +51 1 224 2405
Edgardo Mosqueira Medina
Minister of the Presidency
Fax: +51 222 3678
Jorge Santistevan de Noriega
Ombudsman
Fax: +51 1 426 6657
Miguel Aljovín Swayne
Attorney General
Fax: +51 1 426-2474
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
