(CENCOS/IFEX) – The following is a 12 October 2002 letter to President Vicente Fox Quesada by the Group of Civil Society Organisations participating in the Round Table for the Complete Revision of Radio and Television Legislation (“Grupos de Participacion Ciudadana ante la Mesa de Diálogo para la Revision Integral de la Legislacion de Radio y […]
(CENCOS/IFEX) – The following is a 12 October 2002 letter to President Vicente Fox Quesada by the Group of Civil Society Organisations participating in the Round Table for the Complete Revision of Radio and Television Legislation (“Grupos de Participacion Ciudadana ante la Mesa de Diálogo para la Revision Integral de la Legislacion de Radio y Television”), of which CENCOS is a member:
México, D.F.; 12 October 2002
Vicente Fox Quesada
President of the United States of Mexico
The Group of Civil Society Organisations, which has been present at the Round Table for the Complete Revision of Radio and Television Legislation, is writing to express our strongest opposition to the action taken by the Federal Executive branch – which you head. The decision was made known on 10 October 2002.
We believe that the proclamation of the Rules for the Federal Law on Radio and Television in regard to Concessions, Permits and Content of Radio and Television Broadcasts, which was prepared behind the backs of the Round Table – a channel convened by the Interior Secretary and through which for almost two years analysis and discussion have been carried out concerning
modifications to the Federal Law on Radio and Television – runs completely contrary to the agreements made at the Table. As part of these agreements, the Executive promised to discuss fully, and with the presence of all sector representatives, the fundamental aspects of the law.
This betrayal of your own government’s calling together of interests, and the effort to open up to the public the relationship between the state and the media, is an historic step backwards. This move casts doubt on your government’s credibility and on the promises that, in that sense, you had made since your electoral campaign.
In your 10 October speech before those who hold radio and television licenses, you stated that, under the newly enacted Concession Rules (Régimen de Concesiones), the following are stipulated: opening up the National Radio and Television Council to the public, and inscription of the Right of
Reply. Moreover, you claimed that the Concession Rules, published in the official government gazette, are based on the conclusions of the Round Table. This is not true.
Therefore, the Civil Participation Grouping urges you to offer an explanation in this regard. You should be aware that we will not cease calling for genuine changes to to the legislation, and will continue to promote the agreements that emerged from the Round Table. Finally, as citizens, we will demand that the Legislative branch resolve this process, which the Executive has shown itself unable to do.
Representative of the Group of Civil Society Organisations participating in the Round Table,
Alma Rosa Alva de la Selva
