(AMARC/IFEX) – The following is an abridged version of a 17 November 2004 AMARC press release: Communications Ministry to approve an additional 400 community radio stations The Communications Ministry has presented a draft of the criteria for the approval of community radio stations in 400 municipalities in the country. “We have waited seven years for […]
(AMARC/IFEX) – The following is an abridged version of a 17 November 2004 AMARC press release:
Communications Ministry to approve an additional 400 community radio stations
The Communications Ministry has presented a draft of the criteria for the approval of community radio stations in 400 municipalities in the country. “We have waited seven years for this opening,” said Mauricio Beltrán, AMARC’s representative in Colombia.
With the implementation of the initiative, these new community radio stations will be added to the 476 that already exist in the country. Spokespersons for the 14 regional community radio station networks that are AMARC members have welcomed the announcement, which comes seven years after the government’s last move in this regard. At the same time, the spokespersons noted that the country’s main cities and a number of municipalities were left out of this development even though they have viable proposals for community radio stations.
Martha Isabel Martínez, executive director of the Norte de Santander network (red de Norte de Santander, Radar), told the Communications for Peace System (Sistema de Comunicación para la Paz, SIPAZ) that “a number of municipalities that have worked hard to create their own media outlets will not benefit from the development.” Fernando Tibaduiza, representative of the Santander Community Radio Stations Network (Red de Emisoras Comunitarias de Santander, Resander), agreed. “This is an advance as it will provide an apportunity to apply what we have learned,” Tibaduiza said, while at the same time lamenting the fact that a number of municipalities were excluded. Orley Duran, of the Magdalena Medio Radio Network (Asociación Red de radios del Magdalena Medio, Aredmag) expressed similar views.
The government is expected to establish mechanisms for consultation and dialogue in order to allow for a greater number of municipalities to be included in the initiative. Communications Ministry personnel told AMARC that the ministry is open to the possibility of widening the initial call, which could increase the number of community radio stations in the country to 900.
The deadline for submitting suggestions and commentaries on the ministry’s draft is 19 November.
(This statement is based on original research and information provided by SIPAZ’s Mónica Valdes)
