(IAPA/IFEX) – The following is a 12 January 2004 IAPA press release: Dominican radio programme shutdown brings reaction from IAPA MIAMI, Florida (January 12, 2004) – The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) said today it is concerned at the closure of a political radio programme in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The closure was ordered by […]
(IAPA/IFEX) – The following is a 12 January 2004 IAPA press release:
Dominican radio programme shutdown brings reaction from IAPA
MIAMI, Florida (January 12, 2004) – The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) said today it is concerned at the closure of a political radio programme in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The closure was ordered by a senior official in the country’s presidential office.
The programme, “El Poder de la Tarde” (Afternoon Power), hosted by journalist César Medina, was aired daily by the Cielo FM radio station, one of the news media outlets that was placed in official receivership by the government. That action was taken to seize the assets of the station’s owner, the Banco Intercontinental bank, following the bank’s declaration of bankruptcy last May. The bank also owned other radio and television stations and several newspapers.
Journalists working at the radio station reported that, in early January 2004, the official receiver, José Llluberes, told them that the programme was being taken off the air under strict orders from the head of the presidential press office, Luis González Fabra.
This is not the first time that government politicians have taken what opponents say is unlawful action against news media under the anti-money laundering law. On several previous occasions, the IAPA has complained that radio stations in receivership were used to broadcast political messages by Presidente Hipólito Mejía, who is seeking reelection in May. The IAPA has also pointed out that the newspaper Listín Diario and television channels 13 and 27, also in official receivership, have slanted their political news and opinion in favor of the government.
“What is happening with the news media placed in receivership by the government,” said Rafael Molina, chairman of the IAPA’s Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information, “poses a grave danger for freedom of expression in the Dominican Republic and sets a bad example for the rest of the region, because it deprives citizens of reliable news sources that keep them duly informed of what is happening in the nation. At the same time, it is an abuse of power that produces unwarranted imbalances in the political arena, especially during the current run-up to elections.”
Cielo FM (previously known as Power) is operated by the Sistema Nacional de Radiodifusión company, one of the businesses owned by the now bankrupt Banco Intercontinental bank.
