(AMARC/IFEX) – The following is an abridged version of a 22 December 2004 AMARC press release: The Communications and Transport Secretariat (Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes, SCT) and the Interior Ministry have granted operating permits to three more indigenous community radio stations that are AMARC associates. The Mazateca indigenous community, based in Mazatlán de Villaflores, […]
(AMARC/IFEX) – The following is an abridged version of a 22 December 2004 AMARC press release:
The Communications and Transport Secretariat (Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes, SCT) and the Interior Ministry have granted operating permits to three more indigenous community radio stations that are AMARC associates.
The Mazateca indigenous community, based in Mazatlán de Villaflores, Oaxaca state, the Zapotitlán de Vadillo community, in Jalisco state, and the Tepalcatepec municipality, in Michoacán state, were granted authorisation to operate and manage their own radio stations.
Melquíades Rosas, of Radio Nandía station in Oaxaca, said the station’s main audience will be local farmers. Rosas, a member of the Mazateca community, stressed the importance of preserving the indigenous language and culture, particularly among the youth.
All three community radio stations will be focused on programmes for local youth. Juan Contreras, legal representative of Ecos de Manantlán station in Jalisco, said the radio station’s programmes will be key in combating alcohol and drug problems in the region.
Tito Zapotitlan, also of Ecos de Manantlán, added that the radio station would play an important role in community safety by monitoring the activity of Colima volcano, which is located close to the indigenous community.
Crisanto López, of Radio Cultural Tepalcatepec, stressed the importance of non-commercial radio stations that broadcast community and cultural programming.
Indigenous communities were recently authorised to operate and manage their own radio stations for the first time in Mexico’s history. On 6 December, operating permits were granted to a Mixes indigenous community based in Oaxaca and to a radio station based in Uruapan municipality, Michoacán state, which serves the migrant Purépecha indigenous community.
