(AMARC/IFEX) -The following is a 22 October 1999 statement by the delegates of the “III Encuentro Iberamericano de radiodifusores” conference held in Havana, Cuba, from 20 to 23 October 1999, being distributed by AMARC. AMARC offers its solidarity to the Paraguayan community radio broadcasters under repression, and will provide information on further developments as it […]
(AMARC/IFEX) -The following is a 22 October 1999 statement by the delegates
of the “III Encuentro Iberamericano de radiodifusores” conference held in
Havana, Cuba, from 20 to 23 October 1999, being distributed by AMARC. AMARC
offers its solidarity to the Paraguayan community radio broadcasters under
repression, and will provide information on further developments as it
becomes available.
SOLIDARITY FOR PARAGUAN COMMUNITY RADIO BROADCASTERS FROM THE “III
ENCUENTRO IBEROAMERICANO DE RADIODUSORES” (III LATIN AMERICAN ENCOUNTER OF
BROADCASTERS)
During the III Latin American Encounter of Broadcasters, we regrettably
learned about the persecution and violation of the right to information
which took place 21 October against 2 community radio stations in Paraguay,
and the threats of closing and seizure of equipment of more than 70
broadcasters associated with COMUNICA (Asociacion Paraguaya de Radiodifusion
Comunitaria – Paraguayan community radio association), and Red de Radios
Populares del Paraguay – The Paraguay Popular Radio Network.
During the conference, delegates from 26 countries in Latin America and the
Caribbean, Europe and Canada and representatives of UNESCO, the World
Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC), Unda-AL, Instituto
Cubano de Radio y Television (Cuban Radio and Television Institute), and
Grupo de los 8 (Group of 8) ratified our full support to the development of
community radio stations throughout the continent.
The democratic organizations associated with Latin American broadcasting
express our deep concern for these new human rights violations in Paraguay
and are requesting that the government of this country fully respects Law
642/95 which recognizes Community and “Citizen” Radio broadcasters (Radios
Comunitarias y Ciudadanas) as stated in section IV.
The young Paraguayan democracy, conquered with the blood of its young people
last March, cannot allow this upset to the democratization of communications
process which community radio stations in Paraguay have legitimized with
their audiences, legalized by the National Constitution and the
Telecommunications law, and demonstrated by their ongoing contribution to
the socioeconomic development of Paraguay.
Havana, 22 October 1999.
