(AMARC/IFEX) – The following is an AMARC-International press release, followed by a 4 September 2000 AMARC-Uruguay statement: AMARC-International is concerned to learn of the raid on community radio station “La Marea FM” in Uruguay. The raid was carried out following a judicial order by Judge Gerardo Alvarez Escusel of Lascano, on the basis that “La […]
(AMARC/IFEX) – The following is an AMARC-International press release, followed by a 4 September 2000 AMARC-Uruguay statement:
AMARC-International is concerned to learn of the raid on community radio station “La Marea FM” in Uruguay. The raid was carried out following a judicial order by Judge Gerardo Alvarez Escusel of Lascano, on the basis that “La Marea FM” was interfering with broadcasts from the Ministry of National Defence. AMARC-International asks the international freedom of expression community to join in support of “La Marea FM” and to protest the actions of the government of Uruguay. To date, “La Marea FM” has received messages of solidarity from Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Argentina, Paraguay, Colombia, Spain, Argentina, and Ecuador.
Statement from AMARC-Uruguay
Montevideo, 4 September 2000 – Community Radio ” La Marea FM ” in the village Barra de Valizas (Rocha) was raided on Friday, September 1, depriving the residents, fishermen and craftspeople of the only communications media in the region.
Following a judicial order, the act was carried out by personnel of the National Communications Directorate, accompanied by employees of the Army and the police. The personnel confiscated transmission equipment, the antenna, and ten metres of coaxial cable.
The office of AMARC-Uruguay expresses its indignation over this act which violates human rights and the freedom to access communications media, and is in flagrant contradiction of the initiative to legalize community radio activity in Uruguay declared by President Jorge Batlle Ibañez.
AMARC-Uruguay formally asks:
– that the motives behind the closure of ” La Marea FM ” be clearly revealed
– that the community radio station of the residents of Valizas be re-opened
– that the seized equipment be returned to its rightful owners
– that a “roundtable” be created, whereby a number of issues among various social actors, and community radio representatives in particular, could be discussed
Carlos Ramos
AMARC-Uruguay Representative
Recommended Action
Send letters:
– in support of “La Marea FM”
– protesting the raid to the Department of National Defence, and Judge Gerardo Alvarez
Escusel
Appeals To
APPEALS TO:
c/o: AMARC-Uruguay
Pablo de Maria 1435 of. 301
Telefax: +409 16 56
E-mail: castormail@i.com.uy
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
