Through the social network, the SNTP reported that Conatel officials and members of the National Guard closed the stations Moda 105.1 FM, NEX 100.1 FM and HITS 92.5 FM. At the moment the reasons are unknown.
The board of directors of the Cojedes sectional National Association of Journalists (CNP) rejected the closure of four stations of the entity by the National Telecommunications Commission of Venezuela (Conatel). For the agency, the measure violates the right to freedom to express thoughts, ideas and opinions.
“Citizens see the exercise of their right to give and receive content of public interest, provided for in articles 57 and 58 of the Magna Carta, reduced. The right to work of journalists, broadcasters, operators and producers is violated; In addition to influencing economic activity by not having spaces to advertise products and services, “stressed the CNP through a release released on its website on Monday, July 18.
The instance affirmed that this type of decision leaves broadcasters in a legal limbo. He explained that there has not been a massive renewal of the licenses and that managing the authorization is not a process that is achieved in the short term.
The college warned that the measure results in self-regulation and self-censorship of other media to avoid sanctions, this implies the reprogramming of political and informative content. “The fear of not recovering the seized equipment, which amounts to thousands of dollars, and the fear of opening administrative proceedings against it and investigations are growing,” he added.
The CNP expressed solidarity with unemployed media managers and workers. At the same time, he expressed his repudiation of actions that seek to limit the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Venezuelan legal system and international agreements that defend freedom of thought and the plurality of ideas.
He summoned Conatel to implement mechanisms that expedite the administrative authorization, concession or permit for the use of the radio spectrum, in addition to the delivery of the seized equipment.
In 15 days Conatel closed and seized the equipment of the radio stations Candela 92.9 FM, (July 1), Nex 100.1 FM, Hits 92.5 FM and Moda 105.1 FM, (July 15); located in San Carlos, San Carlos municipality.
According to the National Association of Journalists, Conatel justified the closures by non-compliance with article 165 of the Organic Law of Telecommunications (2011), which establishes sanctions with fines, in numeral 1, the installation, operation and exploitation of telecommunications services or the use of frequencies of the radioelectric spectrum that require administrative authorization or concession, without having these. Actions that correspond to Article 172. Without prejudice to the fines that apply in accordance with the provisions of this Law, it will be sanctioned with the confiscation of the equipment and materials used in the installation, operation, provision or exploitation of telecommunications services.
Violations of freedom of expression by Conatel
On Saturday, July 16, the National Union of Press Workers (SNTP), denounced that the National Telecommunications Commission of Venezuela (Conatel), closed the last three stations mentioned above.
The complaint was made through Twitter on Friday, July 15. “In less than 15 days, Conatel has closed four radio stations in the state of Cojedes. Another arbitrary act that violates freedom of expression and the right to information”, warned the SNTP.
*Also read: June closed with 12 cases of violations of freedom of expression, alert Espacio Público
Violations of freedom of expression continue. June had already closed with 12 cases and 21 scourges to this right. Most of the perpetrators were members of the security forces. This was reported by the non-governmental organization (NGO) Espacio Público through its Web page.
According to the NGO the intimidation was the most common violation of freedom of expression (10 of the 21 violations, followed by censorship (4), judicial harassment (4), and verbal harassment (3).
Espacio Público detailed that last month there were 17 victims of violations of freedom of expression. He explained that eight of them were individuals, four journalists or reporters, three media outlets and two cases that affected the general public.
#SNTPAlert | Conatel closed this #15Jul three radio stations in #Saint Charles.
With members of the National Guard, they closed Moda 105.1FM, NEX 100.1FM and HITS 92.5FM. Among the arguments put forward is the illegal use of the radio spectrum and that they did not have permission pic.twitter.com/vRHaGOPQKp— SNTP (@sntpvenezuela) July 16, 2022
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