The deputies of the National Assembly, with a Sandinista majority, approved a reform to Law 1053Organic Law of Nicaraguan Institute of Telecommunications and Posts (Telcor), with the objective of “modernizing, strengthening and expanding the functions and powers” of this controversial institution, which is accused of being the censorship arm of the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo against the media and telecommunications companies.
The amendment to the Telcor Organic Law was ratified yesterday, Tuesday June 13, by Nicaraguan parliamentarians. President Daniel ordered the reform of said legislation “in order to strengthen the institution so that it contributes to optimal management throughout its structure, it is necessary to reform its management bodies so that they adjust to the demands and service of the population, organizing it according to modern management techniques, granting the rank of minister to the director or general director of Telcor”.
Therefore, it requests to amend article 5 of the Law, which will read as follows: “The representation, management and administration of Telcor will be in charge of a director general with the rank of minister, who will be the senior executive officer of the institution, and as such will have the legal representation and the responsibility of directing, coordinating, controlling and monitoring the activity of the institution in accordance with the Law and its regulations”.
Related news: Telcor receives sanctions for “silencing independent media”
Ortega also argued that the reform “intends to provide clarity and explicitness in relation to Telcor’s powers and attributions in terms of regulation, control of the sector, as well as the promotion of innovation and promotion of investments, and the competition of other fundamental aspects for its operational functioning”.
Among the modifications that the Ortega Murillo administration incorporated into the law is that it defines “functions and attributions with the necessary flexibility to exercise the regularization of telecommunications services, audiovisual communications services and postal services in a dynamic manner and consistent with the issues demanded by the advancement of technology of new business models and the market at a local and international level».
It also establishes the supposed «protection of the rights of all users», as well as «the supervision, inspection and control of the services”.
With the reform, Telcor will be able to “approve and execute projects related to telecommunication services, audiovisual and postal services in unserved areas in the national territory.” Likewise, the institution has the power to “propose sectoral public policies in relation to the availability, access and affordability of telecommunications, audiovisual and postal services”.
The Law also indicates that the directors or deputy directors of Telcor are directly appointed or removed by President Daniel Ortega for an indefinite period.
In addition, it indicates that Telcor may establish administrative delegations or customer service centers in the national territory for the fulfillment of its functions.
Telcor, the regime’s spy institution
Telcor is the state entity that regulates the operation and transmission licenses of radio and television media in Nicaragua. Since Ortega came to power in 2007, he has ordered the closure of the media, mainly local radio stations and channels in various departments of the country. In addition, he has granted operating permits and frequency to his children and relatives at will and whim, thus forging a communication emporium. All covered in Telcor.
As of 2018, it has executed the closure of media outlets more quickly and removed international media from the cable grid, which informed audiences about the situation of violation of human rights in Nicaragua.
On January 10, 2022, as Ortega prepared to be sworn in for a new term in the presidential chair, the United States and the European Union designated sanctions against the “executioner” of the independent media.
Both countries affirm that Telcor has been used by the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo to “silence independent media” as a result of the sociopolitical crisis of 2018 and for this reason he was sanctioned. In addition, they mention that he has directed and carried out “surveillance” activities against civil society and the democratic opposition.
