The World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters of Latin America and the Caribbean (AMARC ALC) rejected the arbitrary closure of its Nicaraguan partner Radio Vos, which operated in Matagalpa, in the north of the country. The organization also joined the sentences before the cancellations of the radios of the Diocese of Matagalpa and expressed solidarity with the audiences because “they will no longer have these spaces to be informed.”
AMARC highlights that Radio Vos was a community radio station with 18 years of work with the communities of the department of Matagalpa and that it has been relevant for the promotion of human rights, especially of women, youth and children.
“This Tuesday, August 2, the station received a notification of closure by the Nicaraguan Institute of Telecommunications and Mail, Telcor, under the argument of alleged technical problems that in practice do not exist… The closure not only affects the right of those who work in the station, but rather limits the population to enjoy the fundamental right to communication,” emphasizes the organization.
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AMARC urged the Ortega Murillo regime to “reverse these administrative closures that violate freedom of expression, freedom of the press and the right to communication… A democracy can only be built on the basis of respect for the rights of citizens, among which is communication as a fundamental right”.
Through a statement, Radio Vos reported that a delegation from Telcor arrived at its facilities accompanied by the Police to carry out a supposed “review” of the station’s transmission equipment, both in the facilities and in La Cartuja where the transmitter operates. . “After monitoring, we were notified of the cancellation of our 101.7 FM FM broadcasting license,” the radio wrote.
According to the pronouncement, Telcor justified the cancellation of the radio license for having failed to comply with article 41 of Law Number 200 “General Law of Telecommunications and Postal Services”, which establishes that “radio stations may not suspend your transmissions, except for unforeseen circumstances or force majeure, and the license holder must inform you of the suspension, indicating the causes and the normalization of the service».
That same day, August 2, the Ortega dictatorship also ordered the closure of Canal RB3 in Río Blanco, municipality of Matagalpa, amid the wave of repression against the Catholic Church in Nicaragua. This offensive also reached seven religious radio stations that were administered by the Diocese of Matagalpa, whose licenses were also suspended by Telcor.
