Colombia
Politics loses place on community radioPosted Oct 20 2007
The Communications Ministry of Columbia has banned political broadcasts on community radio for three months through municipal and departmental elections in October, according to Reporters Without Borders.
An August 13 newsletter announced the law, which prohibited political “proselytism”. In 2003 the Ministry of Communication defined political “proselytism” as any activity intended to win favor for a political faction or doctrine that is religious and/or political or any that persecutes the beliefs of groups or organizations. This, a newsletter released by the government explains, is against the character of community radio broadcasting.
The ruling is based on article 23 from Law 130 passed in 1994.
The World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters condemned the announcement immediately, “AMARC strongly condemns the Colombian government's decision to violate freedom of expression and information by imposing prior censorship, through restricting in an arbitrary and unconstitutional manner community media's right to cover various electoral proposals, conduct interviews and promote debates between the different political parties.”