🚀 go-pugleaf

The following is the message sent by AMARC to protest the
Uruguayan government's closure of Radio Panamericana CX44.

It appears that the president's office has disconnected the fax
machine that we had a number for (598-2-80 93 97). If you have
been unsuccessful in sending a fax to the president, you might
try one of the alternate numbers below.

Ministry of Defence (responsible for broadcasting)
     (598) 2 47 44 25

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
     (598) 2-92 13 27

Ministry of the Interiour
     (598) 2-92-31-42

Supreme Court
     (598) 2-92-35-49


     ----------------================////////========--------
Senor Presidente de la Republica
Lacalle Herrera
Montevideo, Uruguay

Fax: 598-2-80 93 97

Montreal, 30 August, 1994

Senor Presidente,

     The World Association of Community Radio
Broadcasters (AMARC) is an international non-
governmental organization with members in over fifty
countries. Based in Montreal, AMARC has consultative
status with UNESCO and the International
Telecommunications Union. It is funded in part by the
Canadian International Development Agency.

     We are writing to express our concern about the
closure of one of our member stations in Uruguay,
Radio Panamericana CX44 following its coverage of the
police repression of a peaceful demonstration on
Wednesday August 24, 1994.

     Freedom of the press and of communication are of
the utmost importance for creating and maintaining
democratic societies. The importance of free
communication, even in moments of crisis, was recently
underlined by the Declaration of Santiago proclaimed
during the Seminar on Communication and Democracy in
Latin America and the Caribbean sponsored by UNESCO in
Chile last May.

     We urge you to restore Radio Panamericana's
broadcast licence as a demonstration of your
committment to the democratization of communication.

     We thank you in advance for informing us of the
action that you have taken with respect to this matter
which constitutes a serious threat to the basic
democratic principles of freedom of expression.

                                   Yours sincerely,



                                   Evelyne Foy
                                   Secretary General