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IFEX- News from the international freedom of expression community
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ACTION ALERT - ARGENTINA

5 September 1997

Community radios shut down

SOURCE: World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters
(AMARC), Montreal

(AMARC/IFEX) - In the middle of August 1997, low power
community radio stations which broadcast on 98Mhz were shut down. FM
Ilusiones 98.5 and FM Del Sol 98.1, two of the radio stations in
question, had broadcast for nine years with a provisional permit
(Permiso Precario y Provisorio) granted by the Federal Broadcasting
Authority (Comite Federal de Radiodifusion, COMFER). (This permit is a
legal and valid document possessed by all low power radio
stations which allows them to broadcast.)

Officers from the Federal Police, without the presence of
officials from COMFER, broke into the offices of the stations. In the
case of FM Ilusiones, no judicial document or anything similar was
presented to staff. All of the station's broadcasting equipment was
taken, without there being an inventory made of it.

Ernesto Arrieta, director of FM Ilusiones, was handcuffed and had a
gun pointed at him. He was not permitted to call his lawyer. Miguel
Mangano, director of FM Del Sol, while not subject to the same
treatment, was nevertheless subject to arbitrary measures. The police
chief in charge of the break-ins claimed that they were going to
"clean up" 160 radio stations in a 150 km area where these break-ins
occurred.

The measures taken against the community radios took place
following a criminal complaint lodged by the Vottionis company,
owned by journalist Daniel Haddad. THe company manages the radio
station FM News which broadcasts on the 98.3 frequency, which was
initially granted for a radio which reportedly was to be broadcast
from the Government House. However, through contacts which Haddad had
with officials in the executive branch of the government, he managed
to obtain the frequency for himself. Previously, Haddad had made an
offer to purchase the municipal radio station of the Buenos Aires
government; however, the plan was dropped after protests were lodged.

Before the criminal complaint, Vottionis had issued warnings to
the community radios, claiming police powers to have them shut
down.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Send appeals to authorities:
-denouncing the closing of the community radio stations FM
Ilusiones and FM Del Sol
-indicating that these measures constitute a serious attack on
freedom of expression

APPEALS TO:

Dr. Roberto Jose Marquevich
Juzgado Federal de Primera Instancia en lo Criminal y
Correccional de San Isidro
Fax: 54 1 743 0347

Daniel Haddad and Norberto Zocco
Vottionis S.A.
Nicaragua 4994
Ciudad de Buenos Aires
Republica Argentina

Horacio Aiello
Director of COMFER
Suipacha 765
Ciudad de Buenos Aires
Republica Argentina

Copias a:

AMARC ARGENTINA
Lambare 873
(1185) Buenos Aires
Rep. Argentina
Fax: 54 1 865 7554
correo electronico: info@latribu.wamani.apc.org

Please copy appeals to source if possible.

For further information, contact Bruce Girard, AMARC, Avenida
America 3584, Casilla 17-08-8489, Quito, Ecuador, tel: +593 2
501180/551674, telefax: +593 2 542818 or 226648, e-mail:
bgirard@pulsar.org.ec. Or, contact AMARC at 3575 St-Laurent,
Suite 611, Montreal, Quebec H2X 2T7 Canada, tel: +1 514 982 0351, fax:
+1 514 221 2009, e-mail: amarc@web.net, Internet:
http://www.amarc.org.

The information contained in this action alert is the sole
responsibility of AMARC. In citing this material for broadcast or
publication, please credit AMARC.
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 490 Adelaide St. W., suite 205, Toronto (ON) M5V 1T2 CANADA
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_________________________________________________________________

IFEX - Noticias de la comunidad internacional de la libertad de
expresion
________________________________________________________________

ALERTA - ARGENTINA

el 5 de septiembre de 1997

Cierran radios comunitarias

FUENTE: Asociacion Mundial de Radios Comunitarias (AMARC),
Montreal

(AMARC/IFEX) - A mediados de agosto, las radios comunitarias de
baja potencia que transmiten dentro de las frecuencias de los 98
Mhz fueron cerradas. FM Ilusiones 98.5 y FM Del Sol 98.1, dos de
las radios cerradas hasta ahora, tienen 9 anos de historia que
transmiten con Permiso Precario y Provisorio otorgado por el
Comite Federal de Radiodifusion (COMFER). (Este permiso es el
instrumento legal valido que tienen todas las radios de baja
potencia inscritas, que habilita para la transmision.)

Personal de Policia Federal sin presencia de funcionarios del
COMFER, allanaron las instalaciones de las radios. En el caso de
FM Ilusiones, no dejaron copia legal ni de otro tipo a las
victimas y se llevaron todos los equipos de transmision sin hacer un
inventario de los elementos.

Ernesto Arrieta, director de FM Ilusiones fue esposado durante el
operativo, apuntado con un arma y no le permitieron llamar a un
abogado. Miguel Mangano, director de FM Del Sol, no sufrio un
operativo semejante pero si fue tan irregular como el anterior. Ademas
el comisario a cargo de los allanamientos le confeso que se iban a
"limpiar" 160 radios en una area de 150 km a la redonda.

Los operativos en contra de las radios comunitarias se realizaron a
partir de una denuncia penal efectuada por la empresa Vottionis S.A.,
propiedad del periodista Daniel Haddad. Esta empresa maneja la radio
FM News que transmite en el 98.3. En un principio esa frecuencia
estaba otorgada para una radio que transmitiria desde la Casa de
Gobierno, pero mediante los contactos de Haddad con el Poder
Ejecutivo, consiguio que le dieran esa sintonia. Haddad habia hecho
una oferta para comprar la radio municipal del Gobierno de la Ciudad
de Buenos Aires, pero ante la protesta general el proyecto fue parado.

Antes de la denuncia penal, Vottionis S.A. envio notas de
advertencia a las radios arrogandose poder de policia para
hacerlas cerrar.

ACCION RECOMENDADA:

Remitir apelaciones a las autoridades:
-condenando el cerramiento de las radios comunitarias FM
Ilusiones y FM Del Sol
-destacando que estos operativos constituyen un atentado contra
la libertad de expresion

APELACIONES A:

Dr. Roberto Jose Marquevich
Juzgado Federal de Primera Instancia en lo Criminal y
Correccional de San Isidro
Fax: 54 1 743 0347

Daniel Haddad y Norberto Zocco
Vottionis S.A.
Nicaragua 4994
Ciudad de Buenos Aires
Republica Argentina

Sr. Director del COMFER
Horacio Aiello
Suipacha 765
Ciudad de Buenos Aires
Republica Argentina

Copias a:

AMARC ARGENTINA
Lambare 873
(1185) Buenos Aires
Rep. Argentina
Fax: 54 1 865 7554
correo electronico: info@latribu.wamani.apc.org

Favor de mandar copias de sus apelaciones al originador donde sea
posible.

Para mas informaciones, comunicarse con Bruce Girard, AMARC,
Avenida America 3584, Casilla 17-08-8489, Quito, Ecuador, tel:
+593 2 501180/551674, telefax: +593 2 542818 o 226648, correo
electronico: bgirard@pulsar.org.ec. O, comunicarse con AMARC,
3575 St-Laurent, Suite 611, Montreal, Quebec H2X 2T7 Canada, tel:
+1 514 982 0351, fax: +1 514 221 2009, correo electronico:
amarc@web.net, Internet: http://www.amarc.org.

Esta informacion es responsabilidad de la AMARC. Favor de
reconocer a la AMARC al difundirla.

___________________________________________________
Bruce Girard             Agencia Informativa Pulsar
Email: bgirard@pulsar.org.ec
http://www.web.net/amarc/pulsar.html
Fono/Fax: +593-2-501 180 o 551 674
Fax en Montreal, Canada: +1-514-221-2009
Av. Atahualpa 333, Casilla 17-08-8489, Quito, Ecuador