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International Freedom of Expression eXchange Clearing House
________________________________________________________________
Date: 29 March 1996

BRAZIL: Community radio stations shut down

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

The Brazilian Ministry of Communication has ordered the closure
of more than 300 community radio stations and the confiscation of
their equipment. The action was taken during negotiations between
the Ministry and the Forum for the Democratization of
Communication, which are aimed at studying the legal standing of
community radio in Brazil. The Forum had proposed as a priority
the establishment of rules and regulations that would legally
enable community radio stations to carry out their social and
educational objectives.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Send appeals to authorities:
-protesting the decision to close down the community radio
stations and to confiscate their equipment
-asking that the confiscated equipment be returned to those
stations that were affected
-urging that the Ministry speed up the current negotiations so
that Brazil institute as soon as possible a law that not only
respects but also supports the installation of community radio
stations

APPEALS TO:

His Excellency Fernando Henrique Cardoso
President
Palacio do Planalto
70160-990
Brasilia DF, Brazil
Fax: +55 61 226 7566

Sergio Motta
Minister of Communications
Brasilia DF, Brazil
Fax: +55 61 226 3980

Please copy appeals to the originator if possible.

For further information, contact AMARC at 3575 St-Laurent, Suite
611, Montreal, Quebec H2X 2T7 Canada, tel: +514 982 0351, fax:
+514 849 7129, e-mail: amarc@web.apc.org, or Bruce Girard,
Avenida America 3584, Casilla 17-01-1171, Quito, Ecuador, tel:
+593 2 525 521, fax: +593 2  542 818, e-mail:
bgirard@pulsar.org.ec, http://www.web.apc.org/amarc/pulsar.html

The information contained in this alert is the sole
responsibility of its originator.
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* IFEX CLEARING HOUSE                                 *
* 490 Adelaide St. W. #205 Toronto ONT M5V 1T2 CANADA *
* tel: 416-703-1638 fax: 416-703-7034                 *
* e-mail: ifex@web.apc.org                            *
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________________________________________________________
Bruce Girard
AMARC - Pulsar
Email: bgirard@pulsar.org.ec
http://www.web.apc.org/amarc/pulsar.html
Tel: +(593-2) 525-521    Fax/Tel: +(593-2) 542-818
Avenida America 3584, Casilla 17-01-1171, Quito, Ecuador