🚀 go-pugleaf

------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
To:            (Recipient list suppressed)
From:          IFEX Clearing House <alerts@ifex.org>
Subject:       Paraguay alert, radio closure suspended
Date:          Fri, 6 Feb 1998 12:53:38 -0500

IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
_________________________________________________________________

NOTE:  Resent 6 February 1998 due to technical difficulties

ALERT - PARAGUAY

5 February 1998

Order to close Paraguay radio station suspended

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

(AMARC/IFEX) - According to Agencia Infomativa Pulsar (IAP), the
National Telecommunications Commission's (CNT) decision of 2 February
1998, which had ordered "Radio Uno" radio station closed, was
suspended by President Juan Carlos Wasmosy.  The closing had been
ordered after CNT members received information about a comedy
programme, produced by journalist Juan Pestoriza, which stated that
Paraguay had experienced a coup d'etat.

The Paraguayan army and air force had mobilized troops in anticipation
of an order, by a civil judge, freeing General Lino Oviedo, who had
been detained by the Military Tribunal following accusations that he
had attempted a coup d'etat in 1996.  After becoming aware of the
mobilization of the troops, Juan Pastoriza produced a short segment in
which it was delcared that there had been a coup d'etat.  The segment
was played on 1 February 1998 and the CNT's decision to close the
station was made on 2 February 1998, and took effect immediately.

`Radio Uno' station is known for its support of General Oviedo's
candidacy as well as for its critical stance toward President Wasmosy.


According to the Paraguay Journalists Union (SPP), the decision to
close the station was dictatorial and reminiscent of the era of former
Paraguayan leader Alfredo Stroessner.  Its representatives state that
Juan Pastoriza may have made the error of neglecting to announce that
his segment was a comedy and was fictitious.  If he violated any laws,
he should be judged by a court of justice, but the closing of the
station should never  be ordered, according to SSP.  They affirmed
that articles 26 and 27 of the Paraguayan Constitution, speaking to
respect for freedom of the press and freedom of expression, had been
violated.


 For further information, contact Bruce Girard, AMARC, Av. Atahualpa
 333, Casilla 17-08- 8489, Quito, Ecuador, telefax: +593 2 501 180 or
551 674, fax in Montreal, Canada: +1 514 221 2009, e-mail:
bgirard@pulsar.org.ec. Or, 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.net, Internet: http://www.amarc.org



The information contained in this alert is the sole responsibility of
AMARC and Pulsar. In citing this material for broadcast or
publication, please credit AMARC.
_________________________________________________________________
 DISTRIBUTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION EXCHANGE
 (IFEX) CLEARING HOUSE
 489 College Street, Suite 403, Toronto (ON) M6G 1A5 CANADA
 tel: +1 416 515 9622    fax: +1 416 515 7879
 alerts e-mail: alerts@ifex.org    general e-mail: ifex@ifex.org
 Internet site: http://www.ifex.org/

_________________________________________________________________

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

ALERTA - PARAGUAY

El 5 de febrero de 1998

Orden de suspencion de Radio Uno en Paraguay fue suspendido

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

(AMARC/IFEX) - Segun la Agencia Informativa Pulsar,  la resolucion de
la Comision Nacional de Telecomunicaciones del 2 de febrero que
ordenaba cerrar la emisora "Radio Uno", fue suspendida por el
presidente Juan Carlos Wasmosy.  El cierre fue ordenado debido a que
los miembros de la Comision Nacional de Telecomunicaciones entendieron
que un programa humoristico producido por el periodista Juan Pastoriza
dio a entender que en Paraguay se habia producido un golpe de Estado.

El Ejercito y la Aviacion paraguayas movilizaron sus tropas ante la
posibilidad de que un juez civil ordenara la libertad del general
Lino Oviedo, quien esta detenido por orden del Tribunal Militar, bajo
la acusacion de intentar un golpe de Estado en 1996. Una vez que se
conocieron los movimientos de los militares, el periodista Juan
Pastoriza monto un programa de corte informativo en donde se daba por
supuesto que habia un golpe de Estado. El programa se difundio el
domingo 1 de febrero y la resolucion de la Comision Nacional de
Telecomunicaciones para cerrar la emisora fue firmada el 2 de febrero
y se puso en practica de forma inmediata.

  La emisora "Radio Uno", es conocida por su apoyo a la candidatura
  del
general Lino Oviedo y, por lo tanto, de critica a las acciones del
Presidente Juan Carlos Wasmosy.

Segun el Sindicato de Periodistas de Paraguay (SPP), la decision de
cerrar la emisora fue dictatorial y recordaba los tiempos del
ex-presidente de Paraguay, Alfredo Stroessner. Dijeron sus
representantes que Juan Pastoriza pudo haber cometido el error de no
avisar que se trataba de un programa humoristico y de ficcion. Segun
el SPP, si violo alguna ley debio ser denunciado ante los tribunales
de Justicia, pero nunca ordenarse el cierre de la emisora. Afirman que
se ha violado los articulos 26 y 27 de la Constitucion, que son de
respeto a la libertad de prensa y de expresion.


Para mas informaciones, comunicarse con Bruce Girard, AMARC, Av.
Atahualpa 333, Casilla 17-08-8489, Quito, Ecuador, fono/fax: +593 2
501 180 o 551 674, fax en Montreal, Canada: +1 514 221 2009, correo
electronico: bgirard@pulsar.org.ec, o con AMARC, 3575 St-Laurent,
Suite 611, Montreal, Quebec H2X 2T7 Canada, tel: +514 982 0351, fax:
+514 849 7129, correo electronico: amarc@web.net,
http://www.web.net/amarc/.

Esta informacion es responsabilidad de AMARC y  Pulsar. Favor de
reconocer AMARC al difundir esta informacion.
_________________________________________________________________

DIFUNDIDO/A POR LA OFICINA DE LA RED IFEX
EL INTERCAMBIO INTERNACIONAL POR LA LIBERTAD DE EXPRESION
489 College Street West, #403, Toronto ON M6G 1A5 CANADA
tel: +1 416 515 9622   fax: +1 416 515 7879
correo electronico: alerts@ifex.org    buzon general: ifex@ifex.org
sitio Internet: http://www.ifex.org/
_________________________________________________________________



___________________________________________________
Bruce Girard Boa         Agencia Informativa Pulsar
Email: bgirard@pulsar.org.ec
http://www.comunica.org/pulsar
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