Yesterday, on Wednesday, April 20, another community radio, Radio Esperanza: La Vos de lo Nuestro was raided by the public ministry and the Guatemalan national police, who seized all of the radio’s equipment. Radio Esperanza of La Esperanza, Quetzaltenango, member of the network of Asociación Mujb’ ab’l yol: Encuentro de Expresiones, served its community for 14 years, with educational and cultural programs.
This action is a clear demonstration of the growing persecution that community radios in Guatemala face and points to the importance of Bill 4087, Community Media Law, which is currently being considered by the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala.
Currently, the telecommunications law does not permit access to frequencies for non-profit community radios despite promises made in the Guatemalan Constitution and the Peace Accords of 1996. This lack of access to community radio goes against citizens’ right to freedom of expression as well as the right to their own media for Indigenous Peoples. Numerous recommendations by the UN, The IACHR and the Constitutional Court of Guatemala have pushed for the passing of this legislation that would provide access to licences for non-profit community radios.
Community radio fulfills the right to freedom of expression and the right for Indigenous Peoples to have their own media in their own languages. For Indigenous Peoples, community radio provides programming that promotes their cultures, traditions and belief systems in their own languages.
In solidarity with Radio La Esperanza and the Community Radio Movement of Guatemala, Cultural Survival denounces this raid and the criminalization and persecution that community radios face everyday. This regrettable event highlights the urgency to support Guatemala citizens and to unite in support of Bill 4087 as defenders of democracy, freedom of expression and human rights. We urge our fellow organizations and friends to spread the word on Bill 4087 and express your support for freedom of expression and democracy in Guatemala.
Video: "Getting to Know Community Radio in La Esperanza" filmed and producer by radio station volunteers, 2012.
Read Mujb'ab'l Yol's press release on the raid, here.
