Montreal, March 6, 2010. AMARC, the World Association of Community Radio
Broadcasters, applauds the rapid response of Chile’s community radios to
the recent earthquake and calls on the incoming Chilean government to
expedite legal measures to facilitate community broadcasting.
Community radios in Chile have demonstrated a vital role in humanitarian
response to the earthquake and tsunami that struck Chile on 27 February.
An estimated 100 small community radio stations are located in areas of
the country that have been strongly or severely affected by the
earthquake. Many have continued broadcasting with the aim of ensuring
vital information despite themselves experiencing significant impact.
Within four days of the disaster a daily special broadcast ‘Noticiero
Ciudadano’ was launched as a joint initiative of Radio Juan Gómez
Millas, Radio Tierra, La Radioneta and ECO Comunicaciones, together with
the cooperation of Radio Placeres, Radio El Encuentro, Radio la Ventana
and journalists on the ground in the most affected zones. The programmes
provide vital news and information to keep citizens informed of the
public response to the disaster and to assist in obtaining access to aid
and support.
Despite their vital role in humanitarian response to disaster, many
community radio stations in Chile operate with very low power pending
the enactment of the Community Radio Act which is currently under review
by the Constitutional Court. The proposed law has many weaknesses but
would at least set in place minimum standards to guarantee the right to
communicate and to enable the establishment of community broadcasting
services operated by civil society organisations.
AMARC urges the new government of Sebastian Piñera to take immediate
steps to expedite the passage of legislation that will enable, protect
and encourage community broadcasting. At the same time it also call for
the threat of imprisonment or seizure of equipment that is contained in
the Telecommunications Act of 1982 to be replaced with a regulatory
framework for community broadcasting that is consistent with a
democratic system of rights and international standards on freedom of
expression.
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Further information:
International Focal Point
Ernesto Lamas, Regional Coordinator
AMARC-Latin America and Caribbean
Email: elamas@rcc.com.ar
Tel: +54 1148673806 / +54 1148657554
