Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MANAGUA626
2009-06-23 23:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Managua
Cable title:
RADIO STATION SHUTDOWN APPEARS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED
how-toVZCZCXRO7298 PP RUEHLMC DE RUEHMU #0626 1742306 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 232306Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY MANAGUA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4272 INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHBVJPX/COMPHIBRON SIX PRIORITY RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHBPCOM/USNS COMFORT PRIORITY RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHBPCOM/MEDTRE FAC COMFORT PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUMIAAA/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAGUA 000626
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN AND DRL
DEPT FOR INR/IAA
DEPT FOR USOAS
STATE PASS TO USAID
TREASURY FOR SENNICH
NSC FOR RESTREPO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/22/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECPS ECON EAID NU
SUBJECT: RADIO STATION SHUTDOWN APPEARS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED
REF: MANAGUA 562
Classified By: Ambassador Robert J. Callahan, for reasons 1.4(b) & (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAGUA 000626
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN AND DRL
DEPT FOR INR/IAA
DEPT FOR USOAS
STATE PASS TO USAID
TREASURY FOR SENNICH
NSC FOR RESTREPO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/22/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECPS ECON EAID NU
SUBJECT: RADIO STATION SHUTDOWN APPEARS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED
REF: MANAGUA 562
Classified By: Ambassador Robert J. Callahan, for reasons 1.4(b) & (d)
1. (SBU) On June 19, 2009, armed "technicians" representing Nicaragua's telecommunications regulator (Instituto Nicaraguense de Telecomunicaciones y Correos, TELCOR) and Nicaraguan customs (DGA) seized $6,000 to $10,000 worth of broadcasting equipment from radio station La Ley in Sebaco, Matagalpa (approximately 100 kilometers northeast of Managua). TELCOR also blocked the radio station's frequency. Radio La Ley's proprietor, Santiago Aburto, had planned to inaugurate the station June 20. Aburto initially had been granted the station's frequency in 2004 during President Enrique Bolanos' government. Aburto, a staunch supporter of opposition leader and National Assembly Deputy Eduardo Montealegre, currently hosts a radio show on Radio Corporacion where he frequently criticizes Daniel Ortega's government and the honorary president of the Constitutional Liberal Party (PLC),Arnold Aleman. TELCOR representatives claimed Aburto had violated the telecommunications law (reftel),but many Nicaraguans believe the government's sudden action against the radio station was politically motivated.
2. (SBU) At the time of the seizure, DGA officials told
Aburto that he had violated customs regulations. Aburto,
however, asserted that this was impossible as he had
purchased all the equipment in Nicaragua. Later, TELCOR's
Executive President Orlando Castillo told media that the
action against Radio La Ley was due to Aburto's failure to
use the frequency he was granted within the specified time
frame. According to Castillo, the payments Aburto had made
to renew his broadcasting license since 2004 were not valid.
Nonetheless, TELCOR had continued to accept the payments
without advising Aburto of the situation. Castillo also
mentioned that TELCOR was reviewing the operating permits of
other radio stations.
3. (C) According to media and local attorneys, TELCOR did
not follow the proper legal procedures to close Radio La Ley.
Experts observed that while government authorities could
legally argue for the closure of the radio station, the
confiscation of the broadcast equipment was completely
outside the law. Eduardo Gonzalez, a well-known radio
personality, told us that he believed this was the
government's warning to independent media to tone down its
rhetoric against the Ortega administration. This sentiment
was widely shared among Nicaraguans. Opposition leader
Eduardo Montealegre told media that "this was a warning to
all Nicaraguans and the independent press ... only
totalitarian regimes cannot accept freedom of expression."
Monsignor Abelardo Mata, the Vice President of Nicaragua's
Episcopal Conference and Bishop of Esteli, said the TELCOR
action against Radio La Ley appeared to represent the
government's desire and intention to silence any voice that
did not praise the Ortega administration.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
4. (C) TELCOR's and the DGA's unconvincing justification for their actions leads us to believe that the closure of Radio La Ley was politically motivated -- an unwarranted and arbitrary move by the Government of Nicaragua (GON) to silence and intimidate anyone it views as the opposition. If the GON is indeed moving to silence opposition or independent media outlets, this action would have dire consequences on the viability of Nicaragua's remaining democratic institutions.
CALLAHAN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/CEN AND DRL
DEPT FOR INR/IAA
DEPT FOR USOAS
STATE PASS TO USAID
TREASURY FOR SENNICH
NSC FOR RESTREPO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/22/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECPS ECON EAID NU
SUBJECT: RADIO STATION SHUTDOWN APPEARS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED
REF: MANAGUA 562
Classified By: Ambassador Robert J. Callahan, for reasons 1.4(b) & (d)
1. (SBU) On June 19, 2009, armed "technicians" representing Nicaragua's telecommunications regulator (Instituto Nicaraguense de Telecomunicaciones y Correos, TELCOR) and Nicaraguan customs (DGA) seized $6,000 to $10,000 worth of broadcasting equipment from radio station La Ley in Sebaco, Matagalpa (approximately 100 kilometers northeast of Managua). TELCOR also blocked the radio station's frequency. Radio La Ley's proprietor, Santiago Aburto, had planned to inaugurate the station June 20. Aburto initially had been granted the station's frequency in 2004 during President Enrique Bolanos' government. Aburto, a staunch supporter of opposition leader and National Assembly Deputy Eduardo Montealegre, currently hosts a radio show on Radio Corporacion where he frequently criticizes Daniel Ortega's government and the honorary president of the Constitutional Liberal Party (PLC),Arnold Aleman. TELCOR representatives claimed Aburto had violated the telecommunications law (reftel),but many Nicaraguans believe the government's sudden action against the radio station was politically motivated.
2. (SBU) At the time of the seizure, DGA officials told
Aburto that he had violated customs regulations. Aburto,
however, asserted that this was impossible as he had
purchased all the equipment in Nicaragua. Later, TELCOR's
Executive President Orlando Castillo told media that the
action against Radio La Ley was due to Aburto's failure to
use the frequency he was granted within the specified time
frame. According to Castillo, the payments Aburto had made
to renew his broadcasting license since 2004 were not valid.
Nonetheless, TELCOR had continued to accept the payments
without advising Aburto of the situation. Castillo also
mentioned that TELCOR was reviewing the operating permits of
other radio stations.
3. (C) According to media and local attorneys, TELCOR did
not follow the proper legal procedures to close Radio La Ley.
Experts observed that while government authorities could
legally argue for the closure of the radio station, the
confiscation of the broadcast equipment was completely
outside the law. Eduardo Gonzalez, a well-known radio
personality, told us that he believed this was the
government's warning to independent media to tone down its
rhetoric against the Ortega administration. This sentiment
was widely shared among Nicaraguans. Opposition leader
Eduardo Montealegre told media that "this was a warning to
all Nicaraguans and the independent press ... only
totalitarian regimes cannot accept freedom of expression."
Monsignor Abelardo Mata, the Vice President of Nicaragua's
Episcopal Conference and Bishop of Esteli, said the TELCOR
action against Radio La Ley appeared to represent the
government's desire and intention to silence any voice that
did not praise the Ortega administration.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
4. (C) TELCOR's and the DGA's unconvincing justification for their actions leads us to believe that the closure of Radio La Ley was politically motivated -- an unwarranted and arbitrary move by the Government of Nicaragua (GON) to silence and intimidate anyone it views as the opposition. If the GON is indeed moving to silence opposition or independent media outlets, this action would have dire consequences on the viability of Nicaragua's remaining democratic institutions.
CALLAHAN