The program, “El Poder de la Tarde” (Afternoon Power), hosted by journalist César Medina has been aired daily by the Cielo F.M. radio station, one of the news media that was placed in official receivership by the government. That action had been taken in order to seize the assets of the station’s owner company, the Banco Intercontinental bank, following its declaration of bankruptcy last May. The bank also owns other radio and television stations and several newspapers.
Journalists working at the radio station reported that the official receiver, José Llluberes, had told them that the program was being taken off the air under strict orders from the head of the presidential press office, Luis González Fabra.
It was not the first time that government politicians had taken what opponents say is unlawful action against news media under the anti-money laundering law. On several previous occasions the IAPA has complained that radio stations in receivership were used to broadcast political campaigning by President Hipólito Mejía, who is seeking reelection next May. The IAPA has also pointed out that the newspaper Listín Diario and television channels 13 and 17, also in official receivership, have slanted their political news and opinion in favor of the government.
“What is happening with the news media placed in receivership by the government,” said Rafael Molina, chairman of the IAPA’s Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information, “poses a grave danger for freedom of expression in the Dominican Republic and sets a bad example for the rest of the region, because while it deprives citizens of like-minded and reliable media that keep them duly informed of what is happening in the nation it is also an abuse of power that produces unwarranted imbalances in the political arena, especially during the current run-up to elections.”
Cielo F.M. (previously known as Power) is operated by the Sistema Nacional
de Radiodifusión company, one of the businesses owned by the now bankrupt
Banco Intercontinental bank.
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