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Alert

Government suspends television station for three days, fails to renew radio station's licence

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 22 December 2009, the Telecommunications Superintendent's Office (Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones) suspended the Teleamazonas television station for three days, allegedly for disseminating false information.

The case against the television station dates back to June, when the station was accused of broadcasting false information after it aired a story about damages caused to fisheries on the island of Puná (Guayas) as a result of exploratory work being undertaken by the Venezuelan state-owned PDVSA petroleum company.

The television station spoke out against the suspension order, saying it will comply with it under duress and adding that it "did not fulfill legal requirements."

IPYS and FUNDAMEDIOS also confirmed that the National Telecommunications Council (CONATEL) failed to renew the licence of the La Voz de Arutan de Sucua radio station, which is located in the Macas area of southern Ecuador. Pepe Luís Acacho, the president of the Shuar Federation, said that notification of the decision was received via an official document issued in December. The radio station intends to appeal the decision.

IPYS and FUNDAMEDIOS view the decisions to close media outlets as an attack on freedom of expression, creating a dangerous precedent that puts fundamental rights and freedoms at risk.