About IFEX:

News by region:

IFEX Campaigns and Advocacy:

IFEX Email Products:

Opportunities and assistance:

Alert

Indigenous people's radio station denied accreditation to cover US president's visit to their community

(AMARC/IFEX) - The week prior to US President George Bush's 12 March 2007 visit to Guatemala, the US State Department released its annual human rights report, in which it lamented the country's human rights situation, emphasizing its concern over the murders of women, corruption and the repression of community radio stations.

One of the places Bush visited was the town of Santa Cruz Balanyá, where the community radio station Kastajinel operates. The station is the product of efforts by the indigenous community, and promotes their culture, the recovery of their values and education. This radio station is a member of AMARC-Guatemala.

During Bush's visit to the town, Kastajinel radio station asked for accreditation in order to cover the event. However, when it identified itself as a community-based radio station run by indigenous people, it was discriminated against and denied accreditation by those in charge of security for Bush's visit, specifically the US Secret Service and Guatemalan government officials.

In AMARC-Guatemala's opinion, the denial of accreditation constitutes "an abuse and violation of the human rights of Guatemalan men and women, as well as an act of racial and economic discrimination," which contributes concretely the very acts of persecution denounced in the US State Department's report.