Admirers of Antena C urge authorities to reconsider municipal media’s reorganisation

Civil Society representatives, journalists, opinion leaders, political opposition parties, and municipal councillors have attended Saturday, December 23 to a 3-hour meeting with the listeners of Radio “Antena C” station, held in the square of National Opera House. The participants chanted slogans in support of the freedom of press and of speech. The speakers voiced at the tribune messages of support and admiration, and demanded to resume Antena C’s broadcasting unconditionally and without further delay. The event was also attended by journalists from “Euro TV Chisinau”, who demanded to annul the decision of the Municipal Council concerning the privatisation of municipal media. The journalists stated that the situation at this TV channel is still tensioned and those who refuse to accept new rules are punished. Tatiana Turcanu, news presenter at “Euro TV” and reporter in Parliament, was informed by interim director of the station that she would not be admitted to Parliament sittings any longer. This happened after a report dated December 21 was not aired because it was labelled “biased and one-sided”. The dismissed director of “Antena C” Vasile State advised the journalists at “Euro TV” to make common cause, adding that “Antena C” is “sentenced to survival”. Chairman of the Moldovan Democratic Forum, Nicolae Dabija, who was visiting “Antena C” together with the historian Iurie Colesnic and the director Andrei Vartic at the very moment when the broadcasting was ceased, stated that the journalists are punished because they speak the truth, refusing to obey the Communists Party. According to the Independent Press Association head, Petru Macovei, the politicians’ actions, parties in a shameless deal, have nothing in common with democratic values. For this reason, journalists must stay united and declare, heads held high, that the press is not for sale. Director of “Jurnal de Chisinau” newspaper Val Butnaru stated that he will dedicate a column to “Antena C” journalists, where they could post articles which weren’t broadcasted. The participants in the meeting voted for the creation of a Committee for Rescuing “Antena C” and “Euro TV Chisinau”. They requested the involvement of the head of state in resuming Antena C’s broadcasting, and calling to account the persons responsible for the false bomb alert at “Antena C” radio station. “We urge the Municipal Council to cancel its decisions concerning the privatisation of “Antena C” and “Euro TV Chisinau” stations and to reconsider the reorganisation of these stations”, the resolution concludes.