Media organizations are disturbed at the way municipal stations are reorganized

Several media NGOs from Moldova qualify as antidemocratic and unconstitutional the actions related to the reorganization of the municipal stations Antena C and Euro TV Chisinau. This standpoint is expressed in a joint statement of 8 media NGOs, cited by Info-Prim Neo. According to the statement, the non-governmental media organizations are disturbed and revolted at the way Antena C and Euro TV Chisinau municipal stations are reorganized. The process of implementing the New Audiovisual Code is compromised by the actions of municipal authorities and those of the Broadcasting Coordinating Council. The dismissal of the managers of the two broadcast institutions on December 14, unannounced interruption of Antena C radio station’s broadcasting in the afternoon of December 15, forced evacuation of journalists from the office and sealing up of the door are abusive and antidemocratic actions, which run contrary to the spirit and letter of the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova that guarantees freedom of the press and the right to free expression, is also said in the statement. The reasons set forth by the authorities (broadcasters’ faults, explosion threat inside the radio station), as well as the time chosen to carry out these actions, cannot stand criticism and remind one of the scenarios of clamping down on Teleradio Moldova journalists in the summer of 2004. The organizations condemn the actions aimed against mass media pluralism and diversity and request that municipal and central authorities ensure the observance of the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova, of the legislation in force, including the right of the audience to be informed from different sources and the right of journalists to do their job. They request that the activity of the two broadcasters be resumed in a normal regime. We insist that journalists be restored in their rights and that adequate conditions enabling them to do their job are created. The Independent Journalism Center, Independent Press Association, Electronic Press Association APEL, Acess-Info Center, Media Impact Agency, Young Journalist Center, Journalists’ Union of Moldova, Committee for Freedom of the Press, Association of Journalists of Environment and Tourism of Moldova and the League of Professional Journalists of Moldova express their solidarity with the two editorial teams and call upon their colleagues to support them as well. They announce their eagerness to contribute to the identification of just solutions that would help overcome the crisis.