Opposition thinks state suppresses freedom of opinion

The initiative of the communist government to liquidate the municipal audiovisual “Euro TV” and “Antena C”, as well as to amend the Parliament Regulations, so that the live broadcasting of parliamentary sessions are ceased, illustrate the real intentions of the power to make silent those who tend to freedom and reserve their dignity to have an opinion, the Social Liberal Party MP Igor Klipii asserts. In the statement presented in the Parliament’s sitting on Thursday, December 14, the MP stated that, although the discussions on ceasing live broadcasts of plenary sessions, as well as those concerning the future of the municipal stations have a long history, till now, the communists’ propaganda machinery could not make up coherent arguments. The motive invoked – spending public money – is unacceptable if we take into consideration the way “Teleradio Moldova” company functions, as well as its considerably larger budget. Capital residents represent the main taxpayers to Moldova’s budget and they have the right to have an audiovisual which would provide them information on the problems of the city, the MP asserts. According to Klipii, the question is who will be the future owners of the municipal stations, given the fact that those who wished to launch themselves on the information market, have been rapidly “persuaded” to change their views to other fields. It is absolutely obvious that what Moldova needs today is the liberalization of media and not its suppression. It is not the modern equipment or other material goods what is the most important in the municipal stations, but those professionals who created the two stations and produced their fame. The PSL Member of Parliament admits the fact that the stations’ impartiality and the fact that they tried to do journalism under a semi-anarchic, semi-dictatorial regime determined the following repression. It is obvious that it is not the respective stations what generates the leadership’s interest, but their independent, objective character which is so much contrary to the expectancies of the power. Both Euro TV, and Antena C, promoted equidistant and professional journalism under conditions of subsistence and the accusation of taking someone’s part is nothing but the intention of a later oppression, Klipii emphasized. According to the social-liberal MP, there is no other explanation for what happens in Moldova except preparations for local elections in 2007. Unfortunately, the path PCRM took is distant from the values of a European democracy. Total control over the financial, economic and administrative resources, the subordination of public TV and radio stations, liquidation of local economy, marginalization of justice, utilization of the state repressive mechanism etc. all these represent enough means in order to preserve the power. The democratic system in Moldova passes through a process of debasement. Moreover, once launched, this process will not stop unless the regime falls. The end of 2006 can be considered the dusk of the “transparent communism” epoch in Moldova, the MP asserts. Moldova could become a democratic, prosperous state, and its citizens can hope for a European future, but only after the communists leave the power, the statement of Igor Klipii concludes, cited by Info-Prim Neo.