The fire also reached the Center for Culture and Development, the community library and six nearby houses. The World Association of Radio Broadcasters of Latin America and the Caribbean (AMARC-ALC) estimates the damage to the facilities was total since all the transmission equipment, furniture, books and facilities of the community centers were burned to the ground.

The association of radio broadcasters is accusing the followers of the ruling party INITE of the incident. They claim that they attacked the radio station after they complained over the defeat of the opposition candidate in the country’s elections, saying there had been fraud.

“AMARC-ALC condemns this criminal act with the clear goal of silencing the critical voices and violating freedom of speech, and it demands the government and the authorities to punish the perpetrators who have been identified, to implement measures to protect the workers of the radio and the organizations leaders and the compensation for damages so that the radio station is rebuilt soon and can resume its broadcasts”.

Meanwhile, Pulsar news agency – which is part of the community radios network- said the local group of AMARC reported that leaders of Carice community are being victims of persecution and they also said that this happened after the publication of the election results.

For this reason, AMARC made a call for international solidarity to “pressure the government to take immediate action to wards justice and within the rule of law”. They also asked the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to “follow up these criminal acts, which represent an attack on freedom of speech in this violent, impunity and poverty stricken country”.

Photo: AMARC-ALC