The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) ruled that Guatemala violated the freedom of expression of three indigenous peoples of the country after criminal prosecution and raids on community radio stations. Through a statement, the Inter-American Court indicated that “it found the State of Guatemala internationally responsible for the violation of the rights to freedom of expression, equality before the law and to participate in cultural life, to the detriment of the indigenous Mayan Kaqchikel peoples, achí and mam “. In his ruling, he ordered the government of the Central American country to reserve radio frequencies for these communities and to refrain from hijacking radio equipment.
In this sense, the organization explained that “such violations occurred mainly” because the “regulatory framework” of radio broadcasting in the country “prevented, in practice, that these indigenous communities could legally operate their community radios.”
“The Court determined that the way in which broadcasting is regulated in Guatemala consists of a de facto, almost absolute prohibition on the exercise of the right to freedom of expression of indigenous peoples,” he added. According to the ruling, the radio stations Ixchel and Uqul Tinamit La Voz del Pueblo, in the west and north of the country, respectively, were raided in 2006 and 2012 by “state authorities as a result of court orders issued in the framework of criminal proceedings.” .
“Its transmission equipment was confiscated and some of its operators, members of the respective communities, were criminally prosecuted,” the Inter-American Court indicated.
Among the “reparation measures,” he ordered “to reserve part of the radioelectric spectrum for indigenous community radios” and “immediately refrain from raiding said radios and seizing their transmission equipment.” “In Guatemala there are approximately 424 licensed radio stations on FM frequency and 90 on AM frequency, of which one is an indigenous community radio station. On the other hand, there are various community radios operated by indigenous peoples that do not have a license from the State for its operation “, indicated the court.
In Guatemala, a country of almost 17 million inhabitants, indigenous people represent a little more than 40 percent of the population, although representatives of native peoples affirm that they are 65 percent.
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