- During the operation, the station's equipment was confiscated. Main image: @EspacioPublico (X)
On Tuesday, April 9, the NGO Espacio Público denounced the raid on the headquarters of the TNO radio station, in the Tamanaku City Commercial Center (CCCT).
“Prosecutor General Johnny Amundarain, accompanied by six officials from the Criminal Investigations Directorate of the Bolivarian National Police, raided the headquarters of the TNO radio station in Caracas,” the NGO stated in its statement. Count from (formerly Twitter).
According to Espacio Público's complaint, the authorities also ordered the station to stop broadcasting and inspect all equipment.
#DenunciaEP | Prosecutor Johnny Amundarain, accompanied by six officials from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, conducted the raid on Tuesday #9April Headquarters of the TNO radio station in Caracas.
They ordered the station to stop broadcasting and search all equipment.
— Public Space (@espaciopublico) April 9, 2024
The opposition Popular Volunteer Party condemned the seizure of TNO radio station equipment.
He wrote in
The policy of absolute censorship practiced by the Maduro regime continues.
We condemn the confiscation of equipment of the TNO radio station, which represents the systematic policy whereby Chavismo silences dissident voices and the diversity of opinions in the media… https://t.co/MoZDMdzbH4
– Popular Will (@PopularVoluntad) April 9, 2024
Radio TNO is a station founded in 2014 and is one of the first visual stations in Venezuela. The station has not yet commented on the events that occurred on its social networks.
Increasing violations of freedom of expression
In March 2024, Espacio Público counted 36 violations of freedom of expression, which represents a 12.19% decrease compared to February in which 41 cases were documented.
However, the NGO had already reported in February 2024 a 70.8% increase in freedom of expression violations compared to January of the same year, when 24 violations were counted, according to data released on Tuesday, March 5 by the NGO. Public space.
Last month, the organization recorded 19 acts of intimidation, 8 censorship, 6 administrative restrictions, 4 judicial harassment, 2 threats and 2 verbal harassment, according to data available to the EFE.
The organization also noted that public institutions, security forces, state employees, and a group sympathetic to the ruling party “violated the right to freedom of expression” in February.
Six stations were closed between January and September 2023
Between January and September 2023, the closure of at least six radio stations was recorded. The National Telecommunications Authority (Conatel) did not renew its concession.
Three of the stations that have suspended their activities so far this year are from the state of Táchira; Two from the state of Portugal and one from the state of Bolivar.
The National College of Journalists (CNP) and the National Union of Press Professionals (SNTP) consider these measures a “violation of the freedom of expression and the press.”
On the other hand, Espacio Público warned in January 2023 that in almost 20 years, the closure of at least 284 radio stations between 2003 and 2022 has been recorded. This number is equivalent to 71% of the total number of closed media outlets in the aforementioned country. a period. .
