Local Stations in a Quandary Over Election Broadcasting Ban
WASHINGTON — Local FM radio station operators say they are uncertain whether they will drop programming from the Voice of America and other foreign-produced media, following the issue of a government ban on broadcasting leading up to Election Day. A June 21 directive from the Ministry of Information bans the broadcast of election news for 48 hours ahead of the July 28 polls, as well as the broadcast of opinion polls starting from five days before the elections. Local station owners say they fear they will have their licenses revoked if they do broadcast such programming. That would include programs produced by the Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, Radio France International and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. “If the Ministry of Information issues a directive banning us from doing anything, we will have to comply with it,” said Mam Sonando, owner of Beehive Radio, which broadcasts on FM105. “But if the US and other major countries that contribute funding to the elections step in to facilitate with the government to allow us to broadcast as normal, that would be an ideal scenario.” Chea Sundanet, director of FM102, the Women’s Media Center, said she is still “not clear” on whether to carry election programming or simply have her station play music for the two days of media blackout. …
