Multimedia Teleradio America (HIZ-UHF 45) has announced that it will no longer broadcast on radio or TV the talk show, “Los Hechos y su Historia” (the facts and their stories) hosted by Rafael Flores Estrella and Tomas Castro. The channel says “the highest echelons of the government suggested removing the program from the air immediately.” Those government officers suggested the station intervene to require the former secretary of the Presidency during the Salvador Jorge Blanco presidency (PRD 1982-1986) to moderate his criticism of the government’s economic policies. Flores Estrella and Castro preferred to end the program, rather than curtail their freedom of speech. Flores Estrella told the press, “that was a personal order from Hipolito Mejia.” Rafael Molina Morillo, president of the Freedom of Press Commission of the Interamerican Press Association, expressed his concern. He said that it was “alarming and very serious that the government suggest a change in the focus of the program.” Molina said that when there is a disagreement or a belief that there has been defamation or an offense, the case should be taken to court.
