The RCV against the right to information: an attack on democracy in parliament.
In a move that shames the public media and calls into question the foundations of the democratic rule of law, the management of RCV has decided - either of its own volition or under obscure pressure - to suspend the broadcasting of parliamentary proceedings. This is a serious, unacceptable decision, which directly harms the Cape Verdean people's right to information.
The RCV, as a public media outlet, does not belong to its management, its editors or any political party group. It is paid for by the public purse and must obey the public interest.
Your boss is the people, not the convenience of the moment. And when a public body breaks with its mission to inform in order to hide, control or manipulate, it is committing an attack on democracy.
The timing of this measure is even more bizarre: on the doorstep of the 50th anniversary of Cape Verde's independence.
A time that should have been about exalting the freedom that has been won, institutional maturity and political transparency. Instead, the RCV's management is offering us covert censorship and institutional silence.
Why is a public communication service failing to fulfill one of its most noble functions - that of monitoring and giving a voice to national political life?
The silence of the RCV leadership is complicit in an act of censorship and omission. And when you silence parliament, you also silence democracy.
It is public and notorious that, in recent times, RCV has been used as a sounding board for interests other than journalism - particularly those of the opposition.
But with this decision, you have gone beyond the limits of editorial decency and democratic legality.
It is now up to the Government of the Republic, particularly the Secretary of State for Social Communication, to intervene firmly. Either the broadcasting of parliamentary proceedings is restored immediately, or those responsible for institutional transparency must make their positions available.
The public silence of radio cannot be a political bunker or an island of authoritarianism within the democratic state. Either it serves the people - clearly, freely and pluralistically - or it no longer deserves to be called a public service.
You can't celebrate independence by silencing the people and curtailing their right to be informed.
