The press freedom situation was satisfactory. The suspension of four radio stations during a state of emergency appeared to be an isolated and exceptional incident.

The army ordered the closure of the radio station La Jungla, based in the town of Coca, in Orellana province, on 27 February 2002. Gen. Jorge Miño, commander of the army's fourth division, said the station had been inciting people to violence and civil disobedience. The radio said it was simply doing its job of informing its listeners the day after a state of emergency was declared in the province because of serious unrest.

The radio returned to the air when the emergency ended on 7 March. The Inter-American Press Association said three other stations in the region had been forced to suspend programmes during the same period and had just broadcast music.

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