"Journalists for future" NGO on behalf of the group of young people with hearing disorder "Voice of Silence" submitted an open letter to the Chairman of the RA National Commission on Television and Radio (NCTR) Grigor Amalyan.

"Dear Mr.G. Amalyan, on behalf of the group of young people with hearing disorder "Voice of Silence" we express our concern regarding the decision made on December 16 connected with the broadcast license tender, which was actually made by the Commission which you chair. According to the decision, from January 20, 2011 ALM TV Company will stop broadcasting. However, ALM TV Company is the only channel in the Republic of Armenia which for many years presents its information programs with parallel gesture language translation." 

From January 20, 2011, when ALM TV Company stops its broadcasting, people with hearing disorder in Armenia will be deprived of the possibility to receive information on the events in the country and in the world on their mother tongue (gesture language)",- says the letter.

The group of young people with hearing disorder "Voice of Silence" demands not to neglect the right of 3500 citizens of Armenia with hearing difficulties to receive information and wants immediate measures to be taken to ensure parallel translation of the information programs into gesture language from January 20 and avoid violation of the right of the citizens with hearing disorder to be informed.  

They have also requested to indicate in the reply, as it is prescribed by the law , the names of those TV Companies that received a digital broadcasting license that have included programs (information and other) with parallel gesture language translation and whether broadcasting of these programs is planned from January 20, 2011.

The copies of the open letter were sent to the President of the Board of RA Public Radio and Television Company A. Harutyunyan, RA Human Rights Defender Armen Harutyunyan and owner of the ALM Holding Company Tigran Karapetyan. 

Source: www.panorama.am