Last night I was shocked by the “chain” of radio and television broadcasting of the government.

What are these “chains”? The government can give an order to the bulk of radio and television stations to transmit messages it discretionally deems important to the population.

There are presidents who use these “chains” more than others. The current president uses them a lot, because he manages a confrontational rhetoric against the media, accusing them of not properly reporting on the achievements of the government.

Well, with all this fuss about the fourth ballot box, I’ve been a little bit paranoid. And I can picture the president in national television ordaining a de facto state and suspending all freedoms until further notice.

And so, as I hear minister Flores Lanza saying constitutional guarantees of privacy in telephone communications are suspended, I immediately started to get nervous.

And even more when he said that all telephone conversations will be recorded.

At this time I felt the dictatorship was coming to haunt me.

And to further worsen, he said that people who frequently attend Internet cafes must report their names with the owners of these businesses. I imagined the government lurking behind my back, making an investigation and sending me to jail for being an enemy of the dictatorship.

And it was also said that entrances to the cities will be guarded by the army and police, so that everyone who wants to enter or exit has to report.

Dictatorship, sheer dictatorship! The situation is now indeed serious.

But the worst thing was that no media addressed the seriousness of the matter. Everyone was more interested in today’s game between Mexico and Honduras that in protecting democracy. I realize how far can get the imbecility of sports fanaticism.

This morning I watched the “Frente a Frente” show on channel 5, and I calmed down a bit. Journalist Edgardo Melgar was interviewing the Minister of Security, retired colonel Jorge Alberto Rodas Gamero. He was explaining government’s announcement point by point, in a manner that cleared the confusion I had in my mind.

It turns out that cell phone companies have long been recording all conversations, but few have access to these recordings, so the police ask them often for permission to access this calls in order to do their research, and they provide them with the necessary information. All that is required is a more streamlined process in order to capture the criminals, the government does not intend to put his ear to the conversations of all citizens.

The purpose is to capture those involved in the kidnapping and organized crime. A humble blogger as yours truly has nothing to fear, for the moment …

See this brief note from El Heraldo:

Government wakes up and announces measures to combat crime