Clandestine Radio Watch 087
--------------xxxxxxxxxx CRW 087 xxxxxxxxxx--------------
CLANDESTINE RADIO WATCH
November 10, 2001
Clandestine Radio Watch (CRW) is a biweekly summary which centrali-
zes the latest news and developments affecting the study of clan-
destine radio in an easy-to-read format. Editions are published on
the CRW web site. Access to CRW is free.
CRW is both not-for-profit and non-partisan. We welcome your inte-
rest, input and queries. Contributions, input and support, logs, QSL
verification info, as well as background material can be sent to us.
CRW issues may also contain parts in Spanish, Italian, Dutch, German
or Portuguese.
CRW Team :
Editor-in-Chief :
Martin Schoech, Merseburg : schoech@clandestineradio.com
Correspondents :
Nick Grace C., Washington : grace@clandestineradio.com
Owen Williamson, Houston : williamson@clandestineradio.com
Robertas Petraitis, Klaipeda : tornado493@hotmail.com
Roberto Iglesias, Washington : roiglesias@aol.com
Yuki Sakagami, Tokyo : sakagami@clandestineradio.com
Next issue - CRW 088 : November 20, 2001
Old and new issues of CRW can be found at http://listen.to/crw
or at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/crwatch/messages
CRW is the newsletter for ClandestineRadio.com, the largest web-
site on Clandestine Radio at http://www.ClandestineRadio.com
------------xxxxxxxxxx Breaking News xxxxxxxxxx----------------
AFGHANISTAN : see 'CRW 087 Special Afganistan'
------------xxxxxxxxxx Schedules xxxxxxxxxx--------------------
------------xxxxxxxxxx Logs xxxxxxxxxx-------------------------
Logs - AFGHANISTAN
see 'CRW 087 Special Afganistan'
...............................................................
Logs - BELORUSSIA
R Racja
N6010 *1756-1810 POL R Racja, Bialystok Belarusian. Chimes I/S,
ID's, Fanfare, ID, news - very strong signal here: 54444
(A.Petersen-DNK Oct 1?, 2001 for CRW)
6035 0540-0600* POL 17-10 R Racja, Bialystok Belarusian, talk,
0558 two ID's and closed with Church organ. QRM VOA, Greenville in
English. 43433
(A.Petersen-DNK Oct 17, 2001 for CRW)
N6180 1030-1055 POL 17-10 R Racja, Bialystok Belarusian, World
news, ID, violin and song - scheduled 1000-1200 on this Nfq. 45444
(A.Petersen-DNK Oct 17, 2001 for CRW)
...............................................................
Logs - CHINA
Falun Dafa Radio (?)
9330.7 kHz, Falun Dafa Radio, 1820-1840, 1 Noviembre 2001, debajo
del jamming y en alguna pausa del mismo, era posible escuchar una
transmisión en chino con palabras por locutor y locutora y mx china.
SINPO: 31322.
(S.Micciche-I Conexión Digital via DXLD 1-166)
...............................................................
Logs - ERITREA
Tigrean Int. Solidarity for Justice and Democracy
15700 Tigrean Int. Solidarity for Justice and Democracy via DTK
(presumed) Nov 3 *1600-1622 45433-35433 Amharic,1600 s/on with IS
and announce by man. Talk and Ethiopian pops. 1614 ID. Thanks for
tip from Kenji Hashimoto.
(Ko.Hashimoto-JPN Nov 3, 2001 in JAP 185)
Voice of Democratic Eritrea
N5925 *1400-1459* CLA 20-10 Voice of Democratic Eritrea, via Jü-
lich Tigrigna, ID: "Ezi nay Eritreá fenewe Demtsi eyu", political
talks, 1430 Arabic ID: "Itha'at Sawt Eritrea al-Demokratya", politi-
cal talks, Eritrean music. Nfq ex 15670. 55555
(A.Petersen-DNK Oct 20, 2001 for CRW)
15670 V.O.Democratic Eritrea via DTK Oct 29 *1700-1710 35333
Tigrigna, 1700 s/on with Opening music and ID. Talk.
(Ko.Hashimoto-JPN Nov 1, 2001 in JAP 185)
...............................................................
Logs - ETHIOPIA
Rainbow Radio
11840 Rainbow R. via DTK Nov 2 *1905-1910 44433 Amharic, 1905 s/on
with IS and ID. Talk.
(Ko.Hashimoto-JPN Nov 2, 2001 in JAP 185)
Radio Xoriyo
15530 R.Freedom via DTK Oct 30 *1630-1640 35333 Somali,
1630 s/on with Opening music and ID. Koran. ID. Talk.
(Ko.Hashimoto-JPN Oct 30, 2001 in JAP 185)
Voice of Democratic Path of Ethiopian Unity
11840 V.O.Democratic Path of Ethiopian Unity via DTK Oct 31
*1830-1840 35333 Amharic,1830 s/on with IS. ID and frequency
announce. Talk by man.
(Ko.Hashimoto-JPN Oct 31, 2001 in JAP 185)
Voice of Ethiopian Salvation
15670 V.O.Ethiopian Salvation via DTK Nov 1 *1600-1610 32332 Amha-
ric, 1600 s/on with IS and ID. Talk and Ethiopian pops. //Oct 28
(22442).
(Ko.Hashimoto-JPN Nov 1, 2001 in JAP 185)
Voice of Oromo Liberation
15715 V.O.Oromo Liberation via DTK Nov 4 *1701-1715 25332 Amharic,
1701 s/on with ID and Opening music. Talk by man.
(Ko.Hashimoto-JPN Nov 4, 2001 in JAP 185)
...............................................................
Logs - INDIA
Voice of Jammu Kashmir Freedom
5101.2 1425-1430* CLA 17-10 Voice of Freedom of Jammu and
Kashmir English ? , folksong, ann. Carrier off 1431* 23222 with
heterodyne
(A.Petersen-DNK Oct 17, 2001 for CRW)
5101.2 V.O.Jammu Kashmir Freedom Oct 27 *1259-1308 33443 Kashmire,
1259 s/on with Opening music. ID at 1300. Koran. Talk.
(Ko.Hashimoto-JPN Oct 27, 2001 in JAP 184)
5101.2 V.O.Jammu Kashmir Freedom Oct 29 *1300-1306 33433 Kashmiri,
1300 s/on with Opening music and ID. Koran. Talk.
(Ko.Hashimoto-JPN Oct 29, 2001 in JAP 185)
...............................................................
Logs - IRAN
R Payam-e Doost
7480.0 1810-1830* CLA 17-10 R Payam-e Doost Farsi interview,
ID, orchestral music, web address - weak bubble jammer until 1832*
54554
(A.Petersen-DNK Oct 17, 2001 for CRW)
Voice of Iran
17520 1540-1550 CLA 17-10 Voice of Iran, via Grigoriopol, MDA
Farsi talk about Mojahedin and Iraq - weak jamming 54444
(A.Petersen-DNK Oct 17, 2001 for CRW)
17520 V.O.Iran Oct 24 *1529-1540 44433 Farsi, 1529 s/on with Music.
ID at 1532. Talk by man.
(Ko.Hashimoto-JPN Oct 24, 2001 in JAP 184)
Voice of the Communist Party of Iran
3870.8 1735-1755 CLA 16-10 Voice of the Communist Party of Iran
Farsi talk about Iran, best heard in LSB 23443 // 4365.8 : 24444
(A.Petersen-DNK Oct 16, 2001 for CRW)
3880.3 Voice of Communist Party of Iran 1750-1759* Talk by man in
Farsi, identification and off with The Internationale which always
makes me nostalagic of listening during the Cold War era. Fair on
clear channel, some distortion on the modulation
(M.Barraclough-G Nov 6, 2001 for CRW)
...............................................................
Logs - IRAQ
Voice of Iraqi People, Iraqi Kurdistan
3900.0 1740-1750 CLA 16-10 Voice of Iraqi People, Iraqi
Kurdistan Surani Kurdish talk, songs 24333 // 5899.0: 23222
(A.Petersen-DNK Oct 16, 2001 for CRW)
4784 1750 VOICE OF IRAQI PEOPLE - JEDDAH TALK OM A - SUBARMONICA
DI 9568,5 34433
(R.Scaglione-I Oct 30, 2001 in BCL News-ML)
3903 Voice of Iraqi People(tent) 1745-1755 Talks in presumed Arabic,
tentative identification including "al-Iraqi" noted 1755,
poor on clear channel, telephone like modulation.
(M.Barraclough-G Nov 7, 2001 for CRW)
...............................................................
Logs - KURDISTAN
R Kurdestan
4130 *1945-2058* CLA 24-10 R Kurdestan Arabic talk, Kurdish
songs after orchestral opening. 24222
(A.Petersen-DNK Oct 24, 2001 for CRW)
Voice of Iranian Kurdistan
3985 *1600-1610 CLA 18-10 Voice of Iranian Kurdistan, Sulamani-
yah, IRQ Farsi, Kurdish National Hymn, ID: "Seda-ye Kordestan-e
Iran", trumpet fanfare, one more ID, ann, political talks 34333
(A.Petersen-DNK Oct 18, 2001 for CRW)
3985 Voice of Iranian Kurdistan 1650-1705 Talks in Kurdish, patrio-
tic style music and identification 1700, fair on clear channel.
(M.Barraclough-G Nov 6, 2001 for CRW)
Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan ???
Salve piccolo ascolto di questa mattina e diro di più non
identificato, sui 7090 kHz alle 05,00 utc stazione con programma di
news ,accenni ai TALEBANI e all' AFGHANISTAN , no ID poi musica
locale- lingua PUSHTU/DARI ? alle ore 06,00 utc segnale molto
debole. Nessuna presenza di jamming.
(M.Giroletti-I Nov 1, 2001 in PDX-ML)
Voice of Kudilara
4600 1730-1800* CLA 24-10 Voice of Kudilara Kurdish talk,
songs, closing ann, but no anthem. Best in LSB due to noise. 21221
(A.Petersen-DNK Oct 24, 2001 for CRW)
6815 *1625-1803* CLA 25-10 Voice of Kudilara Kurdish & Farsi.
Opened with a march from a famous opera, political talks and
folkmusic, from 1723 Farsi which was noise jammed from 1725 onwards.
Until then 34333. Heard // 4600
(A.Petersen-DNK Oct 25, 2001 for CRW)
Voice of the People of Kurdistan
6995 kHz, 2035 UTC 34444 Vo People Kurd. (tent) längere kurdische
(?) Rede, Oktober 6, 2001
(H.F.Dumrese-D Oct 6, 2001 in A-DX)
6995 V.O.People of Kurdistan Oct 25 1559-1610 34322 Kurdish, ID at
1559 and 1609. News. // 4060.4 kHz.
(Ko.Hashimoto-JPN Oct 25, 2001 in JAP 184)
...............................................................
Logs - MIDDLE EAST
Voice of Mesopotamia
11530 1530-1600* CLA 18-10 Voice of Mesopotamia, via Kamo, ARM
Surani Kurdish, ann, translation of interview from English, folkmx,
1552 seven ID's: "Denge Mezopotamya" within 2 minutes !. Closed with
the Kurdish National Hymn. Was off the air on 17-10. 44434
(A.Petersen-DNK Oct 18, 2001 for CRW)
11530 V.O.Mesopotamia Oct 24 1546-1559* 34433 Kurdish, Talk. ID and
frequency announce at 1553. Music.
(Ko.Hashimoto-JPN Oct 24, 2001 in JAP 184)
Radio Mesopotamia, 11530 at 1402 on 11/2, (in Kurdish?) with man
mentioning "Radio Mesopotamia" several times, then vocal group,
woman talk, a slowish Arabic-like number and talk by man again at
1415. Going downhill by this time and lost around 1425.
(G.Dexter-WI-USA Nov 2, 2001 in DXplorer-ML)
...............................................................
Logs - SOMALIA
Radio Hargeisa
7530, tent. R. Hargeisa, talks in unid. lang. with animated discus-
sion, ment. of Taliban and Kabul. Hvy electrical noise, but signal
quite strong despite QRM. "Time signal" type interference at 1923
Oct 10.
(Jones-OZ, ARDXC Oct 10, 2001 via J.Berg-USA in DXplorer-ML)
...............................................................
Logs - SRI LANKA
Tamil Oli Radio
21590 Tamil Oli R. via DTK Oct 28 1231-1245 35422 Tamil, Talk and
music. ID at 1232. SJ at 1233.
(Ko.Hashimoto-JPN Oct 28, 2001 in JAP 184)
21590 Tamil Oli R. via DTK Oct 29 *1226-1240 35433 Tamil, 1226 s/on
with Music. ID at 1229and 1235. SJ at 1232. Local music.
(Ko.Hashimoto-JPN Nov 1, 2001 in JAP 185)
...............................................................
Logs - VIETNAM
Radio Free Vietnam
Radio Free Vietnam (?). 11850 on 11/2, similar to an earlier log in
that prior to scheduled 1400 sign on a few short tones were heard
but, though weak programming could be heard on the first occasion,
this time there was only silence at 1400.
(G.Dexter-WI-USA Nov 2, 2001 in DXplorer-ML)
------------xxxxxxxxxx QSL Verifications xxxxxxxxxx------------
Qsl's - AFGHANISTAN
see 'CRW 087 Special Afganistan'
...............................................................
Qsl's - SUDAN
Voice of Freedom and Renewal
Today I got a really nice reply from Sudan National Alliance/Sudan
Alliance Forces in Asmara, Eritrea. In a personal letter in English,
Secretary Amir Babkir confirms my reception of the station on 6985
kHz and adds that the radio station is working with 10 kW. Address:
SNA/SAF, Culture and Information Office, Neguse St. No. 6/8, Asmara,
Eritrea (P O Box 9257). Old email address doesn't work any longer,
so use temporary address: pmbsaf@gemel.com.er He also sent lots
of information material about the organisation. I also got another
letter the same day from Com. Mhadi M. Nour, who brought my letter
from the post office to the station. He sent a personal letter,
picture postcard and 2 photos of himself. You can reach him via the
address above!
(B.Fransson-S Nov 8, 2001 for CRW)
------------xxxxxxxxxx Miscellaneous xxxxxxxxxx----------------
Misc - AFGHANISTAN
see 'CRW 087 Special Afganistan'
...............................................................
Misc - COMORES
Coup crushed, says Comoros leader
November 4, 2001, Reuters
MORONI, Comoros Islands -- The ruler of the breakaway Comoran island
of Anjouan told Reuters on Sunday that he had crushed a coup attempt
by soldiers launched two days ago in which one person was killed.
President Mohamed Bacar, whose troops clashed with rebel soldiers in
the island's main town of Mutsamudu on Saturday, said his forces had
routed their opponents and were hunting down the leaders of the
takeover attempt.
"I am in complete control of Anjouan," said Bacar, contacted by
telephone. "Heads will roll. Some people have abused my confidence
and taken advantage of the climate of peace and serenity which I
have established and have collaborated in this coup," he said.
The rebel soldiers supporting Anjouan's former military ruler
Colonel Said Abeid, who was overthrown in August, launched their
putsch on Friday by seizing the island's radio station.
Soldiers loyal to Bacar said they had recaptured the radio station
and other key buildings, and described the situation in Mutsamudu as
calm.
"Bacar has the situation in hand," said one loyalist soldier,
contacted by telephone. "We're looking for Colonel Abeid," he said.
One person was killed on Saturday and several others wounded when a
shell fired during clashes between the rival troops hit a hospital
in Mutsamudu.
The putschists had sought to reinstate Abeid and scupper attempts to
reunite the Comoran federation.
The volcanic island chain, which is made up of Grande Comore,
Anjouan and Moheli, has a history of coups since gaining indepen-
dence from France in 1975, many of them involving notorious French
mercenary Bob Denard.
Troops loyal to Bacar have also quashed a day-old takeover attempt
on Anjouan in September by an army captain and a mutiny by soldiers
loyal to Abeid in late August.
Abeid had earlier broadcast a statement on the radio announcing that
he had assumed control of the government, saying the interests of
Anjouan were threatened by a drive to reunite the island with the
rest of the archipelago.
Bacar has embraced efforts to reunite the Federal Islamic Republic
of the Comoros and its 700,000 people, split in 1997 when Anjouan
seceded unilaterally.
(via N.Grace-USA Nov 4, 2001 for CRW)
...............................................................
Misc - DENMARK
Behörden verbieten nationalsozialistischen Radiosender
"Radio Oasen" verstieß gegen dänische Anti-Rassismus-Gesetze
[Danish authorities close down Europes only National Socialistic
radiostation Radio Oasen (for the second time) because of its
violations against Danish anti-racissm-laws. -CRW]
Eine dänische Rundfunkkommission hat Europas einzigem
nationalsozialistischen Rundfunksender verboten, seine Programme
weiter auszustrahlen. Zur Begründung hieß es, "Radio Oasen" habe mit
diskriminierenden Äußerungen gegen Schwarze, Juden und Homosexuelle
gegen die Anti-Rassismus-Gesetze verstoßen.
Wie der Vorsitzende der Nationalsozialistischen Bewegung Dänemarks
(DNSB), Jonni Hansen, am Mittwoch mitteilte, wird "Radio Oasen"
jedoch bis zu einer Entscheidung des Kulturministeriums über seine
Beschwerde weiter senden. Das Verbot sei ein Eingriff in die verfas-
sungsrechtlich garantierte Meinungsfreiheit. Hansens Ansicht nach
steht das Verbot im Zusammenhang mit den bevorstehenden Kommunal-
und Regionalwahlen, zu denen er selbst antreten will. Der Sender mit
Sitz in Greve bei Kopenhagen gehört Hansens DNSB.
Hansen war im vergangenen Jahr zu 18 Monaten Haft verurteilt worden,
nachdem er mit dem Auto in eine Gruppe von Demonstranten gefahren
war. "Radio Oasen" war schon einmal verboten worden, weil der Sender
eine Lesung aus Hitlers "Mein Kampf" ausgestrahlt hatte. Das Kultur-
ministerium hatte das Verbot mit der Begründung wieder aufgehoben,
das Buch sei ohnehin in Buchläden oder Bibliotheken zugänglich.
"Radio Oasen" sendet seit 1996. (APA Austria Presse Agentur)
(Der Standard.at Nov 8, 2001 via H.Aichmayr-AUT for CRW)
...............................................................
Misc - EASTERN EUROPE
US-sponsored radio ready to start Afghan broadcasting from Czech
capital | Text of report in English by Czech news agency CTK
Prague/Washington, 2 November: The possible introduction of special
broadcasts to Afghanistan by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
(RFE/RL) from Prague would not be likely to raise the risk of a
possible terrorist attack against the radio, its spokeswoman Sonia
Winterova told CTK today.
She was reacting to a proposal to launch a Radio Free Afghanistan
station approved by the US Congress House of Representatives
International Relations Committee on Thursday [1 November].
The station would be run by RFE/RL and would spread news and
information on US military activities in Afghanistan in local
languages. The US administration, however, does not agree with the
project, which is yet to be voted on in a plenary session of the
House of Representatives. The Senate does not have any such point on
its agenda. Assistant Secretary Paul Kelly said that the government
was considering other possibilities of radio broadcasts in support
of the goals of US foreign policy, and added that the decision
making would also depend on the development of the situation in
Afghanistan in the weeks ahead.
Winterova told CTK that the whole legislative process in this case
was only at its beginnings. But if a decision were made, RFE/RL
would be ready "to do its best and fulfill the mandate".
The RFE/RL building in downtown Prague has been guarded by soldiers
against a possible terrorist attack in connection with the attacks
against the USA on 11 September. The possibility of moving the radio
station to a less busy place is also being considered. RFE/RL moved
to Prague from Munich in 1995.
Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1148 gmt 2 Nov 01
(via BBCM via DXLD 1-165)
Czechs informed by USA about new seat for US-sponsored radio |
Text of report in English by Czech news agency CTK
Prague, 2 November: The Czech Foreign Ministry has been informed
about the US idea of a building to which the US-financed Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) could be moved from the centre of
Prague in the future, ministry spokesman Ales Pospisil told CTK
today. He said, however, that although talks on moving the station
to a safer location were under way no definitive decision had been
taken yet.
Pospisil was unable to say whether the danger of a terrorist attack
on the station would be enforced by the establishment of the Radio
Free Afghanistan station which was proposed by the US House of
Representatives foreign committee on Thursday [1 November]. He said
that in such case it would be necessary to act according to an
analysis of information from secret services. However, the danger of
an attack on the Czech territory is not only connected with the
RFE/RL Prague broadcasts but with the Czech Republic's membership of
NATO and the participation of Czech units in the anti-terrorism
campaign, Pospisil said.
Interior Minister Stanislav Gross said today that the interminis-
terial emergency committee today discussed the possibility of lowe-
ring the level of security measures concerning RFE/RL. "There is no
information which would justify lowering the level of security
measures," Gross told journalists after the meeting.
Tightened security measures at the RFE/RL building and other
institutions in Prague were taken immediately after the 11 September
terrorist attacks on New York and Washington and on 27 September
they were tightened still further when armoured personnel carriers,
soldiers and concrete barriers were placed around it.
Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1551 gmt 2 Nov 01 (via
BBCM via DXLD 1-165)
Czechs confirm Iraqi agents interested in US-sponsored radio |
Excerpt from report by Czech radio on 2 November
[Announcer] Iraqi agents were interested in the Prague seat of Radio
Free Europe, BIS [Security Intelligence Service] Director Jiri Ruzek
said after the meeting of the central emergency committee [on 2
November].
US weekly Newsweek reported this week that former Iraqi consul Ahmad
Ani had taken photographs of the RFE building. Ani met terrorist
Muhammad Ata in Prague. Ani was deported from the Czech Republic in
April.
[Ruzek] The deportation of the Iraqi consul was linked to his
activities which were incompatible with a diplomatic function. I can
confirm that Radio Free Europe was a subject of interest to Iraqi
services.
[Reporter] For the time being, the security measures around the RFE
building in the centre of Prague will not change. For several weeks
now the building is being protected by armoured vehicles. According
to Interior Minister Stanislav Gross, the emergency committee today
discussed the possibility to relax these measures:
[Gross] We stated that at this point there was no information which
would justify any relaxation in security measures...
Source: Czech Radio-Radiozurnal, Prague, in Czech 1700 gmt 2 Nov 01
(via BBCM via DXLD 1-165)
...............................................................
Misc - IRAN
Iran Resumes Jamming RFE/RL Farsi Broadcasts
From: http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/html/medianews.html
2 November 2001
Iran has a sophisticated network of jamming transmitters across the
country. It was really prominent during the Iran-Iraq war between
1980-1988. But since then, the network has been maintained at a
lower level for selective blocking of broadcasts from abroad. The
most recent case until now has been in early February 2000, when the
Iranian authorities jammed the Farsi-language programmes of Voice of
America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the BBC by broadcasting
another programmes on the same frequencies. The measures were taken
in the run-up to the 18 February legislative elections.
Media Network's Victor Goonetilleke, listening in Sri Lanka, notes
that on October 26th jamming of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
(RFE- RL) Farsi language transmissions has resumed, first noted
around 1400 UTC on 11730 kHz with a strong "bubble" jammer. Not all
channels are jammed though. Between 1400-1730 UTC the same RFE-RL
transmission is carried on 6030 and 15195 from 1400-1500, and
1400-1730 on 9435, 11730, and 17885. However only 11730 is bubble
jammed. 9435 kHz is difficult to understand because an Iranian
transmitter is operating on 9436 kHz creating heavy interference
within Iran.
RFE-RL broadcasts in the morning are also jammed between 0430-0730
on 15290 and 12015 kHz. 9585 is also active at this time, but cannot
be monitored in Sri Lanka. So far Voice of America and BBC World
Service broadcasts Farsi have not been jammed, and western
broadcasters using English to this region have never been subject to
deliberate interference.
(Radio Netherlands Media Network via M.Terry-BDXC-UK Nov 2, 2001 via
DXLD 1-165)
...............................................................
Misc - IRAQ
Iraqi Agents Likely Targeted RFE
Prague Officials Say Station was Eyed by Extremists
By Christopher P. Winner, Prague Post, November 7, 2001
Czech intelligence officials say Iraqi agents based in Prague were
paying close attention to U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio
Liberty, whose downtown headquarters has long been considered a
possible terrorist target.
"I can confirm that Radio Free Europe was at the center of interest
of the Iraqi intelligence services," Jiri Ruzek, who heads the BIS,
the Czech Republic's secret service, told a press conference.
Ruzek's comments came days after Interior Minister Stanislav Gross
confirmed that an Iraqi diplomat, Ahmed Khalil Ibrahim al-Ani, had
met with the prime suspect in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
According to Gross, Mohammed Atta traveled to Prague from Hamburg,
Germany, on two occasions and met with al-Ani at least once, in
March or April of this year.
It is not clear what the two men discussed, but the contact rein-
forced growing official belief that Iraqi agents operating under
diplomatic cover used the capital to meet with Islamic extremists,
perhaps providing them with documents and cash.
Al-Ani was expelled from the Czech Republic on April 22, 2001, for
"activities exceeding his diplomatic duties" -- a common euphemism
for espionage.
The reason for al-Ani's expulsion was never made public, but a
senior U.S. official told The Prague Post last month that American
officials were concerned about illicit Iraqi activities in Europe.
Their concern heightened after Radio Free Iraq, a branch of Radio
Free Europe, began broadcasting into Iraq from Prague in 1998.
The move apparently enraged Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, whose
country has been under strict UN embargo since the end of the Gulf
War in 1991.
According to Ruzek, al-Ani was seen photographing the Radio Free
Europe headquarters near Wenceslas Square.
The glass-and-steel structure has been under military guard and
barred from local traffic since late September.
So far, there is no evidence to suggest that al-Ani or other Iraqi
agents were aware of Atta's plan to attack U.S. targets -- or even
whether such a plan even existed at that time.
Atta, an Egyptian national, is believed to have been at the controls
of the first of two hijacked commercial airliners that slammed into
New York City's World Trade Center. A third jet crashed into the
Pentagon. More than 5,000 people died in the suicide attacks.
In an Oct. 31 statement sent by fax to The Prague Post, the Iraqi
Embassy vigorously denied any connection between Atta and al-Ani.
"[We] would like to assure you, sincerely and truly, in accordance
with the truth and history, that [this] information [is] absolutely
untrue and fabricated," read part of the statement.
Such news, it continued, "serves the political purposes of certain
countries hostile to Iraq ... led by the USA, Great Britain and
world Zionism."
Al-Ani, who held the rank of second consul, was believed to be a
member of the north Europe directorate of the Mukhabarat, the Iraqi
secret service.
Many of its agents are employed as diplomats, directed to encourage
and assist Muslims sympathetic to Iraq.
In December 1998, another Iraqi second consul, Jabir Salim, defected
to England with at least $100,000 (3.8 million Kc). After his
defection, Salim reportedly told British intelligence that he was in
charge of funding a project to attack the Radio Free Europe
building.
This information was never independently verified.
German media reports have suggested that al-Ani gave anthrax spores
to Atta, who then traveled to the United States, but official
sources discount such a transfer.
The United States has been bombing targets in Afghanistan since
early last month, hoping to root out Saudi militant Osama bin Laden,
the man U.S. officials blame for the terrorist attacks. He is a
guest of Afghanistan's fundamentalist Taliban regime.
Saddam, who is thought to have a sophisticated arsenal of biological
and chemical weapons, has maintained active ties with the Taliban.
Since the fall of communism in 1989, Prague and other Eastern
European capitals have been regularly used as transit countries for
refugees -- many of them Muslims -- seeking asylum in the West.
Germany, where Atta studied and lived during the mid-1990s, was
considered a prime destination for refugees and students.
Three of the suspected suicide hijackers -- Atta, Ziad Jarrah and
Marwan al-Shehi -- studied in Hamburg.
Human-rights and political officials have long criticized lax
policing along many Eastern European borders, saying cash-starved
frontier officials are easily bribed and susceptible to so-called
"human trafficking."
Police officials here also have noted a blurring of the line between
potential terrorists and underworld figures, suggesting that drug
money -- Afghanistan is the world's leading supplier of opium -- is
a source for terrorist recruitment and payments.
(via N.Grace-USA Nov 9, 2001 for CRW)
...............................................................
Misc - KYRGYZSTAN
Kyrgyz MP to lobby in Iran for radio broadcasts in Kyrgyz - agency |
Text of report by Kyrgyz news agency Kabar
Bishkek, 2 November: MP Tursunbay Bakir Uulu [the leader of the
opposition Erkin Kyrgyzstan (ErK) (Free Kyrgyzstan) Party] plans to
get radio broadcasts in Kyrgyz set up in Iran during his forthcoming
visit to that country, he told Asaba newspaper. He said there was a
need for this because "no radio stations in Asia were broadcasting
to Kyrgyzstan, whereas radio broadcasts from the USA, Britain and
the Czech Republic exist".
Bakir Uulu said that there was a Khorasan radio broadcasting station
in Mashhad, which broadcast in the Tajik, Uzbek and Turkmen
languages, but it had not prepared programmes in Kyrgyz as yet.
A special cooperation agreement has been signed between Khorasan
Province and the [Kyrgyz] town of Osh, and Bakir Uulu, by his own
admission, is going to Iran specially in order to tackle that issue
as a deputy from Osh Region.
He also said that during the visit, organized by special invitation
by Iran, he planned to invite Iranian businessmen who wanted to work
in Kyrgyzstan to cooperate, and to establish relations with deputies
of the Iranian parliament.
Source: Kabar news agency, Bishkek, in Russian 1209 gmt 2 Nov 01
(via BBCM via DXLD 1-165)
...............................................................
Misc - MOLDOVA
Padio Pridnestrovye
I [suggest] to include Padio Pridnestrovye [in to the lists for
clandestine stations]. It broadcasts from Transnistria (Prid-
nestrovyan Moldavian Republic)- a self-proclaimed autonomous
territory, under separatists administration.
Such situation is very similar to Abkhazia vs Georgia and Western
Sahara vs Morocco. I don't see the differences. Some years ago ther
were military fights between Pridnestrovye and Moldova; now are not
fights but is big enough enmity to each other. Pridnestrovye
(Transnistria) is de facto independent state with an own power
headed by president Igor Smirnov, also has own laws, currency, etc.
The authorities of Moldova want to back this region under own
jurisdiction, but president of Pridnestrovye offer to create the
association of two states.
A name for this region I offer "Pridnestrovye (Moldova)" as is
Chechnya (Russia).
INFORMATION :
Radio Pridnestrovye (or Radio PMR= Radio Pridnestrovskoy Moldavskoy
Respubliki) broadcasts in Russian
daily 0500-0530 on 1467 kHz (150kW) and
Mo-Fr (except holidays) 1800-1830 on 999 kHz (500 kW).
Heard on November 1-8th. The programmes consist many anti-Moldovian
information, but no more communist ideology's propaganda as was some
years ago. Address announced on the air is the same as earlier:
Radio PMR, ul. Rozy Liuksemburg 10, (MD-3300) Tiraspol.
(R.Petraitis-LTU Nov 8, 2001 for CRW)
...............................................................
Misc - SAUDI ARABIA.
Analysis: Saudi media in the eye of the storm
DXLD 1-164 has a long article from the BBCM about the media in
Saudia Arabia after the 11 September suicide attacks on the US.
Radio has been mentined only one time : "Private radio stations are
not permitted apart from MBC FM, owned by Sheikh Walid Al-Ibrahim,
brother-in-law of King Fahd." [CRW]
...............................................................
Misc - SOMALIA
Baidoa is being heard again
The stn based in the southern provincial town of Baidoa is being
heard again on 6800 or 6810 1500-1800 so definitely feasible as a
catch in the UK as your sunset gets earlier. Unlike many of the stns
in Somalia, R Baydhabo bcs in full AM. There is a tradition among
the other stns of just using upper sideband and a carrier. Also
reactivated is the stn in the northern town of Gaalkacyo. This one
is on 6985.
But beware, this freq is also used by a Sudanese clandestine, which
in fact in Nairobi has much stronger signals than R Gaalkacyo.
Another two Somali stns to try for are R Mogadishu operated by
faction leader Muhammad Farah Aydid on 6750 or 6755, and R Hargeysa,
in the self-declared Republic of Somaliland, on 7530.
But remember that the operation of all Somali SW stns is erratic and
their freqs are variable. Of the four stns mentioned R Hargeysa
probably has the best record of staying on-air and on-freq.
(C.Greenway-KEN, BDXC-UK via M.Barraclough-G WDXC Nov 1, 2001 via
BCDX 546)
...............................................................
Misc - SYRIA
Pro-Israeli clandestine radio increases hours
Since December 2000 BBC Monitoring has observed a pro-Israeli and
anti-Syrian clandestine station which now calls itself Eastern Radio
[Al-Idha'ah al-Mashriqiyah]. The radio was first observed with
experimental transmission on 23 December 2000 on 756 kHz mediumwave,
at which time it identified itself as "experimental radio from the
Mediterranean basin". The radio apparently replaced Voice of the
South, a pro-Israeli radio that was run by the South Lebanese Army
militia, SLA, from the town of Kfar Killa, southern Lebanon, which
had also operated on 756 kHz. The Voice of the South closed on 24
May 2000 when Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon.
In January 2001, the Eastern Radio was active only for two hours a
day: 0600-0700 and 1500-1600 gmt but the radio is now operating
daily from 0700 to 1630 gmt. Programmes heard on 31 October included
15- minute news bulletins at 0800, 1000, 1200 and 1400 gmt and news
summaries at 0900, 1100 and 1300 gmt. A political commentary was
broadcast at 0905 gmt and repeated at 1600 gmt. The news and
comments appeared to have a pro-Israel, anti-Syria and anti-Iraq
slant. The radio appeared to criticize Palestinian and Hezbollah
"terrorism" and programmes dealt with Arab issues and Lebanese
domestic politics. Other programmes contained Arabic songs and
modern Arabic music.
The radio is also available live or on-demand via the Internet via
the Carmel News Agency on: http://www.carmelnews.org
Source: BBC Monitoring research 31 Oct - 2 Nov 01 (via DXLD 1-166)
...............................................................
Misc - TURKEY
Radio station closed for broadcasting Kurdish songs |
Excerpt from unattributed report from Mersin: "Radio Closed
Because of Kurdish", published by German-based Kurdish newspaper
Ozgur Politika web site on 30 October
The Radio and Television High Council [RTUK] decided to close the
SES Radio, a local radio station in Mersin [northeastern Turkey] ,
for a period of seven days on grounds of violating Paragraph (t) of
Clause 4 of Law 3984 by broadcasting songs in the Kurdish language.
Within the framework of its adaptation to the EU, Turkey is making
constitutional amendments and additional arrangements in order to
give the impression that it is undergoing "democratization." Certain
institutions, however, continue to insist on taking anti-democratic
measures. Taking opportunity of the fact that the adaptation laws
with regard to the constitutional amendments have not yet been
passed, the RTUK once again adopted a banning stand with regard to
the Kurdish language.
The broadcasts of the SES Radio had been stopped in the past for 15
days on grounds of featuring an article by Toktamis Ates, a writer
in the Çumhuriyet newspaper. The Ankara 8th Administrative Court had
stopped the implementation of the decision. This way the SES Radio
had continued to broadcast. This time, however, the SES Radio is in
trouble because of broadcasting songs in the Kurdish language. The
RTUK has recently decided to close the SES Radio for seven days on
grounds of violating the principle of "the broadcasts of radios and
televisions should be in the Turkish language. Languages that are
used in universal and scientific works may be taught and may be used
to report news" as mentioned in Paragraph (t) of Clause 4 of Law
3984...
The SES Radio will be closed on 6 November... Lawyer Kadir Arikan
applied to the Ankara 8th Administrative Court on behalf of the SES
Radio and demanded that the court stop the implementation of the
RTUK's and cancel the decision. Noting that the decision to stop the
broadcasts of the SES radio was made on grounds that the said radio
station played songs in the Kurdish language, Arikan's petition
noted that the RTUK's decision is not valid in terms of authority,
content, reason and aim. Arikan demanded that the court cancels the
decision and stops its implementation.
Source: Ozgur Politika web site, Neu-Isenburg-D in Turkish 30 Oct 01
(via BBCM via DXLD 1-164)
...............................................................
Misc - USA
State law enforcement still looking for Anderson
Steve Anderson mugshot: [same as before, somewhat oblate]
http://www.somerset-kentucky.com/images/story_pix/andersonmug2.jpg
By Carol Coffey
There hasn't been a sign of Steve Anderson since Oct. 16.
Law enforcement officials across the state continue to be on the
look out for Anderson, who has been described as a militia
enthusiast and
survivalist.
Anderson has been on the run since he riddled a Bell County Deputy
Sheriff's car last month.
Buddy Simpson, public relations trooper with the Harlan post of the
Kentucky State Police, said he believes that Anderson has "gone
underground."
Simpson said organizations that Anderson has been affiliated with in
the past, like the Ku Klux Klan, have a "pretty good network" of
people that would give someone like Anderson on the run food and
shelter until he moved on again.
Simpson said the KSP and the ATF investigation of Anderson remains
active and all leads and tips are being investigated.
There are, however, other developments on the Anderson front. A
website called "Sheriff's Posse Comitatus," which linked to a
number of sites including Anderson's United Patriot Radio, is being
closed. The only link that currently exists on the site is a
dedication to Steve Anderson.
A notice appears on the website that indicates it will close within
the next week and was last updated on Oct. 31.
The message on the site is from Pastor August B. Kreis III. He says
he is shutting down the site because he is taking a position with
the Aryan Nation.
"Within the next week I will be shutting down this website. I want
to thank my longtime supporters for all their help over the years,"
Kreis wrote. "As most of you are already aware of I have worked with
Pastor Butler and the Aryan Nations for many years. I was recently
asked by Pastor Butler and Pastor Ray Redfeairn to take the position
of Aryan Nations Minister of Information & Propaganda."
Kreis said he is leaving behind the website after more than 10 years
to work full-time for the Aryan Nation.
After the message, the website has a link which says, "Steve
Anderson, May YHVH protect you my brother." The link is to a page
called "Patriot Shootout. Heads Up."
The site contains stories published in the Commonwealth Journal
about the incident in which Anderson shot at the deputy's vehicle
and other stories. It also links to the Commonwealth Journal
website.
Kreis also sends a message to Anderson at the end of the page.
It reads, "Kindred ...We will all meet again when we are back with
our Father ... I ask you Father please watch over and protect and
bless Steve as he makes his way in this world doing his duty as one
of your children and soldiers ... May the blessings of our Father be
upon you my friend and may the Armour of God keep you safe. /abk."
Meanwhile, Kentucky Militia Commander Charlie Puckett said yesterday
that ATF officials had asked him about "a white powder" found at
Anderson's residence. Puckett said Anderson wasn't into
"bioterrorism" and that the substance was non-toxic.
Puckett also reported that Anderson was suffering from a "heart
condition" and was being treated by a doctor in Winchester, Ky.
"Who knows ... Steve could've had a heart attack up in those
mountains," Puckett said. "He's either dead or out of there by
now."
The KSP and the ATF have announced a $5,000 reward for information
leading to the arrest of Anderson.
On Sunday, Oct. 14, Anderson, 54, from Pulaski County, fired
multiple gunshots at a Bell County Deputy Sheriff after fleeing from
a traffic stop in Bell County. Anderson's abandoned vehicle was
recovered near Middlesboro. A search of the vehicle resulted in the
recovery of a large amount of ammunition and several pipe bombs.
As a result of the search of Anderson's vehicle and a subsequent
search of Anderson's residence in Pulaski County, federal explosives
charges have been filed against Anderson in U.S District Court in
the Eastern District of Kentucky. ATF is assisting the Kentucky
State Police in the investigation.
Anderson is still considered armed and dangerous by law enforcement
officials.
Deputy Scott Elder, 25, was taking his girlfriend home before his
shift began at 8 p.m. on Oct. 14. On the way, Elder stopped
Anderson, who another motorist said had been driving erratically and
had no lights on U.S. 25E near Middlesboro.
During the stop, police said Anderson became angry and eventually
pulled an automatic weapon on Elder. Elder yelled to his girlfriend
to lie on the floorboard while he ran behind the patrol car.
After the shoot-out, police said Anderson drove his truck into the
mountains, where cruisers couldn't follow.
Federal, state and local law enforcement officials executed a
federal search warrant at Anderson's home on Elrod-Martin Road. The
ATF has not officially released any information about what items
were seized from Anderson's home, but it apparently took officers
several hours to clear the scene.
Story created Thursday, November 01, 2001 at 10:44 AM
(via P.Costello-USA in DXLD 1-166)
------------xxxxxxxxxx Sources xxxxxxxxxx----------------------
Thanks to the following contributors : Anker Petersen, Björn
Fransson, Enrique A. Wembagher, Hansjoerg Biener, Harald Aichmayr,
Juergen Lohuis, Julio Carreras, Ken Cossaboon, Mike Barraclough,
Peter Mager, Yves Sorokobi
Source Abbreviations:
ACH : Anti-Castro Historiography-USA
A-DX : A-DX-mailing list-Austria
BBCM : BBC Monitoring-UK
BCDX : Broadcast DX-Germany
CDX : Cumbre DX-USA
ConDig : Conexion Digital-Argentina
CRW : Clandestine Radio Watch-Germany
DXLD : DX Listening Digest-USA
EDXP : Electronic DX Press-Australia
HCDX : Hard-Core-DX-mailing list-USA
OBS : Observer-Bulgaria
PDX : Play DX-Italy
QIP : QSL Information Pages-Germany
TDP : Transmitter Documentation Project
TFW : The Four Winds Online-Italy
BBCM items are Copyright BBCM 2001.
______________________________________________________