Clandestine Radio Watch 122
--------------xxxxxxxxxx CRW 122 xxxxxxxxxx--------------
CLANDESTINE RADIO WATCH
December 15, 2002
Clandestine Radio Watch (CRW) is a biweekly summary which centralizes the
latest news and developments affecting the study of clandestine radio in an
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CRW Team :
Editor-in-Chief :
Martin Schoech, Merseburg : schoech@clandestineradio.com
Correspondents :
Achraf Chaabane, Sfax : achraf@clandestineradio.com
Nick Grace C., Washington : grace@clandestineradio.com
Robertas Petraitis, Klaipeda : tornado493@hotmail.com
Takuya Hirayama, Tokyo : hirayama@clandestineradio.com
Next issue - CRW 123 : December 31, 2002
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------------xxxxxxxxxx Breaking News xxxxxxxxxx----------------
IRAQ : Radio Hurriah Axed by State Department
SAUDI ARABIA : Voice of Reform Jammed
SAUDI ARABIA : Opposition movement launches Sawt al-Islah Radio
SRI LANKA : Rebel Radio Receives Support from Norway
LEBANON : Translation of Michel Aoun's Speech on Voice of Free Lebanon
...............................................................
IRAQ : Radio Hurriah Axed by State Department
By Nick Grace, CRW Washington
with additional reporting by Robert Petraitis, CRW Lithuania
[Dec 14] While Washington diplomats ponder the future political landscape in
Iraq, the U.S. government has quietly axed funding earmarked for the
resumption of a pro-democratic radio station that could play a crucial role
in reinforcing peace and stability in the country's post-Saddam era. Radio
Hurriah, CRW has confirmed from sources within the Iraqi National Congress
(INC), will not take to the airwaves.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a high-ranking INC official said that
planning and support for the group's radio station under the guidelines of
the Iraqi Liberation Act of 1998 reached the highest levels of the Bush
administration. The Department of State, however, overruled the National
Security Council, which was in favor of the station, and notified the INC
during a meeting last May that Radio Hurriah would not be funded.
"(They) informed us in a letter in May 2002 the things they are willing to
fund," the source revealed. "Radio was not on the list. When we asked in a
meeting, they responded by saying that there are already enough radio
stations that reach Iraq."
Indeed, Iraq is targeted by approximately 27 clandestine radio broadcasts in
addition to the handful of Arabic-language international outlets aimed at the
Middle East. The bulk of the clandestine stations, however, operate
above-ground in Iraqi Kurdistan and represent the competing ethnic and
political interests of their sponsors. At least three broadcast stations,
al-Mustaqbal, Voice of the Brave Armed Forces, and Radio of the Two Rivers
(Radio Mesopotamia), have been tied to a covert American-run transmitter in
Kuwait.
The loss of the INC's radio station, coupled with Washington's closure of
Hurriah TV, the INC's satellite channel that ceased operation earlier this
year, is considered a major impediment for the promotion of democracy in
Iraq. Said the official, "Television and radio stations would be very
significant in getting the message of democracy, human rights and a better
future to the Iraqi people. Additionally we could be sending messages to
military commanders that they will be held accountable for WMD (weapons of
mass destruction) use or human rights violations."
Unlike the programs and radio stations that are currently on the air, INC
broadcasts planned to reflect a political platform and democratic ideals
already agreed upon by a majority of the political parties vying to replace
Saddam and his regime.
Additionally, the INC's track record of getting its message out over the
airwaves is a successful one. Its clandestine broadcasts during the
mid-1990's over Radio Hurriah and the Iraqi Broadcasting Corporation (IBC)
were widely listened to within Iraq and were even responsible for convincing
the Iraqi flag bearer during the 1996 Olympics to defect to the United
States. He appeared on international television to explain his defection and
express solidarity with the INC - without having ever communicated with a
member of the organization.
Washington's track record of support for the Iraqi opposition, however, is
less than perfect. The Clinton administration not only abandoned the INC
after encouraging its forces to engage Baghdad's military in the 1990's but
it lacked the foresight to prepare solid evacuation plans for its contacts in
Iraq in the event of trouble. The entire local IBC staff was caught and
executed in 1996 when the Iraqi military overran opposition forces in Iraqi
Kurdistan, sending CIA case officers to literally flee for their lives.
The policy being pursued by the Bush White House is, in fact, a continuation
of the Clinton legacy. President Bush, himself, reaffirmed the government's
position during the major policy speech he delivered in Cincinnati on October
8. "If Saddam Hussein orders ('cruel and desperate measures') his generals
would be well advised to refuse those orders," he said. "If they do not
refuse, they must understand that all war criminals will be pursued and
punished."
His message was carried into Iraq over the Voice of America's Arabic-language
service Radio Sawa and also over the American surrogate outlet Radio Free
Iraq.
White House Spokesman Ari Fleischer went further a few days before Bush's
speech, explaining, "The cost of one bullet, if the Iraqi people take it on
themselves, is substantially less (than the cost of war)... There are many
options that the President hopes the... people of Iraq will exercise
themselves that gets rid of the threat."
Two of the clandestine radio stations operating with covert U.S. funding,
al-Mustaqbal and Voice of the Brave Armed Forces, articulate Washington's
goals for a military coup d'etat on a daily basis. In the eight yearssince
the stations hit the airwaves, however, Saddam Hussein has not yet been
assassinated by someone from within his inner circle. The third station,
Radio of the Two Rivers (Radio Mesopotamia), remains an enigma within the
Iraqi opposition. Its programs are virtually unknown outside of short wave
radio monitors. CRW's Robert Petraitis in Lithuania, who speaks Arabic and
listens to the station regularly, notes that its programs are "moderate" in
relation to al-Mustaqbal and Voice of the Brave Armed Forces and do not seem
to target a military audience within Iraq.
The pro-coup stations, meanwhile, continue to broadcast as United Nations
weapons inspectors comb through Iraqi facilities and as the Pentagon proceeds
with its build-up in the region - leading to suspicion that hope lingers
within the Washington Beltway that America's show of force will act as a
force multiplier to the broadcasts and lead to a so-called "zipless coup"
that lies at the core of the Iraqi National Accord's platform. The Accord,
headed by military defectors, is supported by the CIA and operates
al-Mustaqbal.
Few Iraqis are holding their breath. Rather, many wish that the Bush
administration would reconsider its position on Radio Hurriah and by
extension TV Hurriah.
...............................................................
SAUDI ARABIA : Voice of Reform Jammed
By Achraf Chaabane, CRW North Africa
[Dec 10] After four days of clear broadcasts, the Voice of Reform (Saw
al-Islah) began being jammed with a bubble jammer on December 10. The jammer
continued throughout the broadcast under the station's signal and then for
four minutes after the broadcast ended. Audio of the jammer as monitored in
Tunisia can be heard at:
http://www.clandestineradio.com/audio/sarabia_reform021210jam.ram
Jamming was also noted by CRW contributor Rajesh Nambiar with weak signals
underneath the Voice of Reform's carrier on December 12 and also by Cumbre
DX's Hans Johnson, who listened to the broadcast over the Internet via
Javaradio.net on December 11. Also noted by Kouji Hashimoto from Japan on
Dec. 10.
For the detailed logs of this station see 'Logs'-section.
...............................................................
SAUDI ARABIA : Opposition movement launches Sawt al-Islah Radio
Qatar-based Al-Jazeera Television carried the following report in its evening
news bulletins on 8 December: "Sawt al-Islah [Voice of Reform] Radio, the
mouthpiece of the Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia [MIRA], began its
round-the-clock Arabic transmission from an unidentified place in Europe on
the HotBird Satellite." Citing Sa'd al-Faqih, spokesman for the London-based
Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia, Al-Jazeera says "that the radio
transmits its programmes for two hours daily on a shortwave," adding that
"the station can be heard in Europe, the Arabian Peninsula, northern Africa
and most countries in the Middle East."
The MIRA web site at http://www.miraserve.com reports that the station was
launched at 1900 gmt on 7 December. It also provides the following
information on the station:
Name: Al-Islah
Satellite: HotBird 6 at 13 degrees East
Transponder: 129
Frequency: 11096 MHz
Polarization: horizontal
Symbol Rate: 27500
Forward Error Correction (FEC): 3/4
Audio Programme Identification (PID): 74
The MIRA web site also states that the radio station can also be heard
between 1900-2100 gmt on the shortwave frequency of 7590 kHz.
(Source: Al-Jazeera Television, Doha, in Arabic 8 Dec 02; BBC Monitoring
research Dec 8, 2002)
Saudi opposition launches radio station to kingdom
Emigre opposition inaugurates its first radio broadcasts to kingdom to allow
Saudis to express themselves freely.
DUBAI - Saudi Arabia's banned emigre opposition inaugurated its first radio
broadcasts to the kingdom late Saturday from an unspecified "European
country".
Listeners across the Arabian peninsula can tune into the Arabic-language
"Voice of Reform" station launched by the London-based Movement for Islamic
Reform in Arabia (MIRA) on the 11.096 MHz frequency on the Hotbird satellite.
The satellite channel will be operated 24 hours a day and will be
supplemented by daily short-wave broadcasts on 39.35 metres between 1900 and
2100 GMT, MIRA spokesman Saad al-Faqih said.
Programming would include "live phone-ins with the movement's spokesman and
other personalities, particularly Saudi ones, as well as news and cultural
broadcasts," said Faqih.
"It's the first time that the opposition has been able to speak directly to
the Saudi people."
"The last Saudi opposition radio dates back to the 1960s when a programme run
by Arab nationalist Dhahayan al-Dhahayan ... was broadcast from Egypt in the
days of president Gamal Abdel Nasser."
Faqih said he was unsure how Washington would react to the new station, given
its unhappiness with Riyadh's efforts to clamp down on terror financing since
the September 11, 2001 attacks.
"Perhaps Washington will appreciate it given the Saudi authorities' hesitancy
about fully cooperating in providing the United States with information about
the activities of Islamist groups in the region," he said.
"Or maybe they'll be apprehensive about broadcasts which carry the hallmarks
of the Islamic opposition."
"But it's the Saudi government which will be really uncomfortable about
programmes which allow Saudis to express themselves freely and without
comeback by taking advantage of new technologies such as the Internet."
MIRA was formed in 1996 after a split in the Committee for the Defence of
Legitimate Rights established by dissident Muslim clerics three years earlier
who accused the Saudi regime of corruption and authoritarianism.
The CDLR was immediately banned in the kingdom and its leader Mohammed
al-Masari fled first to Yemen and then London.
The Saudi authorities have long made strenuous efforts to stop the two
opposition groups getting their message across inside the kingdom, putting
strong pressure on broadcasters around the region not to give them a
platform.
http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=3559
(via U.Fleming-USA Dec 9, 2002 in CDX-ML)
...............................................................
SRI LANKA : Rebel Radio Receives Support from Norway
From Radio Netherlands Media Network, courtesy of Andy Sennitt
http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/html/medianews.html
According a report in the Sunday Times of Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan
government has given assistance to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam by
allowing them to import '6 tons of radio equipment' to refurbish their
clandestine station Voice of the Tigers (VoT). The report said that the cargo
was cleared on 26 November by officials in Colombo, who waived import duty,
and has been transported to the broadcasting facility in the LTTE controlled
Mullaitivu district in Wanni region. According to the Sunday Times, the
action was authorised by Defence Secretary Austin Fernando. The newspaper was
unable to get an official comment from the government, but quoted 'sources'
saying that the equipment was consignd to the Norwegian embassy, which gifted
it to the LTTE. Much of the equipment is for upgrading the studio, but the
consigment also contained an FM transmitter and a backup. Details of the
station and its current schedule can be found at Clandestine Radio.com.
(A.Sennit-HOL Dec 9, 2002 for CRW)
See also 'Miscellaneous' for more on the story.
...............................................................
LEBANON: Translation of Michel Aoun's Speech on Voice of Free Lebanon
By Achraf Chaabane, CRW North Africa
[Dec 3] The Voice of Free Lebanon, which began test broadcasts on November
22, carries a speech by the Free Patriotic Movement's head, Michel Aoun, of
much significance:
"Today is the memorial Lebanon's Independence Day. I say "memorial" because
independence is dead. We lost this day ever since the Syrian army occupied
Lebanon to impose its political choices, its economic choices, its desired
presidents, and to delete our liberties. The Syrian army tries every day to
replace our system with their system.
"In mid-August, during the annual summit in Paris, we recognized that in
Lebanon they censor economic news and news related with Syria. They force
journalists and reporters to avoid subjects related to our economy and Syria.
During the summit, we planned to develop radio programs to talk freely about
the economic situation in Lebanon but then we decided instead to talk about
the liberties in Lebanon. We knew that there will be a time when the free
Lebanese TV and radio stations will be stopped.
"So we sought to create a Lebanese voice targeted to the Lebanese people that
would speak about our true situation. Since our people can only hear lies
from the Syrian-controlled media our station will offer to be the Voice of
Freedom - the Voice of Free Lebanon.
"We start, therefore, with a limited budget and a test broadcast for one
hour. It is an hour of objective news and programs. We ask every Lebanese -
no matter where they are - to help stop Syria's lies by supporting our
operations financially.
"Live Lebanon."
------------xxxxxxxxxx Schedules xxxxxxxxxx--------------------
Schedules - CHINA
Star Star Broadcasting Station
(aka: New Star Broadcasting Station)
STAR STAR BROADCASTING STATION:
11430 Star Star Channel 1
15388 Star Star Channel 2
9725 Star Star Channel 3
8300 Star Star Channel 4
13750 Star Star Channel 5
(via M.Liu-TWN Nov 27, 2002 in DXLD 2-186)
Voice of China
Clandestine station in Taiwan :
VOICE OF CHINA:
CHINESE 2230-2330 7270 kHz
0800-0900 11940 kHz
(via M.Liu-TWN Nov 27, 2002 in DXLD 2-186)
...............................................................
Schedules - IRAN
Radio Barabari
Freq change for Radio Barobari in Persian effective from Nov.25:
1700-1730 NF 7470 (55444) probably via SIT [LTU], ex 7480
(Observer-BUL 226 Nov 29, 2002 via W.Büschel-D)
B-02 schedule of tx SIT 100 kW / 259 deg to Eu and 310 deg to NoAm:
1700-1735 Daily 7470 Radio Barobari in Persian to Eu?
(Observer-BUL 228 Dec 6, 2002 via W.Büschel-D)
Radio Farda
Radio Farda does have a web-site though it's still under construction...
http://www.radiofarda.com/
Presumably, they're using R Azadi's sked :
9585 04:30-08:00
12015 04:30-06:00
15290 04:30-08:30
17675 06:00-08:00
15515 07:00-08:30
9510 08:00-08:30
17835 08:00-08:30
9435 14:00-17:00
11730 14:00-17:00
15410 14:00-17:00
6140 19:00-20:00
11960 19:00-21:00
11985 19:00-21:00
9785 20:00-21:00
Farsi Broadcast to Europe
7165 20:00-23:00
9835 20:00-23:00
(P.Ormandy-NZL Dec 3, 2002 in HCDX)
Radio Liberty
Freq change for Radio Liberty in Azeri:
1600-1700 NF 9665, ex 9795.
(Observer-BUL 228 Dec 6, 2002 via W.Büschel-D)
...............................................................
Schedules - LEBANON
Voice of Freedom
New station in Arabic Voice of Freedom/Radio Tayyar/Radio Streem :
1600-1700 on 11515 (55555) via SAM 250 kW / 224 deg to ME
(Observer-BUL 226 Nov 29, 2002 via W.Büschel-D)
...............................................................
Schedules - MIDDLE EAST
Radio Sawa
There are four versions of R. Sawa broadcast simultaneously: Radio Sawa
Levant, Radio Sawa Iraq, Radio Sawa Egypt and Radio Sawa Gulf. They are
produced and distributed 24 hours a day by satellite (Eutelsat Hotbird 3 and
News Skies Satellites 703). All programs are distributed in stereo ---
presumably for local FM rebroadcast
(station info via S.Whitt, MW Circle via Dec BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD
2-191)
...............................................................
Schedules - SYRIA
The Arabic Radio
Voice of Homeland in Arabic via RUS txs:
1600-1630 NF 7470 (55555), ex 12115 \\ 12085 strong co-ch R.Damascus in
Turkish (Observer-BUL 226 Nov 29, 2002 via W.Büschel-D)
...............................................................
Schedules - VIETNAM
Diverse
1230-1300 UTC 9930 kHz Radio Free Vietnam (Louisiana) via Hawaii thru TDP
1300-1400 UTC 9930 kHz Que Huong Radio via Hawaii thru TDP
1400-1500 UTC 9930 kHz Radio Free Asia (in Vietnamese) via Hawaii
1500-1600 UTC 9930 kHz Radio Free Vietnam (California) via Hawaii
(L.Maes-TDP-BEL Dec 2, 2002 for CRW)
For once TDP is explicit about transmitter site! But now we have another
contradiction, one item in Miller Liu`s schedule, DXLD 2-186, indicating one
of these is via TAIWAN:
RADIO FREE ASIA B02 VIETNAMESE 1400-1500 9930
So which is it? Should not be hard to tell in the region whether it come from
Hawaii or Taiwan; whether KWHR transmitter goes off and on at 1400 and 1500
(G.Hauser-USA in DXLD 2-190)
------------xxxxxxxxxx Logs xxxxxxxxxx-------------------------
Logs - AFGHANISTAN
Radio Afghanistan (Kabul)
18940 kHz, 1545 R. AFGHANISTAN - KVITSOEY TALK OM DARI 45544
(R.Scaglione-I Dec 1, 2002 in HCDX)
Radio Free Afghanistan (Prague)
12140 0345 R Afghanistani Azadi (Radio Free Afghanistan), poor sig w/prog in
Dari. Also heard closing at 1830z.
(P.Ormandy-NZL Nov 2x, 2002 for CRW)
15690 0340 R Afghanistani Azadi (Radio Free Afghanistan), fair sig w/prog in
Dari.
(P.Ormandy-NZL Nov 2x, 2002 for CRW)
...............................................................
Logs - ASIA
Radio Free Asia
7515 RFA via CIS 1655 Found this while optimistically hearing audio on 7530.
Chinese crash and bang music heard over talking by OM. Found parallel
frequency on 7515 which was much better.
(G.Maroti-USA Nov 23, 2002 in CDX-ML)
MARIANAS, NORTH RADIO FREE ASIA 15.545 0027 GMT CC 433 Dec 5th YL and OM with
comments. Chinese Music Jammer no where to be heard this time around!
(Stewart H. MacKenzie-USA Dec 5, 2002 in HCDX)
...............................................................
Logs - CHINA
Fang Guang Ming
9945 2055 (Russia) Fang Guang Ming (ex-Falun Dafa Radio), weak at tune-up
prior to 2100 s/on with tones, Chinese music jammer already present and
dominating.
(P.Ormandy-NZL Nov 2x, 2002 for CRW)
2136 hrs UT, 5925 khz: Falun Dafa World Radio was not audible on Sunday 9th
December [sic] due to a jammer being in operation on this frequency. I gave
up after waiting several minutes. I think it is safe that the Chinese were
responsible for the jammer. I wonder where FDWR will go next in terms of
frequency
(DX Dave-G Dec 9, 2002 in DXLD 2-194)
Re jammer but no Falun Dafa on 5925, DXLD 2-194: FDWR via Sitkunai
[LITHUANIA] has been on 6035 from 2100 since the beginning of B02. I do not
know what the Chinese are jamming on 5925 at the same time. 6035 is also
being jammed
(O.Alm-S Dec 11, 2002 in DXLD 2-195)
Star Star BC Station
Is anyone hearing the Chinese "clandestine" New Star stn (or "Star Star," or
whatever it is) these days? I tried for it while up in Maine, but no luck. It
was heard fairly well up there on our last trip, and I have hrd it from home
as well. Is it off now?
(J.Berg-USA Dec 8, 2002 in DXplorer-ML)
Re JB's question of a couple of days ago: New Star/Star Star is not often
heard here but was definitely logged on Nov 8,2002 from 1410 to 1419* on
9725.0 with a weak but fair signal. Haven't really tried since.
(V.Korinek-AFS Dec 10, 2002 in DXplorer-ML)
Voice of Tibet
11550 Voice of Tibet 1447 12/05. Chinese "Big Band" crash and bang jammer.
Not even a trace of VOT.
(S.R.Barbour Jr-NH-USA Dec 05, 2002 for CRW)
...............................................................
Logs - COLOMBIA
La Voz de La Resistencia
6175.07 Voz de La Resistencia, 1 Dec 1032-1100, probable sign-on with anthem
and ID "Al aire C-R-B Cadena Radial ?Bolivariana? Voz de la Resistencia
transmitiendo desde la cordillera de los Andes...de las Fuerzas Armadas
Revolucionaria de Colombia FARC, ejercito del pueblo." Into talks and rock
music. Good signal.
(M.Mohrmann-VT-USA Dec 1, 2002in CDX-ML)
Voz Res has not been reported on SW for quite some time, thought to be
inactive; previously had been well above 6.2 MHz, out of band. WYFR is
scheduled on 6175 until 1000; and then, per HFCC, RFI via French Guiana in
Spanish until 1030. FARC would pick up a lot of listeners that way, by
starting right after another Spanish broadcast on the same frequency. 6175
1000 1030 7S,8S,10,11,12N GUF 500 295 1234567 271002 020303 D Spanish F RFI
TDF 1169
(G.Hauser-OK-USA Dec 2, 2002 in DXLD 2-189)
Desde el domingo cuando la reportó el colega Morhmann he monitoreado la
frecuencia desde las 1030 hasta aprox. las 1230 cuando salgo para la oficina
y no he podido escuchar nada; hoy habia una señal con melodías orientales ---
no sé si es India o Malasia. Algo que me sorprende es la hora de apertura
1030 (5:30 a.m. local) ya
que no tengo registro que esta emisora empezara transmisiones tan temprano;
por lo general es luego de las 1130 o 1200; de todas formas también estoy
chequeando la frecuencia en la tarde 2100-2200 ya que esta emisora
tradicionalmente presenta dos emisiones, una matutina y otra vespertina.
También hay que esperar por si se trata de emisiones para sólo los fines de
semana
(R.Rodríguez-CLM Dec 4, 2002 in Conexión Digital-ML via DXLD 2-190)
6175 Voz de Resistencia been trying for this at 1030 based on Mark's tip, but
no joy here, only hearing what sounds like Malaysia.
(H.Johnson Dec 4-5, 2002 in CDX-ML)
...............................................................
Logs - CUBA
Radio Marti
21675 2130 USA R Marti, usual anti-Cuban messages. Fair signal.
(P.Ormandy-NZL Nov 2x, 2002 for CRW)
...............................................................
Logs - ERITREA
Millennium Voice
21550 Sowt Al-Qarn untraced on Friday at 1400 and same again today. Not even
a carrier, was pretty easy just a few weeks ago. Gone? Next time they are
scheduled to be on is Friday, any help from Europe would be appreciated.
(H.Johnson-USA Dec 6-9, 2002 in CDX-ML)
Re: Sowt Al-Qarn : Nothing noted here today or last Friday or Monday, if they
were on I think I would have heard them.
(M.Barraclough-G Dec 10, 2002 in CDX-ML)
GAM -- IBB ceased that entry now, on both Nairobi and Luanda monitoring logs
! :
GAM - Millenium Voice / R Voice of Horn. (IDHAAT SOUT AL QARN), Sudanese
Arabic
1330-1430 21550 WOF
(W.Büschel-D Dec 10, 21002 in CDX-ML)
...............................................................
Logs - ETHIOPIA
Radio Solidarity
15275 kHz, Tigrean International Solidarity for Justice and Democracy, via
Jülich, Nov 23, 1610-1629*, Tiggrinya political talks, 34444
(A.Petersen-DNK Nov 23, 2002 for DXW/CRW)
15275, Radio Solidarity, 1623-1629* Nov 27, man talking in Tigrean language,
Horn of Africa vocals. ID and sign off announcements followed by brief vocals
until carrier cut. Fair.
(R.D'Angelo-PA-USA Nov 30, 2002 in DXplorer-ML)
15275, R. Solidarity, *1600, Previous pgm ended at 1558, deadair, then 1600
s/on of R. Solidarity w/very brief instru. mx then short ID anmnt by W in
pres. Tigrina, more Horn of Africa flute mx, and ID opening anmnt mentioning
meterband, mx bridge, and same W anncr again briefly, and start of pgming
w/long tlk. Very good
signal.
(D.Valko-USA Nov 30, 2002 in CDX-ML)
Rainbow Radio
11840 1945 GERMANY Keste Demena Radio (Rainbow Radio), pr signal with
broadcast targetting Ethiopia. Hvy splash from 11835. Fri UTC only.
(P.Ormandy-NZL Nov 2x, 2002 for CRW)
Voice of the Democratic Path to Ethiopian Unity
11840 1830 GERMANY V of the Democratic Path to Ethiopian Unity, fair signal
in hvy splash from 11845 & 11835, with prog in Amharic. Sked Weds UTC only.
(P.Ormandy-NZL Nov 2x, 2002 for CRW)
21550 0700 GERMANY (?) V of Democratic Path of Ethiopian Unity, s/on after
short piece of music with FA & MA, then mostly tlk.
(P.Ormandy-NZL Nov 2x, 2002 for CRW)
11840 Voice of Democratic Path of Ethiopian Unity 1855-1930* 12/04. Two
recorded speeches with crowd applause, one regarding "Harmed Karzai" and
"Afghanistan" with several mentions of "Ahmara" and "Ethiopia". The second
speech I was unable to get the "gist" of. Organ music at 1907 and again
before ID at s/off. Good
(S.R.Barbour Jr-NH-USA Dec 04, 2002 for CRW)
21550, Voice of Democratic Path of Ethiopian Unity, 8 Dec, 0700-0717, SINPO
35322 initially, then decreased to 25222. DTK schedule says the language is
Amharic. During the broadcast Washington, White House, Kenya/Mombasa, and
even Russian President Putin were mentioned.
(D.Mezin-RUS Dec8, 2002 in DX-Signal 83)
Voice of Oromo Liberation
15670 V. of Oromo Liberation (p) 1712-1730 DEC 1 - Talks in HoA lang, HoA mx
segments. No ID noted.
(J.Wilkins-CO-USA Dec 1, 2002 in DXplorer-ML)
...............................................................
Logs - GEORGIA
Abkhaz R
1350, 8.12 0400-, Abkhaz R, Sukhumi. //9490. Worse reception on SW, but
surprisingly dominant on MW frequency that morning
(J.Lehtinen-FIN Dec 8, 2002 in HCDX via DXLD 2-194)
Abkhazia back s-on at 1400 daily on v9490
(R.Pankov-BUL Dec 1, 2002 in BC-DX via DXLD 2-194)
...............................................................
Logs - INDIA
Voice of Jammu Kashmir Freedom
5102 V.O.Jammu Kashmir Freedom Nov 25 1300-1307 Kashmiri, Opening music. ID.
Koran.Talk.
(Ko.Hashimoto-J Nov 25, 2002 in JAP 240)
5102 V.O.Jammu Kashmir Freedom Dec 2 *1259-1310 44433 Kashmiri, 1459 s/on
with opening music. ID. Koran. Talk.
(Ko.Hashimoto-J Dec 2, 2002 in JAP 241)
5102, Voice of Freedom of Jammu Kashmir, 1401 Dec 2, political commentary in
English, 1410 talks in local language interspersed with local music, off
after short piece of Muslim music 1430. Buzzy carrier and English talk was
difficult to follow due to muffled audio, better audio on the rest of the
transmission. Fair signal fading up on clear channel
(M.Barraclough-G Dec 2, 2002 in DXLD 2-189)
...............................................................
Logs - IRAN
Radio Azadi
9835 2130 R Azadi (R Liberty) poor signal w/spoken prog in Farsi.
(P.Ormandy-NZL Nov 2x, 2002 for CRW)
12140 1820 R Azadi (R Liberty), good signal in Farsi till abruptly off at
1830 after giving re-tuning details including FM.
(P.Ormandy-NZL Nov 2x, 2002 for CRW)
9835 R.Azadi Dec 8 *2000-2010 44444 Farsi, 2000 s/on and ID. Opening music.
Talk. ID at 2007 and 2009.
(Ko.Hashimoto-J Dec 8, 2002 in JAP 242)
Radio Barabari
7470 kHz, R Barabari, via Sitkunai, Lithuania (?), Nov 30, *1700-1730*, Farsi
ID"s, webaddress, political comments, ex 7480. 55555
(A.Petersen-DNK Nov 30, 2002 for DXW/CRW)
7470 Radio Barabari via Sitkunai *1700-1735* Dec.8 Noted with melody
signature tune at s/on, with clear ID's for Radio Barabari, followed with
news bulletin, political interview and commentary. Iranian string music was
featured towards the end of the broadcast, closing news headlines, gave web
site(www.barabari.net) and the same signature tune repeated at sign-off.
Initially the signal was fair but gradually improved to a point where it was
good to very good at times, and a full s5 to s6 level.
(E.Kusalik-CAN Dec 8, 2002 for CRW)
7470, Radio Barabari via Lithuania, 1706-1733* Dec 9, long talks in Persian
with brief musical segments. Several nice identifications at 1728 during
extended sign off routine. Poor to fair.
(R.D'Angelo/FCDX-PA-USA Dec 9, 2002 in DXplorer-ML)
Radio Farda
Hello Kim, perhaps you can help with this: At present Radio Azadi is also
transmitted for emigrants in Europe 2000-2300 on 7165 and 9835 (both via
Morocco). What will happen with these outlets once Radio Azadi was
discontinued to make way for Radio Farda? Switching them to Radio Farda, too,
replacing them by an arrangement with VOA Farsi (which I understand will
continue) or just terminating them without a substitute? Enclosed a record I
just made off 9835.
(K.Ludwig-D Dec 1, 2002 in DXLD 2-189)
Have been hearing Radio Farda here at good level on 17675, 15290 and 9585 up
till 0829utc. Does anyone have an e-mail address for them?
(I.Cattermole-NZL Dec 3, 2002 in CDX-ML)
Just listening to Radio Farda (ex-Radio Azadi) 15290 at 0620. So it looks
like the change in slogan and formatting has changed. The music was certainly
more "poppy" than I would have expected on R Azadi. Also audible on //17675
though not as strong here in the South Pacific.
(P.Ormandy-NZL Dec 3, 2002 in HCDX)
Radio Farda was heard quite well also here. 17675 was better than 15290. On
17675, Radio Farda programming ended at 0730, after which Radio Azadi took
over, so it looks like the transfer is not yet complete, if Radio Farda is to
replace all Radio Azadi broadcasts. Also 9585 kHz audible.
News on the launch at http://www.dxing.info/news/index.dx#farda
(M.Makelainen-FIN Dec 3, 2002 in DXplorer-ML)
The 1900z broadcast was back to Radio Azadi, so it looks like it was a Radio
Farda test...
(P.Ormandy-NZL Dec 3, 2002 in HCDX)
Paul, Are you hearing anything other than ID's and music? I'd be very
surprised if they've actually started full programming yet. According to
earlier information from BBG there was supposed to be a two week break before
the new service started. My hunch is that these are promptional
transmissions. But of course, I could be wrong as I so often am :-)
(A.Sennit-HOL Dec 3, 2002 in HCDX)
Yesterday, Dec 04, on 9835 and 9785 kHz announced "Radio Farda" at 2100 UTC
after almost continuous music.
(M.Ponkamo-FIN Dec 5, 2002 in HCDX)
11960 Radio Farda, 2027-2040, December 05. Talk in ?? (farsi??) by male.
Music. Announcement by male. Short bulletin news read by female.
Announcement. Commentary by male about Iran. After, many identifications as
"Radio Farda". Very nice song (the singer is a male). SINPO: 43433 In //9785
with 33433 and 9835 khz with 32432 too.
(A.Slaen-ARG Dec 5, 2002 in HCDX)
I heard both Radio Azeri and Radio Farda in a program and thought that Farda
had started. Evidently it hadn't, because I got the following message from a
contact in return: "Radio Farda has not started yet. We plan to begin in
mid-December. We are broadcasting VOA Farsi. Radio Azada will go off the air
-- it is winding down right now. Best, Joan"
(B.Fransson-S Dec 5, 2002 in HCDX)
= broadcasting VOA Farsi. Radio Azada will go off the air -- it is winding
= down right now. Best, Joan"
Hmm...that will likely confuse people some more. The station that Radio Farda
will replace is Radio *Azadi*, not Radio Azada and certainly not Radio Azeri
:-)
(A.Sennit-HOL Dec 5, 2002 in HCDX)
I just copied Joan's message, so evidently she doesn't know the name of the
station. And maybe she doesn't even know when Farda is going to start or
already has started? Talk about confusion...
(B.Fransson-S Dec 5, 2002 in HCDX)
9835, Radio Farda, 2209-2225 Dec 5, new RFE/RL Persian service with lively
regional vocals and numerous IDs between selections. Fair to good reception
and noted //7165 which was poor.
(R.D'Angelo-PA-USA Dec 5, 2002 in DXplorer-ML)
MOROCCO 9835, 2157-2210, Radio Farda Dec 8 Male announcer with a number of
jingles with clear ID in Arabic language. Id annuonced 6 times in various
ways at 2155. Some using reverb producing nice echo effect. Very professional
audio. Then to mx. in Arabic or Farsi. Catchy tune. S10 signal level.ID again
at 2201 male announcer several times again. (FCDX)
(R.Montgomery-PA-USA Dec 8, 2002 in CDX-ML)
9535//11730//15410 Radio Farda 1540-1615 Dec.8 Noted with lively pop variety
music ranging from gothic type to hip hop at times. Noted with ID's for
Radiyo Far-da (echoed) and gave a web site information at 1606 as
www.radiofarda.com . Of the three frequencies heard, 15410(Wofferton) was the
best heard, with 9435(Kavala) being the poorest, and 11730(Lampertheim) being
fair to good.
(E.Kusalik-CAN Dec 8, 2002 for CRW)
9835 R.Farda Dec 9 2050-2115 44444 Farsi, Pops music. ID at 2058 and 2105 and
2110.
(Ko.Hashimoto-J Dec 9, 2002 in JAP 242)
Radio International
7490 1805 MOLDOVA R International, gd sig w/prog in Farsi. Slight bubble
jammer QRM, heard with mostly spoken program till close at 1815z.
(P.Ormandy-NZL Nov 2x, 2002 for CRW)
Radio Payam-e Doost
7480 Radio Payam Doost 1801-1821 12/03. Female with talk and music. ID at
1815 followed by mention of "Associated Press" and "New Age Voice Magazine"
twice. Interview with male. Poor, with deep fades. I was able to match my log
with the audio-file at their website www.bahairadio.org
(S.R.Barbour Jr-NH-USA Dec 03, 2002 for CRW)
7460 Radio Payam-e Doost 0242-0315* Dec.12 Noted with Iranian string
musicals, followed with interview commentary in Farsi. Rest of the broadcast
featured music (violas/strings) gave an address (Virginia, USA) and schedule
at the close with frequency mentioned(7460) and off with a trumpet fanfare
music. Signal was best in LSB ECSS detection to avoid the interference on
7465 with very good copy at times with signal peaking to s6+ at times.
(E.Kusalik-CAN Dec 8, 2002 for CRW)
7460, Payam-e-Doost Radio, *0226-0315* Dec 9, open carrier with Russian test
tones until instrumental music fanfare and woman announcer with clear
"Payam-e-Doost" ID and Persian talk and musical features. Another station ID
and website (www.BahaiRadio.org). Long talk began at 0246 by a man. Closed
down without an ID with instrumental music.
(R.D'Angelo/FCDX-PA-USA Dec 9, 2002 in DXplorer-ML)
Radio Sedaye Iran (Radio Voice of Iran)
11575 1820 V of Iran gd signal w/telephone callers. Via KCH ??.
(P.Ormandy-NZL Nov 2x, 2002 for CRW)
11575 Radio Sedaye Iran 1633-1650 12/02. Choral music (NA?) at tune-in, ID
followed by "somber" music and long talk by male. Good
(S.R.Barbour Jr-NH-USA Dec 2, 2002 for CRW)
11575 V.O.Iran Dec 9 *1629-1634 25232-15231 Farsi, 1629 s/on with opening
music. announce by man.
(Ko.Hashimoto-J Dec 9, 2002 in JAP 242)
Voice of Mojahed
7070.65 V.O.Mojahed Nov 30 *1308-1331 33332-33333 Farsi, Koran and talk.
(Ko.Hashimoto-J Nov 30, 2002 in JAP 241)
...............................................................
Logs - IRAQ
Voice of the Democratic Assyrian Movement, Ashur Radio
9155 V.O.Assyrian Movement Nov 20 1601-1608 34322, Talk and local music. ID
at 1601.
(Ko.Hashimoto-J Nov 20, 2002 in JAP 240)
Voice of Iraqi People
9563.1 V.O.Iraqi People Nov 25 1515-1540 34333-33333 Arabic, Koran and talk.
ID at 1535.
(Ko.Hashimoto-J Nov 25, 2002 in JAP 240)
9563.1 V.O.Iraqi People Dec 10 1606-1634 34333-33333 Arabic, News and Arabic
music. //9570kHz.
(Ko.Hashimoto-J Dec 10, 2002 in JAP 242)
...............................................................
Logs - IRAQ/IRAN:
SURVEY OF KURDISH AND IRAQ-IRAN OPPOSITION RADIOS
The following broadcasts were observed during a monitoring survey on
20 and 25 November (all times in GMT, frequencies in kHz):
BROADCASTS TARGETED TO IRAQ
Voice of the People of Kurdistan (radio of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan,
PUK, based in Al-Sulaymaniyah, northern Iraq):
1400 (Fade-in)-1800 programmes in Kurdish
1800-2000 Programmes in Arabic
2000-2100 programmes in Kurdish.
Frequencies: 1206, 4025 and 4400 kHz
Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan (radio of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, KDP, based
in Salah-al-Din, northern Iraq):
1400 (fade-in) to 1930 in Kurdish
1930-2030 in Arabic
2030-2100 in Kurdish
Frequency: 4085 kHz.
Voice of Kurdistan Toilers:
1430-1600 in Kurdish
1600-1700 in Arabic.
Frequency: 4245 kHz.
The radio announces that programmes begin at 1430 and are repeated at 0300
the next day. This radio station identifies the weekly Sorani Kurdish
newspaper, Alay Azadi, based in Al-Sulaymaniyah, northern Iraq, as the organ
of the Iraqi Kurdistan Toilers Party.
Kurdistan Radio, Voice of the Kurdistan Socialist Democratic Party:
1500-1630 in Kurdish
1630-1700 in Arabic
Frequencies: 4140 kHz. (fair/poor)
Radio Freedom (Radio Azadi):
1600-1700 in Kurdish
Frequency: 3900 kHz.
This radio is associated with Voice of the Iraqi People, Voice of the Iraqi
Communist Party, which broadcasts in Arabic at 1730-1900 GMT on 3900 kHz.
Voice of the Iraqi People, Voice of the Iraqi Communist Party:
1730-1900 in Arabic
Frequencies: 3900 and 5900 kHz.
Announcement says programmes are broadcast 1730 and 0400 the next day on 49
and 75 metres. This radio is associated with the Kurdish-language Radio
Freedom (Kurdish: radio Azadi), the Kurdistan Communist Party Radio. Radio
Freedom programmes in Kurdish are broadcast on 3900 kHz 1600-1700 gmt.
Voice of the Iraqi People, Republic of Iraq Radio (believed to broadcast from
Saudi Arabia):
1500-2300 in Arabic
Frequencies: 1053, 9563, 9570 and 11710. (Also heard on 4785 kHz, believed to
be a sub-harmonic from the 9570 kHz transmitter.)
BROADCASTS TARGETED TO IRAN
Voice of Iranian Kordestan:
1430-1600 in Kurdish
1600-1630 in Persian
Frequency: 3975 kHz
Voice of the Iranian Revolution:
1530-1630 in Kurdish:
Frequencies: 3880 and 4380 kHz
Voice of the Iranian Communist Party:
1730-1830 in Persian:
Frequencies: 3880 and 4380 kHz
Radio Komala:
1700-1800 in Kurdish and 1800-1830 in Persian
Frequencies: 3930/3927 and 4610 kHz
Voice of the Strugglers of Iranian Kordestan:
1700-1800 in Kurdish
Frequency: 4260 kHz
Voice of Mojahed, radio of the Iraq-based Iranian opposition Mojahedin-e
Khalq Organization (MKO):
1500-1930 (approximately) in Persian
Frequencies: 5360, 5630, 6750, 6990, 7020, 8240, 8300, 8600, 8950, 10450 and
13450 kHz. All these frequencies vary constantly to avoid jamming; the radio
is heard briefly on each frequency. Similar jamming is also heard on other
frequencies.
Some of the morning repeat broadcasts of the above radio stations have not
been confirmed.
The following radios were not heard during this survey:
1. Voice of the Kurdistan Conservative Party.
2. Harim radio, Voice of the Regional Government of Iraqi Kurdistan.
3. Radio of Jihad, Voice of the Iraqi Islamic Movement, which broadcasts in
the name of the Islamic al-Da'wah Party, associated with the Supreme Council
of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, SCIRI, led by Muhammad Baqir al-Hakim.
4. Voice of Islam, Voice of the Islamic Movement in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Source: (D.Kenny, BBC Monitoring research Nov 20-25, 2002 via DXLD 2-189)
...............................................................
Logs - Israel
Voice of Islamic Palestinian Revolution
3985 Voice of Islamic Palestinian Revolution 2050 Arabic program explaining
the reasons for Palestinian homicide attacks against Israel.
(A.Chaabane-TUN Nov 16, 2002 for CRW)
Voice of Palestine
9505 Voice of Palestine, Nov 4, 0330-0335, chimes, s/on anmts at 0330.
Martial music and news items with music bridge in between each item. Good
(J.Fisher-ON-CAN Nov 4, 2002 in DXplorer-ML)
Voice of Islamic Palestinian Revolution
...............................................................
Logs - KAZAKHSTAN
Radio Dat
9925 R.DAT Nov 24 1625-1635 35322 Russian, Talk. ID at 1628 and 1629.
(Ko.Hashimoto-J Nov 24, 2002 in JAP 240)
9925 kHz, R DAT, via Armavir, Russia (?), Nov 30, *1600-1658*, Russian ID"s,
webaddress, news and political comments about Kazakhstan and its President.
No programme in Kazakh was broadcast. 35434
(A.Petersen-DNK Nov 30, 2002 for DXW/CRW)
9925 R.DAT Dec 2 1600-1610 34333 Russian, URL announce. ID. News.
(Ko.Hashimoto-J Dec 2, 2002 in JAP 241)
9925 R.DAT Dec 9 1607-1628 35333 Russian,News. ID at 1618.
(Ko.Hashimoto-J Dec 9, 2002 in JAP 242)
...............................................................
Logs - KOREA (NORTH)
Echo of Hope
3985 1415 Echo of Hope (CLA to KRE), K, talk. // 6348. 43333
(E.Bierwirth-TWN Dec 6, 2002 in HCDX)
6348 1645 Echo of Hope, E popmx, // 3985. 43433
(E.Bierwirth-TWN Dec 6, 2002 in HCDX)
Voice of the People
6600 kHz, 17.22 Vo the People vn 34433
(K.Richter-D Dec 4, 2002 in A-DX)
3912 1423 V.o.People (Cland. to KRE), K, political talk. 44333
(E.Bierwirth-TWN Dec 6, 2002 in HCDX)
...............................................................
Logs - KOREA (SOUTH)
Voice of National Salvation
4120 1413 V.o.National Salvation (CLA to KOR), music 24322 in USB, otherwise
covered by Jammer
(E.Bierwirth-TWN Dec 6, 2002 in HCDX)
4450 1412 V.o.National Salvation, // 4120, music slightly audible under loud
Jammer.
(E.Bierwirth-TWN Dec 6, 2002 in HCDX)
...............................................................
Logs - KURDISTAN
Denge Mesopotami / Voice of Mesopotamia
11530 V.O.Mesopotamia Nov 25 1545-1557 35333 Kurdish, Talk. ID at 1555 and
1556.
(Ko.Hashimoto-J Nov 25, 2002 in JAP 240)
15675 kHz, Voice of Mesopotamia, via Tashkent, Nov 28, 0730-1300*, Kurdish
dialects. On the Hour: news about Iraq, often mentions Mesopotamia, usual
I/S-tune with singing woman, 1155 & 1259 ID's: "Denge Mezopotamia" by man. A
lot of the programmes were with local songs and instrumental music. 35333.
Continued after *1300 on 11530 with similar programmes.
(A.Petersen-DNK Nov 28, 2002 for DXW/CRW)
11530, V.O. Mesopotamia, 1329-1345, AR-like instru. mx, ID by W w/pres.
Kurdish anmnts over instru. percussion mx. Brief tlk by W, then into very
exotic vcl by M accompanied by percussion. W anncr again taking a phone call
from W. Did mention Iraq once. Fairly good and clear.
(D.Valko-USA Nov 30, 2002 in CDX-ML)
15675 V.O.Mesopotamia Dec 2 0659-0705 34433 Kurdish, Local music and talk. ID
at 0702.
(Ko.Hashimoto-J Dec 2, 2002 in JAP 241)
11530 V.O.Mesopotamia Dec 8 1331-1341 35333 Kurdish, Local music. ID at 1337.
(Ko.Hashimoto-J Dec 8, 2002 in JAP 242)
Voice of Iranian Kurdistan
3985 kHz, 9/11 1630 VOICE OF THE IRANIAN KURDISTAN - NX CURDO, quality: BUONO
(R.Pavanello-I Nov 9, 2002 via Dxlandia-ML)
3975.0 kHz, Voice of Iranian Kurdistan, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, Nov 29 & 30,
1505-1630*, Kurdish news, political talks, ID: "Aira dangi Kurdistan Irana",
songs; 1530 Farsi news, songs, ID: "Seda-ye Kordestan-e Iran", political
talks; 1600 Kurdish ID, news and songs. 25243. Moved here from 3985 to avoid
QRM from CNR2 and VOIRI.
(A.Petersen-DNK Nov 30, 2002 for DXW/CRW)
Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan
4085 kHz, 2/11 1715 VOICE OF THE IRAQI KURDISTAN - MX CURDO, quality : SUFF
(R.Pavanello-I Nov 2, 2002 via Dxlandia-ML)
4085 kHz, 5/12 1920 VOICE OF IRAQI KURDISTAN - SALAH AL DIN MX TIPICA CURDO
33322
(R.Scaglione-I Dec 5, 2002 in HCDX)
Voice of Komala
3930 kHz, 16/11 1700 VOICE OF KOMALA - TALK OM CURDO // 4610, quality : SUFF
(R.Pavanello-I Nov 16, 2002 via Dxlandia-ML)
3927.8 kHz, Voice of Komala, Nov 24, 1730-1828*, Farsi political talks,
patriotic songs, 1824 ID and orchestra music. 25333
(A.Petersen-DNK Nov 24, 2002 for DXW/CRW)
7560 kHz, Voice of Komala, Sunday Nov 24, *1700-1800*, Typical CIS test tones
from 1654, 1700 Fanfare and ID in Kurdish: "Eira dengi Komala", news; 1730
Farsi ID: "In seda-ye Payama.... Kordestana...", political talks; different
programme and much stronger than same station on 3930. 45444
(A.Petersen-DNK Nov 24, 2002 for DXW/CRW)
7560. Voice of Komalah. 1700. Good in Farsi opening at this time with many
mentions of Komalah making IDing easy.
(I.Cattermole-NZL Dec 2 (?), 2002 in CDX-ML)
I heard the Voice Of Komala (TDP brokered) on 7560 at 1700-1800. This one is
Sundays only. Via CIS transmitter (test tone...) ID as 'Ira Dengi Komala'.
(S.Domen-BEL Dec 8, 2002 in DXLD 2-193)
Voice of Kurdistan Toilers
4245 kHz, 23/11 1650 VOICE OF THE TOILERS OF KURDISTAN - MX CURDO, quality :
SUFF
(R.Pavanello-I Nov 2, 2002 via Dxlandia-ML)
Voice of the People of Kurdistan
4025.06 V.O.People of Kurdistan Nov 25 1505-1512 33332 Kurdish, News. ID at
1506. Kurdish music and talk.
(Ko.Hashimoto-J Nov 25, 2002 in JAP 240)
4025.2 V.O.People of Kurdistan Dec 2 1536-1543 34232 Kurdish, Talk. ID at
1536.
(Ko.Hashimoto-J Dec 2, 2002 in JAP 241)
4025 kHz, 5/12 1915 VOICE OF THE PEOPLE OF KURDISTAN - SULAYMANIYAH TALK OM A
23232
(R.Scaglione-I Dec 5, 2002 in HCDX)
4400 kHz, 5/12 1915 VOICE OF THE PEOPLE OF KURDISTAN - SULAYMANIYAH TALK OM A
24432
(R.Scaglione-I Dec 5, 2002 in HCDX)
4024.85 V.O.People of Kurdistan Dec 8 1444-1502 33332 Kurdish, Talk and News.
ID at 1500.
(Ko.Hashimoto-J Dec 8, 2002 in JAP 242)
4400 Voice of the People of Kurdistan, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, Dec 09,
1930-2100*, New frequency ex 6995, Arabic news, ID ”Sawt Sha’b Kurdistan”,
Arab songs, talks, 2000 Kurdish ID: ”Aira dangi Gelli Kurdistana”, fanfare,
news, talks, songs, closes with what must be the Kurdish National hymn //
4025. 33433 CWQRM the first hour.
(A.Petersen-DNK Dec 9, 2002 for CRW)
...............................................................
Logs - LAOS
Hmong Lao Radio
12070 kHz, Hmong Lao Radio (United Lao Movement for Democracy), (via
UZB-Tashkent), 0058-0110, 6 Diciembre, txn en hmong (t). Tonos. Musica
instrumental de apertura. Identificacion o anuncio por locutora. Anuncio por
locutor. Boletin noticioso o
comentario. SINPO: 24442.
(A.Slaen-ARG Dec 6, 2002 in ConDig 188)
...............................................................
Logs - LEBANON
Voice of Freedom
11515 kHz, Voice of Free Lebanon, Nov 28 & 30, 1605-1700*. This new
radiostation is run by the Free Patriotic Movement of Lebanon (FPM ). Mostly
Arab songs, but also a man giving ID ("...Sawt Lubnan....") and e-mail
address: radio@tayyar.org. 45544 deteriorating to 35333. Their website is
www.tayyar.org/ . It belongs to the FPM. This is a cover organization for
General Michel Aoun living in exile in Paris. Most web-texts and spoken texts
are in Arabic. The supporting organization in the U.S.A. is the Council of
Lebanese American Organizations with website: www.clao.com
(A.Petersen-DNK Nov 28-30, 2002 for DXW/CRW)
Today 11515 was from a CIS site with pips up to 1558. The carrier came on
very early. Before the Moscow master control pips I heard the normal Samara
procedure
(O.Alm-S Nov, 29, 2002 in DXLD 2-188)
Here a record of today`s 11515 transmission with the finale of the anthem and
the Aoun speech beginning. Apparently they broadcast the very same Aoun
record every day. Regarding the site: Nothing appears to contradict the
report which said this would be Samara
(K.Ludwig-D Nov 30, 2002 in DXLD 2-188)
After a bit of anthem (?), rather informal speech including a big
throat-clear; modulation: somewhat mushy; reception: slow fading with quite a
bit of noise
(G.Hauser-USA Nov 30, 2002 in DXLD 2-188)
11515 V.O.Free Patriotic Movement of Lebanon (P) Dec 1 *1559-1605
25322-25321, 1559 s/on with Nat. Anthem of Lebanon?.
(Ko.Hashimoto-J Dec 1, 2002 in JAP 241)
11515 kHz. Voice of Free Lebanon. 1600. Quite good here in Arabic.
(I.Cattermole-NZL Dec 2 (?), 2002 in CDX-ML)
SAMARA 11515.0, 1630-, Arabic Voice of Freedom Dec 9 Continous pop mx hrd at
tune in. S2 signal levels with deep fades to near noise floor. Male announcer
hrd at 1633 in Arabic. Arabic tune hrd at 1634. ID is presumed. Too weak to
get a positive ID. (FCDX).
(R.Montgomery-PA-USA Dec 8, 2002 in CDX-ML)
11515, Voice of Freedom/Free Patriotic Movement of Lebanon (Sawt Lubnan
Al-Houriya), 1615-1700* Dec 9, program of mainly musical selections with
short Arabic talks. Gave e-mail address (radio@tayyar.org). Off with
orchestra music. Poor with some RTTY QRM at tune in which disappeared at
1620. Again *1557-1625 Dec 10, with open carrier to rousing choral national
anthem. Man opened with Arabic announcements, another man with talk followed
by vocals. Poor.
(R.D'Angelo/FCDX-PA-USA Dec 9-10, 2002 in DXplorer-ML)
--
Comment: Is the appearance of the [clandest] station a coincidence with the
US-IRQ war plans in 2003? to mix up ruling parties in Near East [ex Osmanic]
countries again. Maybe will result in a new founded Kurdistan country, 80
years after the unfinished peace treaty of Lausanne, when Kurdistan people
has been forgotten in 1922.
(W.Büschel-D Dec 4, 2002 in BCDX 602)
Answer: The new (islamic !) government in Turkey did in a few weeks more than
all the governments in the years before in order to please the west and to
fulfill the requirements for the European Union membership, but they still
refuse to open the air bases for the US troops (unless they have a UN
mandate). Here you have your answer what Turkey at the moment thinks about a
'new founded Kurdistan'.
(M.Schöch-CRW Dec 4, 2002)
...............................................................
Logs - MIDDLE EAST
Radio Sawa
Haven`t spent much time listening to R. Sawa, but taxpayers who would like to
monitor it in the US may tune this emission:
9665 0400 0600 VOA MRN1 ARAB MOR 02 084
which on Dec 11 I found booming in at 0545 with extremely brief news
headlines over continuous musical bed, stingers between items (as if that
somehow makes the news more credible, interesting?? Norm Pattiz knows best,
he assures us), then back to music, first some rock song in English, then one
in Arabic. And so it went, until 0559 when in the middle of a full ID giving
satellite, internet, FM and MW frequencies, if not SW, they were rudely cut
off at precisely 0559:30. Even VOA can`t get its act together to coördinate
programming with transmission timing --- but then, SW is just an
afterthought/leftover for Sawa, so who cares?
This was so strong, I was sure it was Greenville until I looked it up. Turns
out that the *only* Greenville usage by R. Sawa is 17740 at 1900-2100, 67
degrees. For reasons unknown, on M-F it`s the Greenville-B site, Sat & Sun
Greenville-A
(G.Hauser-OK-USA WORLD OF RADIO 1160 in DXLD 2-195)
...............................................................
Logs - MOLDOVA
Radio Pridnestrovye
5960 Radio of the Dniestr Moldavian Republic heard 1700 sign on November 27th
with identification by male announcer "Here is Tiraspol,the capital of the
Dniestr Moldavian Republic", news items, identification 1715 "Here is the
Radio of the Dniestr Moldavian Republic", political commentary, information
on a Dniestr town, programme credits, address announced as Programme
Pridnestrovye, ul Rozy Luxembourg 10, Tiraspol, Dniestr Moldavian Republic.
Next programme announced for Wednesday December 4th at 1700. Off with
incidental music. Strong signal but adjacent channel splash from even
stronger 5955 Radio Netherlands, used synch AM and passband shift.
(M.Barraclough-G Nov 27, 2002 in CDX-ML)
5960 R Pridnestrovye, Tiraspol, Wed. Dec 04, *1659-1730*, English programme,
”Here is Tiraspol, the capital of the Trans-Dniester Moldavian republic”
(TMR). National hymn. News about what the TMR President and the TMR Supreme
Council has been doing the past week including talks on withdrawal of Russian
troops from TMR. A letter to the President of Moldova asking for
selfdetermination of TMR. Comments and closing ann. 43443 heavily disturbed
by R Nederland on 5955. The next broadcast will be on Wed Dec 11.
(A.Petersen-DNK Dec 11, 2002 in DXplorer-ML)
...............................................................
Logs - NIGERIA
Voice of Biafra International
12125, Voice of Biafra International, 1914-1940 Nov 30, political talk by man
in English about Nigeria. After Nigerian vocal selection, nice ID before
discussion about President of Nigeria. Fair.
(R.D'Angelo-PA-USA Nov 30, 2002 in DXplorer-ML)
12125 kHz, LV de Biafra Internacional, (via RUS ?), 1912-1920, 30 Noviembre,
comentario en ingles por OM con muchas menciones de "Nigeria" y de "Biafra".
SINPO: 44444.
(A.Slaen-ARG Nov 30, 2002 in ConDig 188)
...............................................................
Logs - SAUDI ARABIA
Voice of Al-Aslah/Radio Alislah
Voice of al-Aslah is to launch Dec.07, a test transmission on 7590 for two
hours 2200-0000 Local Mecca time. Details here http://islah.org/radio1.htm#3
... Developing.
(M.Fathi-D Dec 6, 2002 in CDX-ML)
7590 led me to the TDP website where there is a listing for a Radio Alislah
daily from 19-21 on 7590. Bumped around on the islah.org site, which is in
Arabic, but has an English link. Went there and found an article entitled the
American Phenomenon and the Bin Laden Phenomenon in which Bin Laden is
referred to as a "good warrior." Presumed transmitter site [LITHUANIA ?]
based on past TDP usage and frequency.
(H.Johnson-USA Dec 6, 2002 in CDX-ML)
Voice of Al-Aslah/Radio Alislah - Strong signal on 7590 at 2020z with mostly
open carrier and chunks of what sounds like an Imam.
(P.Ormandy-NZL Dec 7, 2002 in CDX-ML)
Al momento sta arrivando fortissima, l'audio va e viene, il segnale è una
bomba SINPO 55555, 20.25 UTC.
(R.Scaglione-I Dec 6, 2002 in BCL-News-ML)
Dec. 8. Al-Islah on 7590 from 1900 UT. ID and bit of a chaotic start to the
program (tape not edited?). Speech mentioning Al-Qaeda
(S.Domen-BEL Dec 8, 2002 in DXLD 2-193)
7590 MIRA ???? Just a signal of S9+20 today at 2037 but nothing heard
(Z.Liangas-GRC Dec 9, 2002 in GRDXC-ML)
On Dec 09, *1900-2100*, I heard only an open carrier (QSA 3) on 7590 except
for a few seconds at 2021 when very weak voices were heard. But on Dec 10,
1940-2057* a strong signal was heard with test messages by a man continuously
talking in Arabic with a few words and numbers in fluently English, at times
distorted, but most times very clear. He had a few phone talks with other
people. Saudi Arabia was mentioned. 44544. Already slightly jammed as from
Dec 10. That ceased at 2102*. It is remarkable that Norkring/Kvitsøy had
dropped 9980 on Dec 10 for its broadcasts in Norwegian and Danish during that
specific period, probably to make this transmitter available for a Merlin
broadcast ! Both Kvitsøy transmitters were back for the Norwegian broadcast
from R Norway at 2105 on 7490 and 9510.
(R.Petersen-DNK Dec 9, 2002 for CRW)
7590 Voice of Reform 1900-2100 Program jammed by bubble jammer. The signal
was very strong but the audio quality wasn't very good and had many breaks.
The announcer apologized for the technical problems and said that they are
completing the installation of the equipment.
(A.Chaabane-TUN Nov 16, 2002 for CRW)
7590 V.O.Reform Dec 10 *1858-1936 24432 Arabic, Talk by man. ID at 1935. 1936
Jamming.
(Ko.Hashimoto-J Dec 10, 2002 in JAP 242)
Right now (at 1950 UT) I'm listening to 7590 kHz, which could be the new
program (probably not really a station) of the London-based Movement for
Islamic Reform in Arabia, opposed to the government of Sa`udi Arabia. The
movement has a website at http://www.islah.org/ No station identification
heard so far; I missed the presumed start of the transmission at 1900 UT
because of working late. The signal is strong, but there are transmitter
problems. Most of the time the audio is audible 60-70 seconds at a time,
followed by a silence of 10-15 seconds. There is also a jammer on the
frequency. "Sawt al-Islah" (Voice of Reform) probably broadcasts from
somewhere in Europe or the Middle East, but does anyone have more info on the
transmitter location?
(M.Mäkeläinen-FIN Dec 10, 2002 in dxing.info via DXLD 2-195)
7590 Radio Al-Islah was mentioned at the bottom of the Fox News screen
headlines tonight, first time I recall a clanny drawing this kind of
attention. Checked them on a javaradio in Europe earlier today and noticed
that there is now a co-channel bubble jammer, something our initial DX
reports from Dec 6th didn't mention. Not able to listen long enough on the
javaradio to determine if radio program matches pro-bin Laden stance that the
website has.
(H.Johnson-USA Dec 11, 2002 in CDX-ML)
Hi, From the United Arab Emirates !! Monitored Sout al eslah on 10.12.2002
1900 UTC - 1930 UTC [on 7590 kHz]. At roughly 1900 UTC, strong carrier then a
distinct arabic tape recording of a saudi male went on with frequent breaks,
I beleive it was recorded. Was trying to figure out the commentators message
with frequent words like " Naass" meaning People, "Al etehad"- union etc etc.
Over all signal report for this staion is 555 (SIO). The carrier was little
rough. The audio was OK little noise behind the tape recorded commentary (of
political nature). The Saudi Arabs and citizens in the Gulf in general stay
up late at night watching TV etc. so I guess this might be the reason why
they selected this time schedule, its 10:00 PM in saudi Arabia and 11 here in
Dubai. The democratic reforms in Bahrain and the events in Iraq may have
something to do with these broadcasts. The Saudi Jammers will surely get hold
of 7590 and we can expect a frequency change soon. Will keep you updated. P.S
Bubble jammers were heard yesterday (11.12.2002) but faint.
(R.Nambiar-UAE Dec 10-12, 2002 for CRW)
I have been hearing the clandestine Radio Alisalah, (Sawt-al-Islah) around
1915-1945 on 7590 kHz. Reception has been quite good and programming in
Arabic. I sent them an e-mail report and received a very prompt verification
but with no transmitter site details as I had requested. E-mail address for
this one is info@islah.org
(I.Cattermole-NZL Dec 13, 2002 in CDX-ML)
The new 7590 station started today with sudden audio cut-in inmidst sentence
at 1858. All I heard so far was a presenter receiving listener calls, no
music bridges, no jingles, just talk over and over. The whole thing sounds
quite amateurish, and this applies also to the audio quality. The reported
breaks sounds very similar to transmitter breaks but are disruptions on the
program audio; the transmitter itself works perfectly. Here in eastern
Germany 7590, booms in with an enormous signal. Obviously this is a
single-hop signal and I am within the main lobe of the antenna. So this is
definitely no German site; it is also evident that this is no CIS site.
Sitkunai and Issoudun are very unlikely either. It could be England, but my
suspicion is that the name of the site includes an ø. Enclosed
two characteristic cuts: One of the telephone audio disruptions, sounding
like a carrier break but not being one, and the presenter taking over from a
caller. So that's what the BBC report describes as "by using an internet
phone service - known as Paltalk - listeners can take part in the programme
and say what they like". And, by the way, there is something we have to ask
Kenneth: "The station started a 24-hour broadcast Saturday via satellite." On
Eutelsat Hotbird, probably within the WRN bouquet, or elsewhere? Best
regards,
(K.Ludwig-D Dec 12, 2002 in DXLD 2-196)
7590 had a weak and very fluttery signal here at 1900. 99% chance that this
is Norway as other CIS and continental stations did not behave like this
(O.Alm-S Dec 12, 2002 in DXLD 2-196)
When will TDP - and for that matter, legitimate broadcasters like NRK, go too
far in handling clandestine broadcasts, which are really terrorist? Sounds
like this one comes close, endorsing Bin-laden
(G.Hauser-USA Dec 13, 2002 in DXLD 2-196)
...............................................................
Logs - SOMALIA
Radio Hargeysa
7530.03U, R. Hargeysa (pres.), 1936-1958*, Was getting a very weak het but
clear lively instru. lcl mx at 1937. Flutes at 1938. M anncr at 1941. More
anmnts by M and mx at 1954 check. Final song to 1958*. Just too weak. Think
it could be readable w/good conditions, but only late Nov. and Dec. during
earliest sunset.
(D.Valko-USA Nov 28, 2002 in CDX-ML)
7530 USB + carrier R. Hargeysa (pres) 1940-1959* Horn of Africa flute music,
then YL vocals. Brief instrumental music at 1959, then carrier went off.
SINPO 14331
(G.Maroti-USA Nov 29, 2002 in CDX-ML)
...............................................................
Logs - SRI LANKA
IBC Tamil ? or Payem-e Doost ?
7460 kHz, IBC-Tamil via presumed Novosibirsk, Nov 21,*0000-0100*, 2357
testtones, Indian folkmusic, Tamil ID by YL, Tamil song, political talks by
man and woman, no English news 0050 that night, ex 11570 (not heard) 35444
(A.Petersen-DNK Nov 21, 2002 for DXW/CRW)
NOVOSIBIRSK 7460.0, 0228-, IBC Tamil Dec 10 Test tones noted at 0224 till
0228, then just carrier noted. Mx started at 0230, YL with id as Tamil with
talks in unknown language till 0233 then to very pretty tune. Back to talks
at with mx in back ground at 0234. email address at 0236, www.bahairadio.org
Then to Tamil tune sung by male vocalist. S8 signal level with only slight
fades. Female with talks at 0240 and then another tune in back ground while
she speaks. Female with very pleasant voice speaking in calm manner.
Occassional interludes of mx. Washington DC mentioned at 0246. Possible ID
hrd at 0247 and again mention of Washington. Second female with comments at
0248. God Bless hrd at 0257 by one of the female announcers. Continued thru
top of hour with out ID. George Bush mentioned at 0300. At 0303 a tune
played, male vocalist. Gone by 0315. (FCDX).
(R.Montgomery-PA-USA Dec 10, 2002 in CDX-ML)
This logging is all mixed up: NOVOSIBIRSK is not a country. The station on
7460 at 0228 is certainly not IBC Tamil, but, as the website cited implies,
the Baha`i station, Payem-e Doost in Farsi, as previously reported in DXLD,
and in Cumbre by Hans Johnson
(G.Hauser-USA Dec 11, 2002 in DXLD 2-195)
...............................................................
Logs - SUDAN
Voice of Liberty and Renewal / Voice of the New Sudan
6985, Voice of New Sudan, *0350-0434 Dec 10, open carrier with group vocals
noted at 0353 until 0400 Big Ben Bells and gong followed by opening ID and
announcements in Arabic. Program of talks about Sudan and musical features.
Booming signal although het from numbers station of all things.
(R.D'Angelo/FCDX-PA-USA Dec 10, 2002 in DXplorer-ML)
...............................................................
Logs - SYRIA
The Arabic Radio
12085 kHz, The Arabic R, via Krasnodar ?, Nov 23 & 24, *1600-1626*, Arabic
political talks and Arab songs, 1608 mentioned 3 frequencies and ID:
"Al-Idha'ah al Arabiyyah". The former two voices ID for the Voice of Homeland
was no longer heard. Stronger than R Damascus underneath carrying FS in
Turkish 1600-1700. Heard // new 7470. 44444
(A.Petersen-DNK Nov 24, 2002 for DXW/CRW)
7470 Arab R. Dec 7 *1600-1610 35433 Arabic, 1600 s/on and ID. Opening music
and opening announce. Talk.
(Ko.Hashimoto-J Dec 7, 2002 in JAP 242)
12120 The Arabic Radio 1600-1630 The frequency 12115 KHz has been changed to
12120 KHz. Also announces 9950 kHz but instead broadcasts on 9955 kHz. No
jamming noticed. The station broadcast a program call "Love of the Nation,"
which speaks about the human rights violations of Syria's domestic
intelligence services.
(A.Chaabane-TUN Nov 15, 2002 for CRW)
...............................................................
Logs - VIETNAM
Que Huong Radio
9930 Que Huong R. via KWHR Nov 27 1300-1310 44333 Vietnamese, 1300 with
opening music. ID and opening announce. Talk.
(Ko.Hashimoto-J Nov 27, 2002 in JAP 241)
...............................................................
Logs - WESTERN SAHARA
National Radio of the Arab-Saharan Democratic Republic
1550, ALGERIA, RASD, Tindouf, NOV 21, 2155 - Fair; Kor`anic recitations over
R. Disney WDZK
(B.Conti-ME-USA IDXD Nov 21, 2002 via DXLD 2-187)
...............................................................
Logs - ZIMBABWE
Voice of the People
7120 Voice of the People (P) 0332 with talk in language and mentions of
Zimbabwe. UNID co-channel making things tough, was much easier last summer on
7310
(H.Johnson-USA Dec 12, 2002 in CDX-ML)
------------xxxxxxxxxx QSL Verifications xxxxxxxxxx------------
Qsl's - AFGHANISTAN
Information Radio
8700, Commando Solo II verified with a no data acknowledgement "193rd Special
Operations Wing" insignia card in 41 days for a follow up report (398 days
from initial report). Handwritten reminder note on back of card says, "Please
always remember those who lost there lives on Sept. 11, 2001."
(R.D'Angelo-PA-USA Nov 30, 2002 in DXplorer-ML)
...............................................................
Qsl's - CUBA
Re: Postal adress of Radio Marti
Hello Mr. Suess, Thank you for your interest. Radio Marti's mailing address
is:
4201 NW 77th Avenue, Miami, FL 33166 [USA]
(IBB External Affairs Nov 27, 2002 via H.Süss-AUT in A-DX)
Im WRTH steht zwar Miami, aber eine falsche Hausnummer. Im S&F steht noch
Washington, was ganz falsch ist. Nur zur Ergänzung.
(H.Süss-AUT Nov 27, 2002 in A-DX)
ClandestineRadio.com has Radio Martí, USIA, 330 Independence Ave, SW,
Washington, DC 20547, USA. The QSL Info Pages do have a qsl logs from Nov
1999 with this address : QTH : 5325 N.W. 77th Avenue, Miami, FL 33166. That
is probaly the address used in the WRTH. As it seems, the other addresses are
not wrong, they are simply different or ex-addresses. [M.Schöch-CRW]
Nur: Warum sollte man in so einem Fall mit snailmail rummachen ?
martinoticias@ocb.ibb.gov ist schneller, billiger und einfacher.
(M.Elbe-D Dec 2, 2002 in A-DX)
Here the Address of Radio Martí:
P. O. BOX 52-1868, MIAMI, FLORIDA 33152 USA
4201 N.W 77th AVE. MIAMI, FLORIDA 33166 USA
PHONE: (305) 437-7116 WEB: http://www.martinoticias.com (inside mail)
(Oscar-FL-USA Dec 8, 2002 in DXLD 2-193)
...............................................................
Qsl's - ERITREA
Voice of Democratic Eritrea
15670 VO Democratic Eritrea: report returned by Deutsche Post in 48 days,
marked "Empfanger" (?) and "Adresse insuffisante", from the Bonn, Germany
address. Tomorrow morning (12/06) I will try mailing to the Ruesselheim,
Germany address.
(S.R.Barbour Jr-NH-USA Dec 02, 2002 for CRW)
"Empfanger" (Empfänger) (German) - recipient, but also '(radio)-receiver'
"Adresse insuffisante" /French) - address insufficient [CRW]
...............................................................
Qsl's - ETHIOPIA
Rainbow Radio
11840 Radio Rainbow: p/d verie letter in 12 days for 1 IRC. v/s T.Assefa.
(S.R.Barbour Jr-NH-USA Dec 02, 2002 for CRW)
...............................................................
Qsl's - IRAN
Voice of Mojahed
Sadly, my report to the Voice of the Mojahed has been returned to sender. The
bad address is: Heibatollahi, Postfach 502107, 50891 Köln, Germany
(P.Ormandy-NZL Dec 4, 2002 for CRW)
[The rubber-stamp on the envelope] says "Emfanger firma unter der angegebenen
Anschrift nicht zu emitteln"
(P.Ormandy-NZL Dec 4, 2002 for CRW)
'Emfanger firma' must be 'Empfängerfirma' .. and it means 'Can't find the
company (that should receive this letter) under the given address'. [Dec 9,
2002 CRW]
...............................................................
Qsl's - IRAQ
Voice of Islamic Revolution
7100, Voice of Islamic Revolution in Iraq e-mail report bounced to
info@nidaa-arrafidain.com after multiple attempts to deliver apparently
"exceeding quota" so eventually "timed out." Either they get a lot of e-mail
or they don't spend much time looking at their e-mail. Initially, I received
an automated reply indicating my report was received.
(R.D'Angelo-PA-USA Nov 30, 2002 in DXplorer-ML)
...............................................................
Qsl's - KURDISTAN
Björn Fransson donated his Vo Iranian Kurdistan e-mail qsl to the CRW
Clandestine Radio QSL-card Gallery at http://www.schoechi.de/pic-cla.html .
...............................................................
Qsl's - LAOS
Hmong Lao Radio
12070, Hmong Lao Radio reception report to St. Paul address returned by post
office.
(R.D'Angelo-PA-USA Dec 7, 2002 in DXplorer-ML)
...............................................................
Qsl's - LEBANON
Voice of Freedom
I received an e-mail QSL from FPM Station Lebanon
(A.Chaabane-TUN Nov 29, 2002 in HCDX)
11515, Free Patriotic Movement: E-mail rpt and RealAudio clip sent to
fpmradio@yahoo.com and radio@tayyar.org brought E-mail reply the next day
from tayyar address. Not the usual flat E-mail msg, but a colorful, green
background message with website logo design at top, "We confirm your rcpn rpt
to our "FPM Radio Station," and full-data (rpt date rather than rcpn date,
however). "We are happy about your interest and we hope you can get some
information about our occupied country and our struggle for freedom and
democracy against the suppression of the pro-Syrian regime in Beirut. The
widening of information is very important
to us. Check our website http://www.tayyar.org/ for more info about our
occupied LEBANON. Best Regards." Very nice for an E-QSL.
(J.Berg-MA-USA Dec 1, 2002 in DXplorer-ML)
Full-data E-mail verie back real quick. Is 250 kw and xmtng from Belgium.
They say there is no other time or fqy for b/cing at this time. E-mail
address is radio@tayyar.org
(Crawford-OZ, ARDXC via J.Berg-USA Dec 1, 2002 in DXplorer-ML)
Vandaag heb ik een volledig gedetailleerd QSL documentje ( groene achtergrond
met o.a stationslogo) ontvangen via e-mail van de Free Patriotic Movement
Radio station - Voice of Free Lebanon ( via Samara?). Zeer mooi voor e-mail
QSL! FBN Radio is sedert 22 november dagelijks in het Arabisch (met veel
muziek) te horen op 11515 kHz tussen 16.00 en 17.00 UTC Mijn rapport
verstuurde ik via radio@tayyar.org. Website: http://www.tayyar.org
(H.Matten-BEL Dec 5, 2002 in DXA-ML)
I recentry received a QSL from the Voice of Free Lebanon.
(K.Hashimoto-J Dec 9, 2002 for CRW)
...............................................................
Qsl's - MIDDLE EAST
Radio Sawa
E-QSLs from SWBC Stations? I didn't know if any stations were involved in
"Electronic QSLing" but in this particular case (with Radio Sawa) it worked!!
They suggested if I didn't want to mail them my cassette tape of their
broadcast, that I just email them a short MP3 file. I did so (making sure it
contained an ID) and
received a confirmation on the same day.
(Garie K8KFJ Nov 29, 2002 in DXLD 2-187)
...............................................................
Qsl's - SYRIA
The Arabic Radio
9950, an attempt to contact Sout Al Watan via Bashir Kyle in Norway was
unsuccessful with the postal letter being returned in 28 days. Dead end?
(R.D'Angelo-PA-USA Nov 30, 2002 in DXplorer-ML)
------------xxxxxxxxxx Miscellaneous xxxxxxxxxx----------------
Misc - AFGHANISTAN
PICTURE BULLETIN AFGHAN BALKH TV 24 NOV 02
The following programmes in Dari were monitored on Balkh TV from the town of
Mazar-e Sharif in northern Afghanistan's Balkh Province on 24 November; start
of broadcasting missed due to power cut:
1. 1340 gmt In a programme in Dari called "Talks with officials" presented by
Qais Shiva and shown on Balkh TV, in a report from Sar-e Pol, the deputy
commander of Division No 26 in Sar -e Pol, Gen Azizullah Qahid, said that
during the Taleban period, the division's first line was in Balkhab. He said
that Ahmed Shah Masud, the former defence minister under then ousted
President, Barhanoddin Rabbani, had
sent soldiers to the line and Gen Abdorrashid Dostum, now the president's
special representative for the northern zone, had helped with 200 horsemen.
He said the Taleban had not been able to break through Balkhab and that there
was a mass grave of men of the Hazara tribe who were killed by the Taleban in
Balkhab. He also said that the Taleban burned down some houses there. The
video showed Azizullah speaking to camera.
2. 1400 gmt A report from Hayratan presented by Bashir Ansary was about the
work of Army Corps No 113 based in Hayratan. The report said that Cmdr Aka
Yaseen was in charge of Army Corps No 113 and that there were 22 divisions in
Hayratan. Cmdr Alam is in charge of the security of the transit of goods from
Termez to Hayratan, it said. The TV showed a train carrying some jeeps from
Termez border of Uzbekistan to Hayratan town, a mosque for soldiers and some
photos of Gen Abdorrashid Dostum, and of President Hamed Karzai.
3. 1410 gmt Bashir Ansary in another report said that an FM radio station and
a TV station were being helped by the BBC. The report said that the radio
station broadcast BBC news round-the-clock in Dari, Pashto and English. A
radio station official in charge of broadcasting, Engineer Azizullah, thanked
the BBC for its assistance. The TV showed the station working.
4. 1420 gmt In a programme entitled "Education Voice", presenter Bashir
Ansary said that Noor Optic hospital in Mazar-s Sharif had distributed 320
pairs of glasses for seven schools for 130 teachers and 200 students who had
eye problems. An official said a further 5,000 more pairs of glasses would be
distributed for all schools around the town. The TV showed students and
teachers wearing glasses.
5. 1430 gmt Music
6. 1530 gmt News in Dari
7. 1600 gmt Film (power cut end time not known)
Source: Balkh TV, Mazar-e Sharif, in Dari 1340 gmt 24 Nov 02 (via BBCM via
DXLD 2-189)
...............................................................
Misc - CHINA
USA: BBG states its views on Chinese jamming
11 December 2002
The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), the agency that oversees US
international broadcasting, has made a statement before the
Congressional-Executive Commission on China about the jamming of US
broadcasts to China. The BBG says virtually all of shortwave radio
transmissions directed to China by the Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free
Asia (RFA) are jammed. According to the BBG, jamming seems to be on the rise,
and in Lhasa, Tibet, it is impossible to receive a good signal for VOA
Tibetan, even though the service is on up to five frequencies.
The BBG notes that the United States allows China's government television,
CCTV, on many cable systems across the country. China Radio International
broadcasts unjammed on shortwave, and on a number of affiliated AM and FM
radio stations in the United States. At the same time, the US government has
granted more than 40 journalists from China's state-run media permission to
live and work in the United States without restriction. By contrast, the
Chinese have refused to increase from two the number of correspondents
working for US international broadcasting in China.
The BBG says it has filed complaints of "harmful interference" with the
International Telecommunications Union monthly since August 2000, claiming
Chinese jamming violates radio regulations. It says China first acknowledged
receipt of the complaints in July 2002, and again in August 2002. Failure to
acknowledge complaints is itself a violation of radio regulations. China
insists that the jamming is merely an accidental overlap of broadcasts on the
country's highly congested airwaves. The BBG believes these responses are
duplicitous at best. It says Chinese officials have not responded positively
to a US request to discuss frequency management.
The US spends about $9.5 million annually to transmit about 100,000 hours of
RFA and VOA programming to China. According to the BBG, costs could be
slashed about 25 percent if China ceased jamming. It says China spends a
comparable amount to counter US transmissions. The BBG believes that the US
needs a concerted strategy involving Congress and the Executive branch to
grapple with this problem, and to stop the jamming.
(Source: BBG press release 9 December 2002 via H.Johnson-USA Dec 10, 2002 in
CDX-ML)
...............................................................
Misc - CONGO
(RCD-Goma) closed down a radio station based in Bukavu
[Nairobi] The rebel Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD-Goma)
closed down a radio station based in Bukavu, South Kivu, on Sunday, after it
broadcast a programme criticising the rebel authorities' introduction of
compulsory number plates for all vehicles.
A statement issued by the secretary-general of the Observatoire des conflits
pour la paix en Afrique des Grands Lacs, Lufungulo Safari, which protested
the closure of Radio Maendeleo (Radio Progress), said RCD-Goma should respect
the right to freedom of expression and stop putting "selfish interests"
before those of the common good.
It said the radio station had broadcast statements by people saying that the
introduction of the new number plates several weeks ago had been inopportune
and costly, and had had no positive impact on the people of eastern
Democratic Republic of the Congo. RCD-Goma had seized the offending tape
after the broadcast, Safari added.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200212090097.html
(via A.Sennit-HOL Dec 9, 2002 for CRW)
...............................................................
Misc - CUBA
ENCUESTA DEMUESTRA LA IMPORTANCIA DE RADIO MARTI
Edel José García Díaz, de CNP
La Habana: Una encuesta que se efectuó en 12 provincias de Cuba, reveló que
el 100% de los entrevistados escuchan la emisora Radio Martí, para estar bien
informados.
Esta emisora, que transmite para Cuba, radica en la Florida y el Gobierno
cubano, hace lo imposible para bloquear la entrada de sus ondas a la Isla, no
obstante la interferencia, muchos la escuchan diariamente.
Los entrevistados seleccionaron os cinco mejores programas, que son en primer
lugar los noticieros, Sin Censores, ni Censuras, Las noticias como son,
Tempranito y de mañana, estos que son los que se transmiten de lunes a
viernes, mientras que los fines de semana seleccionaron A Cuba es su música,
Mundo Médico, Sin pedir permiso, El Cubano y su Fe, y Guateque campesino.
De los 343 entrevistados, 333 que representan el 97.08% dijeron, que la
escuchan para enterarse de lo que pasa en la Isla, y el 94.46% lo hace para
conocer la situación internacional, mientras que el 61.22% dijo, estar
satisfecho con la cobertura que realiza la emisora en cuanto a noticias
nacionales y el 75.80% con las Internacionales.
Por otra parte, 319 de los encuestados, calificaron de muy alta credibilidad
la emisora, y que su labor es muy importante, contestaron 293, para el 85.42%
de los encuestados.
La encuesta se efectuó entre el 5 de julio y el 31 de octubre del 2002, y
abarcó las 12 provincias con excepción de Villa Clara y Guantánamo, las
edades de los encuestados sobrepasa los 18 años, 197 eran hombres y 146
mujeres, e incluyó a estudiantes, obreros, profesionales, técnicos medios,
amas de casa y jubilados.
Entre las observaciones que hicieron los entrevistados, sobresalen la que
propone la ubicación de un transmisor de Radio Marti en la Base Naval de
Guantánamo, para que se escuche con mas claridad y aumentar la potencia de la
señal para evitar la interferencia, del Gobierno realizar una programación
que profundice, sobre los supuestos logros de la educación y la salud,
aumentar los noticieros, los fines de semana, y priorizar las noticias sobre
Cuba.
Reportó: Edel José García Díaz, para Cuba Free Press
(Desde Dentro de Cuba. Distribuido por Cuba Free Press, Inc. 27 de Noviembre
del 2002 http://www.cubafreepress.org via Oscar, DXLD 2-192)
...............................................................
Misc - INDONESIA
VOA LAUNCHES NEW PROGRAM FOR INDONESIAN YOUTH
Washington, D.C., Dec. 12, 2002 -- The Voice of America's Indonesian Service
will launch a new, fast-paced program for Indonesia tomorrow called VOA
Direct Connection (VOA DC). Aimed at the 60 percent of Indonesia’s population
under the age of 30, the new show will feature popular music as well as news
and information on the latest developments in pop culture around the world.
In announcing the new program, VOA Director David Jackson stressed that VOA
DC is part of Voice of America’s broader effort to reach out to younger
audiences around the world. In many places where the U.S. has strategic
interests, he said, "young people form the majority of the population, and we
need to do more to attract them."
The new program builds on VOA's highly successful Indonesian broadcasts,
which include 25 hours of radio broadcasting and 1.5 hours of television
programming in that language every week.
VOA DC will be launched on December 13 at 9:30 p.m. local time in Jakarta
[1430 UT] and will be hosted by two young VOA disc jockeys with extensive
experience in Indonesia. More than 80 satellite affiliates will receive the
program for local rebroadcast, and audiences can also listen to VOA DC via
shortwave
(VOA press release Dec 12,2002 via DXLD 2-196)
...............................................................
Misc - IRAN
Radio Farda
Dear Mr. Glenn Hauser, Today I have heard on RFE/RL Radio that its Persian
(Farsi) service which is known as RADIO AZADI http://www.radioazadi.org will
end its broadcast to Iran effective 12-02-2002 and will start a new format
which called "RADIO FARDA " (Tomorrow Radio) sometime middle of December,
2002 and will target
Iranian youth and younger generations in 24 hours format.
Today I called RFR/RL Persian service director and he told me the present
shortwave frequencies remains the same, but more frequencies will be added.
He told me in near future when you go to Radioazadi site will direct you to
the Radio Farda site.
(P.Mohazzabi Nov 26, 2002 WOR 1158 / DXLD 2-186)
NEW US BROADCASTING INITIATIVE TO IRAN
The President of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Tom Dine, has
given details to RFE/RL staff of the latest US international broadcasting
initiative. Based on the concept of Radio Sawa, an Arabic language service
aimed at young people established earlier this year, Radio Farda ('Tomorrow'
in Farsi) will sign on in mid-December with programming aimed at the 70% of
Iranians under the age of 30. RFE/RL's existing service to Iran, Radio Azadi,
will close around 1 December. The service was established at the request of
Congress in 1998.
Radio Farda is a joint venture between RFE/RL and the Voice of America, under
the auspices of the Broadcasting Board of Governors. Existing staff from both
stations will be involved in the new 24 hour service, which will have a
format of Persian and Western popular music, news, features and information.
The amount of time devoted to news and current affairs will be more than 5
hours a day, and can be increased if necessary.
Although RFE/RL's Persian Service which has been broadcast only on shortwave,
Radio Farda will use powerful medium wave transmitters in nearby countries to
increase the potential audience. Shortwave will continue to be used
(Radio Netherlands Media Network Nov 26, 2002 via WOR 1158 / DXLD 2-186)
NEW PERSIAN-LANGUAGE RADIO SERVICE PLANNED BY BROADCASTING
BOARD OF GOVERNORS (BBG) Washington, D.C., November 22, 2002—
Radio Farda – a new Persian-language radio station aimed at the broad mass of
people under 30 in Iran – will begin broadcasting in December 2002, the
Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) has announced.
"We need to reach out to the young people of Iran, large numbers of whom
share the American ideals of freedom and democracy," said Kenneth Y.
Tomlinson, the BBG`s chairman. "We want to bring them accurate news and
information about the United States and the world."Radio Farda, which means
"Radio Tomorrow" in Persian, will be a joint effort of two BBG entities: The
Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).
Operated from Washington and Prague, Czech Republic, Radio Farda will
broadcast news, features and other information 24 hours a day, seven days a
week. In addition, it will broadcast a combination of popular Persian and
Western music designed to appeal to a young audience.
Norman J. Pattiz, chairman of the BBG`s Middle East Committee, which oversees
the project, said Radio Farda "will target an audience that has not been
targeted before by U.S. international broadcasting." He noted that about 70
percent of Iran`s population is under 30 years old.
Pattiz, who also oversaw creation of the BBG`s highly successful Radio Sawa
http://www.radiosawa.com an Arabic-language station that reaches the Middle
East, said, "Because of Radio Sawa`s overwhelming success in attracting
audiences and new listeners, the BBG believes a similarly formatted service
in Persian directed at Iran is a high priority."
Radio Farda will complement the VOA`s existing Farsi service on shortwave,
which has a strong following in Iran. VOA also broadcasts two popular
television shows to Iran: "Next Chapter," a weekly, hour-long, youth-oriented
show, and "Roundtable with You," a news and public affairs show.
Radio Farda will be broadcast on medium wave (AM) as well as on shortwave,
digital audio satellite and by the Internet. The total budget is expected to
be about $8 million, all of it from internal reallocations by the BBG. No new
funding is required.
The Broadcasting Board of Governors is a nine-member, presidentially
appointed body, which supervises all U.S. government-supported non-military
international broadcasting, including VOA, RFE/RL, Radio Free Asia, Radio and
TV Marti, and WORLDNET Television. Current governors include Chairman Kenneth
Y. Tomlinson, Edward E. Kaufman, Norman J. Pattiz, Robert M. Ledbetter, Jr.,
Joaquin Blaya, Blanquita W. Cullum, D. Jeffrey Hirschberg, Steven Simmons and
Secretary of State Colin Powell, who serves a an ex officio member.
For more information, contact: Joan Mower (202.260.0167 or 202.401.3736),
jmower@ibb.gov, or go to http://www.bbg.gov .
(BBG press release via K.A.Elliott-USA in DXLD 2-186)
Another day, another station
The announcement that the US is to begin yet another international radio
service, this time beamed to Iran, will come as no surprise to those who have
been following the so-called public diplomacy policies of the Bush
administration in recent months. But while the increasingly fragmented
structure of US international broadcasting apparently makes sense to policy
makers in Washington, it remains hard to see from here what exactly they're
hoping to achieve.
I've tried to explain why I take this view in a new editorial. I do of course
welcome your comments, especially if you disagree with me! Here at Radio
Netherlands, we're happy to air all shades of opinion
http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/editorial.html
(A.Sennitt-HOL RN Media Network-NL Nov 29 via DXLD 2-187)
I've received some interesting reaction to my latest editorial, all of it -
so far - agreeing with me. I've added a page for these reactions at
http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/reaction021206.html. Further
comments are most welcome to media@rnw.nl.
(A.Sennitt-HOL Dec 6, 2002 in RN Media Network-NL)
IRANIAN DAILY REPORTS IMMINENT INAUGURATION OF NEW US PERSIAN-LANGUAGE RADIO
|
Text of report entitled "Only the saddle pack has changed", published by
Iranian newspaper Kayhan web site on 1
December
In an attempt to put the finishing touch on its psychological warfare against
the Islamic Republic of Iran, the CIA is closing down the radios known as
"Azadi" [Freedom] and preparing a new style radio "Farda" [Tomorrow].
Iraj Gorgin, the head of the Persian service of the so-called Azadi radio,
said: According to the decision of the board of management of the United
States' international broadcasting, which supervises the work of the Free
Europe radio organization, from the first week of the month of December, the
Persian service of Radio Free Europe will end its work and Farda Radio will
begin broadcasting.
The radio is funded and managed by the State Department and the American
espionage organization.
Source: Kayhan web site, Tehran, in Persian 1 Dec 02 p 2 (via BBCM via DXLD
2-189)
Evidence? AFAIK it is quite openly funded by IBB, all US government
ultimately (G.Hauser-USA Dec 2, 2002 in DXLD 2-189)
RADIO AZADI OF RFE/RL'S PERSIAN SERVICE GOES OFF AIR.
After serving listeners for four years, Radio Azadi of RFE/RL's Persian
Service broadcast its last program on 1 December. It will be succeeded later
in the month by Radio Farda, which means Radio Tomorrow in Persian, according
to a press release from the U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors. Radio Farda
will be a joint effort
of two BBG entities: RFE/RL and the Voice of America. Radio Farda is aimed at
listeners under 30 years of age, and it will broadcast news, features, and
other information 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addition, it will
broadcast a combination of popular Persian and Western music designed to
appeal to a young audience. Radio Farda broadcasts will be available on
medium wave (AM), shortwave,
digital-audio satellite, and via the Internet. Until Radio Farda begins its
programs, the RFE/RL frequencies will be used for 30-minute newscasts and 2
1/2 hours of music daily.
("RFE/RL Newsline," Dec 2, 2002 in RFE/RL Media Matters)
TEHRAN COMMENTS ON RADIO FARDA.
The "Kayhan" daily newspaper reported on 1 December that as part of its
psychological-warfare program against Iran, the U.S. Central Intelligence
Agency is closing down RFE/RL's Persian Service and replacing it with the new
Radio
Farda. "Kayhan," which is affiliated with the Iranian supreme leader's
office, reported incorrectly that RFE/RL is "funded and managed by the State
Department and the American espionage organization." In addition, RFE/RL's
Persian Service is not closing but will broadcast Radio Farda in partnership
with Voice of America.
("RFE/RL Newsline," Dec 3, 2002 in RFE/RL Media Matters)
...............................................................
Misc - IRAQ
COMMANDO SOLO LEADS THE WAY
In plans outlined last August, high technology will play a large part in
bombarding Baghdad --- and not just with sophisticated weaponry. Strategies
include using newly-developed electromagnetic pulse weapons along with more
traditional bombs to disable Iraqi communications. The empty Iraqi airwaves
would then be bombarded with messages sent from the specialized Commando Solo
aircraft used most recently in
Afghanistan --- warning troops to stay in their barracks or be slaughtered,
and promising Iraqi commanders that if they use biological or chemical
weapons, they will be hunted down. "The idea is ... to isolate the Iraqi
leadership who are hiding in [the] bunkers," John Pike of the think tank
Globalsecurity.org told the [which?] Post
(Communications, Dec 2002 MONITORING Times via DXLD 2-187)
ANALYSIS: US LEAFLET DROPS OVER IRAQ STEP UP THE PROPAGANDA WAR |
Text of editorial analysis by Peter Feuilherade of BBC Monitoring's Foreign
Media Unit on 4 December
Aircraft of the US-UK coalition on 2 December carried out their sixth leaflet
drop in two months over the no-fly zone in southern Iraq, warning Iraqi
soldiers not to fire on patrolling allied aircraft. The leaflet drops have
led to growing speculation that the US will soon step up its psychological
operations, or psy-ops, campaign in the region by starting clandestine radio
broadcasts targeted at the Iraqi people.
In the latest leaflet drop, 240,000 leaflets written in Arabic were dropped
over communications facilities located between Kut and Nasiriyah, south-east
of Baghdad. These sites had been damaged or destroyed by coalition strikes
the previous day. Three separate leaflets were used: two urged the Iraqi
military not to repair the communication equipment and facilities that help
to track and engage coalition aircraft, while the third said that threatening
coalition aircraft may result in more air strikes.
Propaganda broadcasts likely next step
According to the December 2002 issue of the US publication Monitoring Times,
high technology will play a large part in bombarding Baghdad, and not just
with sophisticated weaponry. After Iraqi communications are disabled through
a mixture of traditional bombs and new technical efforts to neutralise
communications, the empty Iraqi airwaves would then be bombarded with
messages sent from specialized airborne broadcasting stations or
well-situated terrestrial stations.
The broadcasts would reinforce the messages contained in leaflet drops urging
Iraqi military leaders to defect or rise up against President Saddam Husayn,
said the New York Times in mid-October, citing Pentagon officials. "The idea
is... to isolate the Iraqi leadership who are hiding in bunkers," John Pike
of the think tank Globalsecurity.org told the Washington Post newspaper.
The broadcasts would come from specially equipped Commando Solo aircraft
operated by a specialist US psy-ops unit. The EC-130E Commando Solo is a
modified four-engine Hercules transport aircraft equipped to broadcast
simultaneous high-power mediumwave, shortwave, FM and TV signals. The planes
can also jam or override local transmissions, in an effort to persuade
listeners to tune to the propaganda frequencies.
The 193rd Special Operations Wing, part of the USAF Special Operations
Command, operates six of these aircraft from its base in Middletown,
Pennsylvania.
Over the years, the unit has carried out missions in Vietnam, South Korea,
Panama, Puerto Rico, Haiti, the Persian Gulf and Serbia. Most recently, it
was in action over Afghanistan, broadcasting propaganda messages to the local
population and Taleban fighters.
As well as the airborne broadcasts, the US will use ground transmitters in
Kuwait and elsewhere in the Gulf to beam anti-Saddam programming to the Iraqi
people.
Other voices Iraqis can hear
But the message from Washington will not be the only outside voice addressing
Iraqi hearts and minds.
Although the domestic media in Iraq are state-controlled and satellite TV is
unavailable to the vast majority, Iraqi listeners can still tune their radios
to many stations from abroad offering them news and analysis from a wide
range of political viewpoints. As well as established and trusted broadcasts
in Arabic including the BBC and French-run Radio Monte Carlo, the US-funded
Radio Sawa is reportedly attracting younger listeners across much of the
Middle East with a mixture of Western and Arabic pop music interspersed with
short bursts of news. The service, which replaced the Voice of America's
Arabic service in spring 2002, has a special programme stream targeted at
listeners in Iraq.
There are also several radio stations operated by Kurdish factions in
northern Iraq, and by Iraqi opposition groups transmitting into Iraq from
transmitters in Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere.
But not all American military analysts are convinced that psychological
warfare will succeed. William Arkin, a former army intelligence officer and
now a military analyst, said in remarks published in the Baltimore Sun in
November that if the United States invades Iraq, "bombs are going to do the
talking," rather than any psychological operation that attempts to influence
the entire country.
Source: BBC Monitoring research 4 Dec 02 (via DXLD 2-190)
AP report about Iraqi Media
In the Iraqi media, the man known elsewhere as U.S. President George W. Bush
is called simply "the little George Bush", and the chief ally in Bush's
strong stance on Iraq - Britain - is referred to the wagging "tail" of the
United States.
The news that the Iraqi people get in the government-controlled media is far
different from that in the rest of the world - and exactly what President
Saddam Hussein wants it to be. Saddam, for example, is always front-page
news. Even when he has done nothing the previous day, newspapers still carry
old photos of him and state TV reruns his moments of glory, showing him
revered by the Iraqi people he rarely sees these days.
While Iraqis can get international radio - such as the Arabic service of the
BBC, the Paris-based Radio Monte Carlo and the new U.S. government pop music
station Radio Sawa - they have little choice in newspapers and television.
International publications have been banned since the 1990-91 Gulf War, and
satellite dishes are outlawed, too. Cable television exists, but the cost -
280,000 dinars (US$140) for a decoder and 10,000 dinars (US$5) a month - is
well beyond an average Iraqi with a monthly income of 20,000 dinars (US$10).
There is some relief from all-Iraqi programming. Iraqi TV stations show
pirated foreign movies and the Egyptian soap operas popular throughout the
Arab world. And newspapers do carry entertainment news. One recent item was
about American actress Gwyneth Paltrow ending the period of mourning for her
father's death. Another reported that Egyptian actress Leila Elwi loves
spending the Muslim holy month of Ramadan with her family.
For so-called hard news, most Iraqis are at the mercy of the five daily
papers - all under tight control, with one run by the ruling Baath Party and
another by Saddam's son, Odai - as well as four state-run TV channels. On
these news outlets, stories widely covered elsewhere often get little
attention. Internationally, the return of U.N. arms inspectors to Iraq was
big news; reporters, TV crews and photographers chased them everywhere. But
Iraq's media carried only brief Foreign Ministry announcements listing the
sites investigated.
Meanwhile, events that barely causes a blip elsewhere can be big news in
Iraq. In a recent edition, the daily "Al-Jumhuriya" reported that "a
demonstration took place in New Bedford to protest the American threats of
military aggression against Iraq" - about a march by about 200 people in New
Bedford, Massachusetts
(AP via SCDX/MediaScan Dec 4, 2002 via DXLD 2-190)
...............................................................
Misc - IVORY COAST
Katiola: "Radio mutins" voit le jour
Fraternité Matin (Abidjan)
November 8, 2002
Posted to the web November 8, 2002
Correspondant Régional (Diallo Mohamed), Abidjan
Les mutins ont ouvert la semaine dernière une radio à Katiola, dénommée. " La
voix du mutin ". Cette radio installé dans un immeuble non loin de l'hôtel
Hambol émet de 6 heures du matin à 18 heures. Selon Koné Michel, l'un des
jeunes recrutés sur le tas pour l'animation, sa mission reste d'informer et
de sensibiliser la région Tagbana et Guimini aux mots d'ordre du MPCI et au
sens du combat que mène le mouvement rebelle. Ainsi chaque jour, l'auditoire
est royalement servi par un programme essentiellement basé sur le discours du
meeting animé par Soro Guillaume et Chérif Ousmane.Le programme compte aussi
des séquences musicales où on écoute Alpha Blondy, Tiken Djah Facoly et Serge
Kassy. Avec cette radio, la population de Katiola qui n'a plus la possibilité
de capter Radio Côte d'Ivoire, ne demande pas mieux.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200211080176.html
(via P.Ormandy-NZL Dec 3, 2002 for CRW)
...............................................................
Misc - LEBANON
LEBANESE OPPOSITION RADIO FROM PARIS SAID TO HAVE BELGIAN CONNECTION |
Text of report by Arlette Khuri in Paris headlined "`Awn's group' launches
radio broadcasts from Paris via Belgian company", published by London-based
newspaper Al-Hayat on 4 December
The Lebanese opposition loyal to General Michel Awn has found out an outlet
for radio broadcasts to Lebanon from Paris. The radio broadcasting channel,
however, is not French. It is Belgian, operating from France.
Reuters said an initial trial broadcast was actually launched to fill the
vacuum that emerged after the Lebanese authorities closed the MTV [Murr
Television] station. The news of the radio broadcasts took official French
circles by surprise, particularly since Paris has always firmly refused to
deal with such activities. Before any problems might arise, opposition
sources clarified that the non-live [recorded] broadcasts are transmitted via
a private Belgian company.
Al-Hayat asked the French Foreign Ministry about the issue. The ministry
emphasized that it had no information about these trial broadcasts from
Paris. Other official circles told Al-Hayat they were not aware of the
broadcasts, which they said, should get the approval of the [French] Higher
Audiovisual Council [Conseil Superieur de l'Audiovisuel, CSA]. They added
that the council consults with the Foreign Ministry before giving any
approval.
Reuters reported that the pro-Awn Rally for Lebanon was in charge of the
radio station, which began its broadcasts from Paris on shortwave on 22
November 2002, Lebanon's Independence Day.
Reuters quoted Simon Abu-Rimya, the chairman of the Rally for Lebanon, as
saying the radio broadcasts "are aimed at telling people the truth, since
there is one speech ideology in Lebanon today in favour of Syria."
Reuters pointed out that the radio station would use a different political
language than that which prevails in Lebanon. It would refer to the Syrian
presence in Lebanon as "the occupation" and Lebanese officials as "the
current formula".
Abu-Rimya denied that Paris was the broadcast headquarters. He told Al-Hayat:
"We deal with a private Belgian company." He refused to disclose the name of
the company. He said, however, the company has transmitters around the world
and "we use this company to broadcast our programmes." He said the broadcast
is received in Lebanon, other Arab countries and some European states.
[A Lebanese radio station identifying itself as Voice of Freedom has been
heard broadcasting in Arabic on 11515 kHz from 1600-1700 gmt since 22
November. The Lebanese newspaper The Daily Star web on 20 November said that
a radio station of the France-based Rally for Lebanon, part of the Free
Patriotic Movement of former Army Commander Michel Awn, would start
broadcasting on 22 November. Gen Awn has been in exile in France for the past
11 years.] Source: Al-Hayat, London, in Arabic 4 Dec 02 (via BBCM via DXLD)
We already know that the `private Belgian company` is TDP, which brokers time
on lots of different sites, not including, as far as we know, Wavre, Belgium,
itself. Nor does "from Paris" necessarily mean that SW transmitters in France
be used, tho we know clandestine transmissions are possible as with Iran`s.
Programmes are probably produced in Paris where Aoun apparently resides
(G.Hauser-OK-USA Dec 8, 2002 in HCDX)
Al-Hayat was able to ask the French Foreign Ministry about the issue ? They
should better ask a radio club next time they make a report about radio
broadcasts (BDXC or WDXC ? both in the UK). Very strange that journalists
sometimes 'forget' to ask those who should know more about the matter they
are reporting about.
(M.Schöch-D Dec 10, 2002 for CRW)
...............................................................
Misc - MIDDLE EAST
U.S. GOVERNMENT RADIO FACES STATIC OF MISTRUST IN APPEALING TO ARAB LISTENERS
Tue Dec 10, 7:36 PM ET --- By ALAA SHAHINE, Associated Press Writer
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - An editorial read out the other day to Arab
listeners was laced with criticism of the latest American-backed Security
Council resolution on Iraq -- hardly the expected fare for a U.S. government
radio station.
"It's enough to know that America has submitted the resolution and Britain
has supported it to consider it a biased, bad and prejudiced resolution,"
said the commentary from Al-Thawra, the newspaper of Iraq's ruling Baath
Party.
Clearly that opinion doesn't jibe with U.S. policy. But it is in line with
Radio Sawa's pledge to present more than just canned American views along
with the hip music it broadcasts in hopes of luring a young Arab audience.
Still, the new station will have to fight to be heard above the static of
mistrust aired about the United States in the Arab media. The challenge is
especially daunting as President George W. Bush (news - web sites) threatens
Iraq with war.
Arab media regularly point to the U.S.-led war on terrorism and American
animosity toward Iraqi President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) as
evidence of an anti-Arab stance. This only adds to long- standing distrust of
the United States for backing Israel.
But Joan Mower, spokeswoman for the Broadcasting Board of Governors that
oversees U.S. international broadcasts, says that eight months after its
launch, Radio Sawa is gaining respect.
A survey in Amman, Jordan, said that among 17- to 28-year-olds, 39 percent
identify Radio Sawa as "their most accurate and trustworthy news source,"
compared with 21 percent who named state-run Amman FM, she said.
"We pride ourselves on being balanced and accurate," Mower told The
Associated Press in a telephone interview from Washington.
Radio Sawa sometimes provides news ignored by state-run Arab media. It
reported the Iraqi Parliament's vote urging rejection of the tough new U.N.
resolution on Iraqi weapons inspections. Iraq's official media omitted that
news, and eventually the Iraqi government accepted the U.N. resolution.
Radio Sawa -- Arabic for "Radio Together" -- was born out of a realization in
Washington that following the Sept. 11 attacks and the America-hatred it
exposed in the Arab world, the U.S. viewpoint wasn't being promoted
aggressively enough.
One of the station's guiding principles, says its Web site, "is that the
long-range interests of the United States are served by communicating
directly in Arabic with the peoples of the Middle East by radio. Radio Sawa
seeks to win the attention and respect of listeners. In reporting the news,
Radio Sawa is committed to being accurate, objective, and comprehensive."
But Hazim Ghorab, an Arab media expert, said any success Sawa enjoys now will
fizzle once "the United States takes its next aggressive step in the Middle
East."
"The U.S. government has a legacy of anti-Arab policies. ... Media won't
change people's attitude toward an issue like this, but a change in policies
would," he said.
Radio Sawa began broadcasting from Washington via relay stations in Kuwait,
Jordan and the United Arab Emirates in March and plans to expand operations.
The station has entered a region where the airwaves were once ruled by
official broadcasters delivering an official line. Things began changing when
the Arabic satellite station Al-Jazeera, initially financed by the Qatari
government but claiming editorial independence, went on the air six years ago
with its mix of Western-style news and lively and popular public affairs
programs.
These often feature guests railing against the United States, but also air
differing viewpoints -- in itself a big change that has won Al-Jazeera a
large following.
Satellite services remain out of reach for many Arabs, either because they
are banned or are too expensive. When it comes to news on the radio, Sawa
gets stiff competition from more established voices like the BBC and Radio
Monte Carlo, to which many in the region have long turned for uncensored
information.
Ibrahim Helal, Al-Jazeera's editor in chief, said he has never listened to
Radio Sawa, but formed a negative opinion of it after U.S. officials who
recently visited Qatar described the station's mission to him.
"I find it offensive to compare us and a station that has a political
agenda," Helal told AP from Doha, Qatar. "If they (Sawa) imitate Al-Jazeera's
style in covering Arab stories to achieve political goals rather than
journalistic ones, then they are opportunistic people."
Norman Pattiz, a member the U.S. broadcasting board and the chief inspiration
behind Radio Sawa, believes the station is popular even among Iraqis. "We are
unable to conduct surveys to measure our success in Iraq ... but we can tell
we are popular because the Iraqi government sometimes jams our
transmission," he said.
E-mails from anonymous Arab listeners provided to AP by Sawa praise the
stations' news coverage.
"Some people are blinded by the lies other channels spread say that your
station sides with the United States," wrote one listener in the United Arab
Emirates.
But Sawa also has its detractors.
"I sometimes listen to Radio Sawa at night, although I don't trust what they
say. They always give priority to anti-Iraq statements by Western officials,"
Ahmed Khalil, a 20-year-old student, told AP in Baghdad, Iraq's capital.
Louay Sayyaf, a 24-year-old Syrian doctor in the United Arab Emirates, said
Radio Sawa pays little attention to such issues as the hardships U.N.
economic sanctions impose on Iraqis.
"Radio Sawa broadcasts what the U.S. government wants us to know about Iraq
and other issues, or else why would they launch a station that airs popular
hits without even commercials?" Sayyaf said.
Radio Sawa's formula does emphasize music, a mix of Western and Arab hits
meant to draw listeners 30 and under -- 60 percent of the Arab world's 280
million people. The music ranges from Egypt's Amr Diab, Iraq's Kazim al-Sahir
and Lebanon's Nawal al-Zoughby to Western singers Bryan Adams and Jennifer
López. Each hour, the station broadcasts two newscasts totaling about 15
minutes.
In its Iraq coverage, the station presents both countries' views, as well as
a daily roundup of Iraq-related news, including editorials from the American
and other foreign press. Radio Sawa even has correspondent Fadel Mashaal in
Baghdad, an Iraqi accredited by Iraq's government, who has been reporting in
recent days on the arrival of U.N. weapons inspectors.
"We are not a platform for U.S. policy makers," said Mower, the U.S.
spokeswoman.
Khalil Fadel, an Egyptian psychiatrist, said Arab views of Radio Sawa may
have more to do with listeners' "pre-assumed impression" of America -- and
the station's choice of words -- than with what news stories it chooses to
broadcast.
"When, for example, Sawa or CNN describes Palestinian attackers as 'suicide
bombers' and not as 'martyrs,' this triggers automatic rejection from people
to all that the station airs," Fadel said.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Associated Press writer Sameer N. Yacoub in Iraq contributed
to this report. On the Net: Radio Sawa: http://www.radiosawa.com
(via K.A.Elliott-USA in DXLD 2-196)
...............................................................
Misc - SAUDI ARABIA
SA`UDI OPPOSITION RADIO USES $19.95 SOFTWARE TO ENCRYPT VOICES
The Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia, the Saudi opposition group behind
the new radio station Sawt al-Islah (Voice of Reform), says it is using the
latest voice encryption technology on its Web site http://www.islah.org as
well as its radio programmes. Saudi dissident Saad al Faquih told the Reuters
news agency that "Sawt al-Islah is designed to establish a direct dialogue
with the Saudi people by using new technologies, including the Internet, to
talk freely and without inhibitions." A link on the Web site reveals that the
software in question is a freely available shareware program called AV Voice
Changer Software http://www.audio4fun.com that costs US$19.95 to register
(Radio Netherlands Media Network 10 December 2002 via DXLD 2-194)
SAUDI OPPOSITION GETS RADIO VOICE
Dissenting voices have been silenced before now
By Magdi Abdelhadi, BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/middle_east/2560313.stm
A new radio station run by a Saudi opposition group has gone on air in
Europe. The group behind the service said Radio Al-Islah was a 24-hour
satellite service but was also available on short-wave radio and can be heard
in the Middle East as well as Europe.
The Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia said Saudi citizens can now for the
first time criticise the Saudi regime publicly with total impunity because of
modern technology.
Radio stations run by opposition groups are a rare occurrence [sic] in the
Arab world, and the launch marks a dramatic breakthrough in a region where
public broadcasting is tightly regulated by governments.
The new satellite station Sawt Al-Islah - which means Voice of Reform - is
using the latest internet technology to help disgruntled Saudis voice their
criticism of the royal family.
Talk shows
A spokesman for the Movement for Islamic Reform In Arabia told the BBC that
by using an internet phone service - known as Paltalk - listeners can take
part in the programme and say what they like without risking arrest or
harassment.
Saad al-Fagih said the bulk of the station's schedule was talk shows. The
topics discussed, he said, included lack of transparency in the Saudi system,
corruption, poverty and failure to implement Islamic law.
Saudi authorities had in the past succeeded in foiling previous attempts to
launch opposition broadcasts from exiles in the West using their financial
clout.
Mr Fagih said as Radio Al-Islah operated out of a European country, the
Saudis could not put the pressure on. He declined to disclose which country
was the base.
Royal connections
There are few opposition stations in the Arab world, where all radio and
television channels are either owned by the state or companies associated
with the ruling elites.
There are several Saudi satellite television channels based abroad, but most
of them are either owned by members of the royal family or companies close to
them.
Radio Al-Islah began broadcasting last week. If it survives any future
attempts by Saudi authorities to silence it, the emergence of modern
technology will have proved a decisive factor in the struggle between freedom
of expression and censorship
(BBC News online Dec 10 via M.Gallas, DXLD 2-195)
SAUDI DISSIDENTS LAUNCH RADIO STATION TO CHALLENGE ROYALS, PUSH FOR REFORMS
---
By ALAA SHAHINE, Associated Press Writer
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20021210/ap_wo_en_po/me_gen
_saudi_opposition_2
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Saudi dissidents have launched a radio station
to challenge the Gulf state's ruling royals and spark reforms within the
secretive country, a group spokesman said Tuesday.
Saad al-Faquih said the station — Sawt al-Islah, Arabic for "The Voice of
Reform" — will try to mobilize ordinary Saudis to push for political,
economic and social reforms within the oil-rich kingdom. "We want to spread
awareness among people of the many problems caused by the regime and grant
them the freedom of expression they don't enjoy at home," al-Faquih, from the
London-based Movement for Islamic Reform, told The Associated Press office in
Dubai in a telephone interview.
Saudi Arabia's ruling Al Saud family maintains close ties with the United
States, but its government has had to fend off international criticism that
it blocks freedom of expression and prevents Saudis from playing effective
roles in political life.
Saudi society is dominated by strict Islamic law, where alcohol is banned and
women must be veiled from head to toe. The state also tightly controls media
outlets.
The country was also the birthplace of 15 of the 19 Sept. 11 hijackers.
Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden was also a Saudi citizen until the government
stripped him of his citizenship.
Al-Faquih said the new radio station allows Saudis to participate in "live
audio discussions through the Internet, where they can publicly criticize the
government without fear of being tracked."
The station started a 24-hour broadcast Saturday via satellite. It can also
be heard on short-wave radio for two hours a day, al-Faquih told The
Associated Press in a telephone interview from London.
The Saudi dissident, however, refused to reveal the location from which the
station was broadcasting, nor did he mention the name of the company that
gave the group its broadcasting license.
"The station is based somewhere in Europe," he said. "What we can say is that
we don't broadcast from England in order not to cause any embarrassment to
the British government."
Saudi dissidents formed The Movement for Islamic Reform in 1996. On its Web
site, the group says it opposes the royal family's policies and calls for the
"unification of all opposition powers in the kingdom to push for
comprehensive reform programs."
Al-Faquih said the Sa`udi government, along with financial problems, had
thwarted previous attempts to launch the station.
On the Net: Sawt al-Islah's website http://www.islah.org
(AP Dec 10 via yahoonews via A.Bigley for DXLD 2-195)
...............................................................
Misc - SRI LANKA
Voice of the Tigers FM Frequency
LTTE's VOT is using 102.6 MHz FM in addition to SW.
(D.Prabakaran-CLN Dec 2, 2002 for CRW)
LTTE SUPREMO VELUPILLATI PRABAKARAN SPEECH ON VOICE OF TIGERS RADIO
The 'Voice of Tigers' radio lively broadcasted the 25 minutes "heroics day"
speech of its leader Mr. Velupillai Prabakaran on Nov 27, 2002 from 1210 utc
to 1235 utc. The 'heroics day' is celebrated by tamils in northern and
eastern srilanka [tamil eelam region] every year for the rememberance of
tamil militants who lost their life against srilankan imperialsam and
aggression. Several tamil radio and tv stations like IBC-TAMIL, BBC-TAMIL,
RADIO VERITAS, TTN TV, CTBC RADIO, GEETHAVANI RADIO-CANADA, inba tamil
radio-australia etc and also, first time in the history of srilanks,
SRILANKAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION [SLBC] relayed this speech and covered
this celebrations extensively. [article slightly edited -CRW]
(D.Prabakaran-CLN Dec 1, 2002 for CRW)
19 AÑOS DE GUERRA CIVIL
Acuerdo historico del Gobierno y los rebeldes tamiles para un modelo federal
en Sri Lanka.
OSLO.- El Gobierno de Sri Lanka y la guerrilla rebelde de los Tigres de
Liberacion de Tamil Eelam (LTTE) han alcanzado un acuerdo para establecer un
modelo federal,
que pondria fin a 19 años de guerra civil en el pais. El acuerdo fue
alcanzado en Oslo, donde el pasado lunes se inicio una nueva ronda en las
negociaciones de paz
entre ambas partes, bajos los auspicios del Gobierno noruego.
Representantes de ambas partes coincidieron en calificar de historico el
acuerdo, que abrira las puertas a una solucion pacifica al conflicto entre el
Gobierno y la guerrilla tamil.
(Agencia EFE, Dec 6, 2002 via G.I.Barrera-ARG for CRW)
Norway supplied communication equipment to LTTE: Anura bandarnayake
By Amit Baruah
New Delhi, Dec.4. The Norwegian Govt. has supplied the LTTE with 70 tonnes of
communication equipment to begin radio and TV broadcasts, Anura Bandaranaike,
Senior Adviser to the Sri Lankan President,[and her own brother] Chandrika
Kumaratunga, alleged. He told the Hindu today that the equipment had been
unloaded at Colombo port on Nov. 26 and then handed over to the Tigers at
Omanthai. It was transported by road. The Sri Lankan Freedom Party leader
claimed that the equipment could be used to “beam broadcasts” to the southern
parts of India. Underlying his observation were the securuty implications for
India.
(“The Hindu” newspaper, Dec 5, 2002 via J.Jacob-IND via D.Prabakaran-IND for
CRW)
Voice of Tigers seeks official countrywide radio
An LTTE plan to set up a radio station with a country-wide coverage in a bid
to propagate its views on the peace process and other matters is under
consideration, a top government official said yesterday.
Prime Minister's Secretary Bradman Weerakoon said the LTTE was asked to make
a formal application to the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission but
sources said they were suspicious of the Tiger intentions as they might make
use of the transmissions to spread Eelam propaganda worldwide.
Sources told the Daily Mirror that since all FM frequencies had been already
allocated to all registered radio stations, the LTTE would have to wait till
the transmission services went digital to go ahead with its radio channel.
Apart from plans of starting a radio station, the LTTE already publishes
newspapers in Jaffna including one Sinhala newspaper which was launched three
months ago.
Meanwhile, in another development the Navy yesterday eased the process of
resettlers in Jaffna by consenting to some changes in their current
practices.
At a meeting held in Jaffna between the Navy and the LTTE in the presence of
SLMM officials, the Navy agreed to remove the prior approval process for
civilains who consented to resettle in Jaffna.
At the meeting the LTTE also made some requests to the Navy, including free
travel to the Nagadeepa and other islands in the North and the setting up of
a civilian resting place in Karikadduwan jetty. It also asked the Navy to
stop Indian fishermen from fishing in the northern seas. - SD
(D.Prabakaran-IND Dec 7, 2002 for CRW)
SBS Tamil journalist over his biased remarks about LTTE
tamils in Australia have declared war against Chelliah Nagarajah a Tamil
journalist of the Australian State SBS radio for comments he made over the
recent Bali terrorist bombing.The Tamil Coordination Committee and the New
South Consortium of Tamil Associations are carrying on a major vilification
campaign against Nagarajah. An E-mail campaign organized by the Consortium of
Tamil Associations had asked Tamil people to send protest letters to the SBS
Management calling for the expulsion of the journalist. The Island sources in
Australia say that hand bills have been widely distributed in Sydney and
Melbourne criticizing Nagarajah."Inbathamil Oli", a 24-hour Tamil radio
station, is conducting a campaign against this Tamil journalist against his
remarks.
--open letter to tamils in australia through 'inbatamil' radio broadcast is
presented below--
Dear Friends
On 20th October, 2002 the SBS Tamil Language Program broadcast at 11:00 am
made some unwelcome comments about our martyrs, our youths who sacrificed
their precious lives in the pursuit of obtaining freedom, peace and dignity
for the Tamil people of Sri Lanka. Mr. Chelliah Nagarajah was the
broadcaster. His comments about terrorism, the loss of many innocent young
lives in Bali resulting from the terrorist activities was appropriate. Such
acts need to be condemned. However, the reference to our martyrs and the way
we Tamils pay homage was uncalled for. These youths sacrificed their lives
for a worthy and noble cause and the broadcaster"s comments are blatant
insult. You all are perhaps aware that this broadcaster"s services were
previously terminated by two Sydney Tamil Community Radio Stations and
another Melbourne Tamil Community Radio Station for broadcasting his biased
views and unsatisfactory community comments.
At a time when the whole world without an exception is applausive of the
peace process taking place in Sri Lanka, the comments, which are the
broadcaster"s own personal views is damaging, divisive and non productive. We
need to do something to correct this situation and SBS management has to be
advised of the Tamil people"s dissatisfaction on the state aided radio
station being used for an individual"s biased views to be put on the air. We
kindly request you to write to SBS expressing our feelings. We have attached
some sample points to be included in your letter.
(source-island news via D.Prabakaran-IND Dec 7, 2002 for CRW)
New Voice of Tigers with srilankan govt. approval
The srilankan government last month granted approval to the LTTE to clear six
tons of equipment to set up a modern Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio broadcasting
station. Representatives of the LTTE cleared the container load of cargo from
the Colombo Port on November 26 on their leader Velupillai Prabhakaran's
birthday.
The next day, an armed Police team led by an inspector escorted the sealed
container load from Colombo to Omanthai. Army personnel at the check-point
had wanted to examine the container when the inspector had objected. He had
produced a letter from Defence Secretary Austin Fernando. Thereafter the
trailer carrying the container was permitted to cross over to LTTE held
Omanthai entry point to Wanni[ tamil eelam region] at 11.30 pm on November 27
- Maveerar's Day commemorated by the organisation and tamil peoples
The Sunday Times learns that the equipment arrived in Colombo consigned to
the Norwegian Embassy, which in turn, had gifted it to the LTTE. Thereafter,
the government had granted clearance with a duty waiver. The Norwegian
Embassy avoided repeated calls from The Sunday Times while the Sri Lanka
Customs declined to comment.
According to highly placed Customs sources, a team of Security Forces
communications experts, backed by representatives from the Sri Lanka
Broadcasting Corporation had studied the technical specifications. They were
of the view that the equipment would enable the LTTE to only broadcast on the
FM frequency to a limited area though other technical sources told The Sunday
Times their transmissions could be heavily enhanced through boosters to reach
areas outside Sri Lanka.
A high ranking government official had asked Customs to allow security
authorities to examine the equipment at the Colombo port and seal it before
it was transported to the Wanni.
These sources told The Sunday Times the cleared equipment included FM
transmitter, backup transmitter, MPX Clipper Generator, FM Antennas,
headphone, patch panel, loudspeaker, microphone, microphone holder, MD
recorder, CD player, cables, antenna cables and RDS audio. The LTTE had
originally planned to clear the equipment early to enable their leader,
Velupillai Prabhakaran, to make his annual "Maveerar Week" (Heroes Week)
address through the new Voice of Tigers radio station. However, procedural
formalities had entailed delays.
In a separate report, our Trincomalee Correspondent Sinniah Gurunathan states
the LTTE is making preparations to expand the reach of the Voice of Tigers
radio to Southern India and Singapore. He quoted LTTE's Arts and Cultural
Section head, Puthuvai Ratnathurai, as saying that VoT expansion plans for
this purpose were ready. The new VoT broadcasting station is to be located in
the Wanni. According to Ratnathurai, its programmes are to reach out to
entire Sri Lanka.
(Sunday Times Dec 8, 2002 via D.Prabakaran-IND for CRW)
INDIA'S REACTION ON FRESH CONSIGNMENT OF RADIO TRANSMITTING EQUIPMENT FROM
NORWAY TO TAMIL MILITANTS
Asked about the reports that the liberation tigers of tamil eelam had
acquired a fresh consignment of radio broadcasting equipment from norway, Mr.
kanwal sibal, foreign secretary of indian government said that 'jury is out'
on whether it was an FM, with short range capability, or a longer range
shortwave, capable transmitting into south asia. If it was of longer range
"we will evalute it differently" he said.
(The HINDU - daily newspaper Dec 9, 2002 via D.Prabakaran-IND for CRW)
Tamil tigers has not shown any reaction on these news. However, there may be
widespread expectations among media that indian government will not be
serious on LTTE'S intention to extend their shortwave radio coverage beyond
sri lanka. Since the tigers had already used shortwave facilities for south
asian coverage so many years [up to 2000]. Also the indian co-alition
government was supported by some pro-ltte parties like samata party [it's
leader - george fernandes-defence minister], MDMK, DMK, PMK etc.
(D.Prabakaran-IND Dec 9, 2002 for CRW)
LTTE gets radio equipment from Oslo
by Chennai OnLine
The LTTE obtained hi-tech broadcasting equipment through the Norwegian
Embassy in Colombo last month to expand its unapproved radio station, a
report said today.
The government granted approval to the rebels to clear a container with six
tonnes of equipment in the Colombo port November 26, and it was transported
by road to the rebel-held area in the north, the weekly "Sunday Times"
newspaper said.
The equipment had been consigned to the Norwegian Embassy, which, in turn,
“gifted” it to the LTTE, and the government pitched in with a duty waiver,
the newspaper said.
The consignment contained an FM transmitter, back-up transmitter, generator,
antennae, headphones, patch panels, speakers, microphones, recorders, CD
players and cables.
A police party took it beyond the last Army check-point at Omanthai, north of
Vavuniya, with the help of a letter from Defence Secretary Austin Fernando to
avoid examination by military personnel.
A team of communication experts had examined the equipment in the port itself
and concluded that it was sufficient only for broadcasting on FM frequency to
a limited area.
However, the paper said other technical sources were of the view that the
range could be enhanced with the help of boosters to reach areas outside Sri
Lanka.
The paper said the LTTE was preparing to expand the reach of its "Voice of
Tigers", a clandestine radio that can be heard only in the northern
rebel-held Vanni region until now, to southern India and Singapore.
A delegation from the opposition Sri Lanka Freedom Party, which visited New
Delhi last week, apprised India about the “security implications” of
broadcasts by the LTTE to south India, and also complained about Norway"s
role in helping the Tigers set up communication facilities. (Agencies)
(D.Prabakaran-IND Dec 9, 2002 for CRW)
Tigers set for major propaganda blitz
from- gulf news
(D.Prabakaran-IND Dec 9, 2002 for CRW)
LTTE radio gets sophisticated tools with Govt.approval: Media
The Sri Lankan government has cleared six tons of sophisticated radio
equipment belonging to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil EELAM (LTTE) and also
waived the duty on them.
The Sunday Times, which had not got any response from any of the officials
sources said the equipment that arrived in Colombo was consigned to the
Norwegian Embassy, which in turn, gifted it to the LTTE.
The cleared equipment included FM transmitter, backup transmitter, MPX
Clipper Generator, FM Antennas, headphone, patch panel, loudspeaker,
microphone, microphone holder, MD recorder, CD player, cables, antenna cables
and RDS audio.
The VoT had already started a Sinhala Language Service a couple of years ago
from the Wanni targeting the government soldiers manned on the Forward
Defence Lines (FDLs). They were also reportedly making preparations to expand
the reach of the Voice of Tigers Radio to Southern India and Singapore.
(D.Prabakaran-IND Dec 10, 2002 for CRW)
Excerpts from LTTE leader Mr. Velupillai Prabhakaran's speech on Voice of
Tigers radio at 27-2-2002 [must be Nov 27, 2002 - CRW]-
[monitored by D.Prabakaran via radio IBC-Tamil]
In a special appeal made to the majority Sinhala people faced with crucial
parliamentary election early next month in Sri Lanka, Mr. Velupillai
Pirapaharan, the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), urged
them to reject racist forces committed to militarism and war and to offer
justice to the Tamil people to bring about peace, ethnic reconciliation and
economic prosperity to the island.
Enunciating the organisation’s policy in his annual Heroes’ Day speech today,
the Tamil Tiger leader declared that the Tamil people wanted to live in their
traditional lands with peace and dignity, determining their own political and
economic life. “It is the basic political aspiration of the Tamil people.
This is neither separatism nor terrorism. It does not constitute a threat to
the Sinhala people,” Mr. Pirapaharan said.
The LTTE leader said that the Sinhalese, Tamils and other communities in the
island could co-exist in peace and harmony if a political settlement is
reached through peaceful means. But he warned that the Tamils would be left
with no alternative other than to secede and form an independent state if the
Sinhala nation continued to refuse to resolve the conflict through peaceful
means. “If racism continues to predominate as the determining force in Sri
Lanka’s politics, it would certainly create the objective conditions for the
emergence of an independent Tamil state,” Mr Pirapaharan said.
The Tiger leader declared that the LTTE is sincerely committed to a
negotiated political settlement. Yet he insisted that lifting of the ban on
his organisation is a necessary pre-requisite for the LTTE to participate in
the peace talks as the legitimate, authentic representatives of the Tamil
people.
Expressing regret and dismay over the decision made by some Western
governments to include the LTTE in the list of international terrorist
organisations, Mr Pirapaharan asserted that the LTTE is a freedom movement
fighting for the emancipation of his oppressed people. Branding the LTTE as a
terrorist organisation will have a negative effect on the peace process since
it would encourage Sri Lanka to adopt a hard-line militarist approach, Mr
Pirapaharan said. The Tiger leader also called for a clear and comprehensive
definition of the concept of terrorism that would distinguish between armed
liberation struggles based on the right to self-determination and blind
terrorist acts based on hatred and fanaticism.
The following are extracts from Mr Pirapaharan’s statement:
“The Tamil national question, which has assumed the character of a civil war,
is essentially a political issue. We still hold a firm belief that this issue
can be resolved by peaceful means. If there is genuine will and determination
on the part of the Sinhalese leadership there is a possibility for peace and
settlement. Though fifty-three years have passed since the independence of
this island, the Sinhalese political leadership is still buried in the swamp
of racist ideology. That is why they have not developed the wisdom and
understanding to deal with the Tamil question objectively and realistically.
The belief that the Tamil ethnic conflict could be resolved by repressive
military means still predominates the Sinhala political system. It is
precisely for this reason that none of the major Sinhala political parties
have any concrete projects or frameworks for the permanent resolution of the
conflict. The international community is fully aware of this fact. These
world governments, while insisting that the ethnic conflict should be
resolved by peaceful means, have always supported Sri Lanka’s political and
military efforts to weaken the political struggle of the Tamils. This
strange, ambiguous attitude of the world governments has also contributed to
the prolongation of the conflict.
We are constantly knocking on the doors of peace but the Kumaratunga
government has refused to open the doors. Following the meeting with the
Norwegian peace envoys in Vanni in November last year, we declared a
unilateral cease-fire for four months to help to facilitate the peace
process. The Sri Lanka government responded by ridiculing and rejecting our
peace initiative and launched provocative military assaults on our positions.
Finally, the government undertook a major offensive operation within hours of
the termination of our cease-fire. Our fierce counter-attack repulsed the
army’s operation and made the government realise the fact that the LTTE is
strong and invincible.
Though we are strong with considerable manpower and firepower we abstained
from launching any major land based offensive operations this year to
facilitate the peace process. We co-operated with Norway’s peace efforts. It
was under these circumstances that Kumaratunga’s government downgraded and
marginalised the accredited Norwegian peace envoy, Mr Erik Solheim, accusing
him of being biased towards the LTTE. We registered a strong protest against
this action. Following this incident the Norwegian peace effort reached a
stalemate. Chandrika Kumaratunga is responsible for this issue.
A parliamentary general election is taking place in Sri Lankan at this
critical historical turning point. Since we advance our political struggle as
an extra-parliamentary liberation organisation we do not attach any
significance to parliamentary elections. Yet the LTTE has become the central
theme in the current election campaign in Tamil Eelam and in the Sinhala
south.
Having assumed itself as the most crucial and cardinal issue in Sri Lankan
politics, the Tamil national conflict has effectively polarised the political
forces towards two contradictory positions: between war and peace. The
elections have become a competitive arena between the forces that seek peace
and the extremist forces that are opposed to peace. The general public is
given the responsibility of choosing as to whether there will be peace in the
future or if the war will continue. The Sinhala people should realise that
there can be no peace, ethnic harmony and economic prosperity in the island
as long as the Tamil people are denied justice and their political
aspirations are not fulfilled.
We are not enemies of the Sinhala people, nor is our struggle against them.
It is because of the oppressive policy of the racist Sinhala politicians that
contradictions arose between the Sinhala and Tamil nations, resulting in a
war. We are fighting this war against a state and its armed forces determined
to subjugate our people through the force of arms. We are well aware that
this war has not only affected the Tamils but also affects the Sinhala people
deeply. Thousands of innocent Sinhala youth have perished as a consequence of
the repressive policies of the war mongering ruling elites. We are also aware
that it is the Sinhala masses who are bearing the economic burden of the war.
Therefore, we call upon the Sinhala people to identify and renounce the
racist forces committed to militarism and war and to offer justice to the
Tamils in order to put an end to this bloody war and to bring about permanent
peace.
The Tamil people want to maintain their national identity and to live in
their own lands, in their historically given homeland with peace and dignity.
They want to determine their own political and economic life; they want to be
on their own. These are the basic political aspirations of the Tamil people.
It is neither separatism nor terrorism. These demands do not constitute a
threat to the Sinhala people. They do not in any way affect or undermine the
political liberties or the social, economic and cultural life of the Sinhala
people. The Tamil people favour a political solution that would enable them
to live in their own lands with the right to rule themselves. This is what
the Tamils mean when they emphasise that a political solution should be based
on the right to self-determination.
Our organisation is prepared to negotiate with the Sri Lanka government on a
political framework that would satisfy the basic political aspirations of the
Tamil people. But for us to participate in political negotiations freely as
equal partners, as the authentic political force with the status of
legitimate representatives of our people, the ban imposed on our movement
should be lifted. This is the collective aspiration of the Tamil people.
We want the peace talks to be held in cordial situation of mutual trust and
understanding. For a long time we have been emphasising that the peace talks
should take place in a conducive atmosphere of peace and normalcy in the
absence of war and economic embargoes. We wish to reiterate the same position
now.
The use of violence in all modes of struggles to attain specific political
goals is defined as terrorism by international governments. This narrow
definition has erased the distinctions between genuine struggles for
political independence and terrorist violence. This conception of terrorism
has posed a challenge to the moral foundation of armed struggles waged by
liberation movements for basic political rights and for the right to
self-determination. This development is regrettable. As a consequence our
liberation organisation is also being discredited in the international arena.
The world governments waging a war against terror should, first of all,
explore the root causes of political violence. It is only through a deep
insight into the origins of political violence that one can discern the
differences between authentic liberation struggles and blind acts of terror.
In our view, there are two dimensions in political violence. Firstly, there
is the violence of the oppressor. Secondly, there is the violence of the
oppressed. In most cases the oppressor belongs to the ruling elites, yields
state authority and command the armed forces. The oppressed are always the
ruled, the minority nationalities, the exploited and the poor. The violence
of the first category can be designated as state violence. The second
category can be termed as the violence against state violence. Since state
violence is a form of repressive violence of the oppressor, it is unjust. The
reactive violence of the oppressed is just since it is undertaken with the
motive of obtaining justice. It is within the context of this distinction
that the violent modes of political struggles of the oppressed find
legitimacy.
Violent forms of struggles by people seeking political rights emerge only as
reactive violence against state terror. This truth can be discerned if one
can objectively analyse the historical origins of the world liberation
organisations. The Tamil Eelam liberation struggle has similar historical
origins. The state oppression against the Tamil people originated two decades
before the birth of the Tamil Tigers. Fuelled by racist passion, the state
repression gradually intensified over time and assumed genocidal proportions.
All forms of peaceful non-violent agitations undertaken by the Tamil people
against Sinhala state oppression were brutally repressed by state terror.
Since the non-violent political struggle became futile and meaningless and at
the same time the state oppression intensified in the form of genocide the
Tamil people were left with no alternative other than to confront the state
violence with violence. In other words, the Tamil people were compelled to
take arms to defend themselves against genodical destruction. It was under
these objective historical conditions the Liberation Tigers took birth and
advanced the armed struggle against state terror. With the history of a
sustained campaign extending to a period of twenty years our armed resistance
has evolved and developed as the political mode of struggle of the Tamil
people.
We are a national liberation organisation. We are fighting for the
emancipation of our people against racist tyranny, against military
occupation, against state terror. Our struggle has a concrete, legitimate
political objective. Our struggle is based on the right to
self-determination, a principal endorsed by the United Nations Charter. We
are not terrorists. We are not mentally demented as to commit blind acts of
violence impelled by racist and religious fanaticism. We are fighting and
sacrificing our lives for the love of a noble cause i.e. human freedom. We
are freedom fighters. The Sinhala state terrorists, who have failed in their
efforts to crush our freedom movement for the last two decades, branded our
liberation struggle as terrorism. Misguided by the false and malicious
propaganda of the Sri Lanka state some of the world governments have included
our liberation movement in their list of international terrorist
organisations. This is regrettable and disappointing. These decisions have a
negative impact. They have been made in haste, without deep insight into the
historicity and legitimacy of our struggle for self-determination. It sends a
wrong message to the Sinhala racist rulers. It will further harden their
hard-line, intransigent attitude. It will encourage their policy of military
repression. On the whole, the actions of some of the Western governments will
seriously impede a political solution through peaceful means and further
complicate the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka.
All the member countries of the United Nations have joined the alliance in
the war against terrorism spearheaded by the Western powers. Some of the
repressive states with a notorious history of racist oppression and gross
human rights violations have joined this global alliance against terror. In
this context we wish to confine our remarks only to the Sri Lanka state. This
government, holding one of the highest records of human rights violations
amounting to genocide, has now joined the international alliance against
terrorism. This is a dangerous trend in the emerging new world order. This
new trend is also posing a threat to the legitimate political struggles of
the oppressed humanity subjected to state terror. We fully
understand the anger, apprehensions, and compulsions of the Western powers
engaged in a war against international terrorism. We welcome the
counter-terrorist campaign of the international community to identify and
punish the real terrorists. In this context it is crucial that the Western
democratic nations should provide a clear and comprehensive definition of the
concept of terrorism that would distinguish between freedom struggles based
on the right to self-determination and blind terrorist acts based on
fanaticism. The international community cannot ignore the phenomenon of state
terror practiced internally by some repressive regimes. The world should seek
to identify such terrorist states and penalise them.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam is a people’s movement. We are
inextricably integrated with the people into a unified single force fighting
collectively for the liberation of our homeland. In a devious strategy to
alienate and marginalise our liberation organisation from our people and to
destroy us the government of Chandrika Kumaratunga proscribed us as a
‘terrorist’ organisation. Following this decision, Chandrika’s government,
particularly its Foreign Minister Mr Kadirgamar, launched a sustained
propaganda campaign in the international arena portraying the LTTE and the
Tamil freedom struggle as a diabolical phenomenon of terrorism. As a
consequence the United States, Britain and most recently Canada, have
included our liberation movement in their lists of terrorist organisations.
These countries are fully aware that we are not a terrorist organisation and
that we are a freedom movement functioning with the overwhelming support of
our people, representing their political aspirations. Furthermore, these
countries have continued to insist that the LTTE and the Sri Lanka government
should engage in peace talks to resolve the ethnic conflict. This stand
clearly entails the fact that these countries do recognise the Liberation
Tigers as the political representatives of the Tamil people. If so, why did
the governments brand us as a terrorist organisation? We cannot understand
the logic as to how such action could facilitate the peaceful resolution of
the ethnic conflict. We hold the position that unless the Sri Lanka
government lifts the ban on our organisation and accepts us as the authentic,
legitimate representatives of the Tamil people we will not participate in the
peace negotiations. We are firmly committed to this position. We have also
clearly stated our position to the Norwegian government. There is a
possibility of peace in the island of Sri Lankan only when the LTTE is
de-proscribed. Under these circumstances, proscribing the LTTE by Western
governments giving into diplomatic pressures from Sri Lanka will not pave the
way for the peaceful negotiated settlement of the conflict. Rather, it will
further reinforce the collective demand of our people to lift the ban on the
LTTE for the resumption of peace talks”.
(D.Prabakaran-IND Dec 10, 2002 for CRW)
Police attack injures ibc-tamil reporter and fifteen anti-EPDP picketers
At least fifteen civilians were injured Tuesday afternoon in Nelliady, 30 km
northeast of Jaffna, when Police used tear gas and opened fire with rubber
bullets on the picketers in front of the local office of Eelam Peoples
Democratic Party (EPDP). In a subsequent grenade attack eight persons, were
seriously wounded including clandestine IBC- TAMIL journalist
Mr.V.Thavachelvan. All have been warded in the Point Pedro base hospital,
medical sources said. Meanwhile Mr.V.Thavachelvan, journalist after surgery
was transferred to Manthikai hospital . He sustained injuries on his face in
the grenade attack. He is reported to be out of danger, medical sources said.
The EPDP office is located close to the Nelliady Police station and the army
camp.
The names of other seven critically injured are: [...]
The incident took place when several civilians around 12 noon launched a
sit-in-protest campaign in front of the EPDP office at Nelliayadi town
demanding that they should withdraw from Nedunthivu Island and other places
in the peninsula. At one stage heated argument ensued between the public and
the Police when the latter tried to disperse the picketers.
Police used baton charge to disperse the the crowd when the situation was
getting out of control. Police then used teargas and opened fire using rubber
bullets.
A grenade, alleged by sources to have come from the direction of the EPDP
office, exploded into the crowd wounding seriously eight persons including
IBC-TAMIL journalist Mr. Thavachelvan who was covering the event for an
international news agency, sources said.
Several bicycles and motorbikes were damaged during the attack on picketers
by the police, civilian sources said. The police immediately sealed off
Nelliady town and ordered the shops. The members of the Sri Lanka Monitoring
Mission (SLMM) rushed to Nelliayadi and had discussions with the LTTE local
leaders at the Vadamarachi office.
Nelliady and Puloly Traders Associations in the Vadamarachchi division in
Jaffna district Tuesday decided to observe hartal (general shut down) in
their respective areas Wednesday protesting against the police firing on
traders this afternoon on hundreds of civilians picketed the office of the
para military Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), sources said.
Spokespersons for the associations said that most of the injured in the
attack were traders of the area. According to Nelliady Traders Association,
all business establishments would be closed Wednesday as a mark of protest to
the firing by Nelliady Police on traders.
The Puloly Traders Association also Tuesday decided to close down all shops
in its area on Wednesday. Traders of both areas are to hand over memoranda to
the authorities concerned to ensure security for them in future, sources
said.
(Tamilnet news service via D.Prabakaran-IND Dec 10, 2002 for CRW)
...............................................................
Misc - USA
STEVE ANDERSON ARRESTED BY FEDS
Steven Howard Anderson, a.k.a. Steve Anderson, formerly the operator of the
KSMR, the longest running clandestine station in history with both a target
area and a transmitter within the United States (in Pulaski County,
Kentucky), was arrested Friday, November 22 in Cherokee County, North
Carolina by officers of the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms
and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. According to the
Louisville Courier Journal, Anderson was initially held in Bumcombe County
Jail in Asheville, North Carolina, pending a planned transfer to a Kentucky
detention center on or about November 25, where he was scheduled to face
various charges.
All this took place about five miles from Brasstown, North Carolina, the
longtime home of Grove Enterprises and Monitoring Times magazine. Brasstown
is actually in Clay County, North Carolina, but it is only five miles from
Murphy, the county seat of Cherokee County, North Carolina. Brasstown`s web
site has a monthly contest with a prize of a canned opossum. If you don`t
believe me, check out http://www.clayscorner.com/contest.shtml on your
internet dial. So, Anderson was not discovered in anything like what we would
call an urban area.
The jail in Asheville, a newly constructed facility that was ordered to be
built by a court after the old jail was found to be illegally deteriorated,
has a web site that outlines procedures for visiting inmates, if you`d like
to take a trip to this historic site. The URL of
http://www.buncombesheriff.org/detentioncenter_g.html is the place to go for
additional information.
We thank a variety of people for sending information to us about this story
that was breaking right at deadline time for The ACE. These people include
the original poster on rec.radio.shortwave about this story, a DXer named
William Smith. Chris Lobdell, Bob Montgomery, and Artie Bigley quickly
noticed that the Courier Journal was running daily coverage of the events
(G.Zeller-USA Clandestine Profile, Dec 2002 the A*C*E via DXLD 2-186)
PULASKI MAN INDICTED ON FEDERAL WEAPONS CHARGES
FORMER KY. MILITIA MEMBER CAPTURED IN N.C. LAST WEEK
ASSOCIATED PRESS --- Steve Anderson, the Pulaski County fugitive arrested
last week in the North Carolina mountains, was indicted yesterday on federal
weapons charges in Kentucky.
The indictment claims that Anderson, 55, of Somerset, possessed a firearm
during, and in relation to, a crime of violence and that he possessed
unregistered firearms.
Weapons listed in the indictment included a machine gun, a sawed-off rifle, a
semi-automatic assault rifle, a firearm with silencer, two bombs, six pipe
bombs and 25 other unspecified destructive devices.Anderson had been on the
run for more than a year until his arrest in western North Carolina on
Friday.
Anderson fled into the Eastern Kentucky mountains on Oct. 14, 2001, after
allegedly shooting at a Bell County deputy during a traffic stop.
Deputy Scott Elder was not injured, but his cruiser was hit more than 20
times by rifle fire, authorities said.
Anderson is a former member of the Kentucky State Militia. He also has ties
to the Christian Identity Movement, a group that considers white Christians
superior to non-whites and Jews.
The militia said it dismissed Anderson because he made inflammatory comments
about the U.S. government, blacks, Jews and immigrants over an unlicensed
radio station he operated from his Pulaski County home. Federal agents
arrested Anderson in rural Cherokee County, N.C. A tipster had called
investigators after producers of the television show America's Most Wanted
profiled Anderson recently
(Lexington Herald-Leader Nov 28, 2002 via DXLD 2-188)
TEXAS MILITIA OUTBANDERS
Recently I have noticed a few illegal radio operators operating on or near
6990 LSB nightly beginning around 0100 UTC. When I first heard these
"outbanders," or bootleg operators there, I thought they were just a couple
of pirates chatting back & forth. One of them even ID'ed as "Radio Free
Texas."
After monitoring them for some time, it became apparent that they were not
pirates as we know them, but simply unlicensed operators that showed up there
to have a place to talk. I wouldn't even mention them if it weren't for the
fact that they appear to be communications for a
militia group in Texas.
Militia groups have used frequencies for communications just outside the ham
bands for inter-group communication for about the past ten years or so. The
lower edge of 20 meters has been known to harbor some militia activity, as
well as 6660 and possibly around 6200-6300 kHz.
The 6990 group is very informal, and most members of the net are apparently
from Texas. They don't use any callsigns except for the one using "Radio Free
Texas," but prefer to use first names. There are roughly six or seven regular
members of the group. At least two of them are in Texas, one near Dallas and
the other farther south.
Communications might sound like what you'd hear on the CB bands, but slightly
more interesting. It's obvious that the group does have militia ties, or at
the very least are strong supporters of militia groups. Their discussions
usually lean toward anti-government feelings and some of the conspiracy
theories popular with "patriot" groups. For example, I once heard one of them
talking about Satanic cults in his county in Texas, who had entire cities
located underground and regularly abduct people to use as sacrifices during
Satanic rituals. It's doubtful they are all playing with a full deck. I
haven't heard them using anything I could definitely consider as a code or
cipher, but they have used cryptic communications that when I was in the
military we referred to "talk-around." It's kind of like the way you'd talk
around small children when you don't want them to know what you're talking
about. Two people "in the know" would understand, but a third party might
not.
The group regularly uses 6990 LSB, but I have heard them referring to using
13950 USB. They also have another frequency they constantly refer to as
"primary," but I have not located that frequency. I don't believe that it is
13950 since "primary" seems to be used for shorter range communications. For
example, if conditions aren't that great, they'll say, "go to primary." For
two stations in Texas maybe one or two hundred miles apart, it makes sense
that they would use a lower frequency to make use of groundwave propagation.
My guess is that it's around the lower or upper edge of the 80 meter ham
band. The upper edge in the 4 MHz band is filled with MARS and maritime
stations, so it's likely they use a frequency below 80 meters, around
3400-3500.
If you enjoy the stuff you hear on WWCR & similar stations, you'll enjoy
tuning these guys in.
It is with regret that I mention that this will be my last "Covert Comms"
column. I have found it increasingly difficult lately to find the time to
meet a deadline for a column every month. Also, my interests in radio have
been shifting to other areas and I am finding it hard to devote more time to
writing about numbers stations. I rarely even find time to do much shortwave
listening these days, let alone hunting for numbers transmissions. I have
devoted the past five years to writing this column, and now find it time to
move on to other pursuits. I have enjoyed contributing what I could to the
hobby, but now must move on to other things.
With that, the job of writing a monthly numbers column for the ACE is now
open. If anyone is interested, please contact Harry Helms or John T. Arthur
and let them know that you're interested. I'm sure they'll be glad to have
you
(Covert Comms By T.Sevart-KS-USA Dec 2002 the A*C*E via DXLD 2-189)
ANDERSON INDICTED
From http://www.somerset-kentucky.com/search/search_detail.cfm?ID=2024
SOMERSET -- JEFF NEAL
A federal Grand Jury in London, Ky., on Wednesday handed down an Indictment
of 18 weapons charges against Steve Anderson, who once filled the ham radio
airwaves with his white supremacist, hate-filled rhetoric from his Pulaski
County home on Elrod-Martin Road.
Anderson was arrested last Friday in Cherokee County, N.C., by the ATF and
North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation after being a federal fugitive
for over 13 months.
Anderson had been on the run since Oct. 13, 2001, when he allegedly shot up a
Bell County deputy's cruiser during a routine traffic stop. The Indictment
against Anderson included charges of "unlawful possession of a machine gun;
possession of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and
using, carrying, brandishing and discharging a firearm during and in relation
to a crime of violence; and possession of unregistered firearms."
The Indictment alleges that on or about Oct. 16, 2001, in Pulaski County,
Anderson "knowingly and unlawfully" possessed a machine gun, two destructive
devices (bombs), a silencer, a sawed-off rifle and 25 other destructive
devices not registered in the National Firearms Registration Transfer Record.
It also states that Anderson possessed a machine gun and a firearm with a
silencer in "furtherance of crimes of violence."
It also alleges that on Oct. 14, 2001, in Bell County, Anderson "used,
carried, brandished and discharged a semiautomatic assault weapon and
possessed six other destructive weapons (pipe bombs) which were not
registered to him in the National Firearms Registration Transfer Record.
If convicted, the maximum potential penalties are life imprisonment, a
$250,000 fine and supervised release for a period of three and not more than
five years and forfeiture of the listed firearms.
The announcement of the Indictment against Anderson was a joint effort
involving Gregory F. Van Tatenhove, United States Attorney for the Eastern
District; Karl Stankovic, ATF special agent in charge; and J. Stephen
Tidwell, FBI special agent in charge. The investigation preceding the
Indictment was conducted by the ATF and the FBI. The Indictment was presented
to the Grand Jury by Assistant United States Attorney Martin L. Hatfield.
Don York, a spokesman for the ATF in Kentucky, said Anderson's arrest came
after an investigation was prompted by a tip received following a Nov. 2
episode of "America's Most Wanted," which re-visited the Anderson case.
Anderson was originally featured on the popular FOX-TV program last April.
Anderson was a member of Kentucky's militia until April 2001, when he was
expelled from the group because he made inflammatory comments about the U.S.
government, blacks, Jews and immigrants over an unlicensed radio station he
operated from his Pulaski County home.
Radio for Peace International, A Costa Rica-based group which monitors
short-wave radio broadcasts, labeled Anderson as "the world's most hateful
broadcaster" last year. Story created Monday, December 02, 2002 at 11:02 AM.
(via M.Terry-G in DXLD 2-190)
RfPI 'monitors' sw radio broadcasts ? Its a pity that some journalist
nowadays think they understand all after making a short telephone call ...
[M.Schöch-CRW]
------------xxxxxxxxxx Sources xxxxxxxxxx----------------------
Thanks to the following contributors : Andy Sennitt, Anker Petersen, D.
Prabakaran, Edward Kusalik, Gabriel Ivan Barrera, Ludo Maes, Paul Ormandy,
Rajesh Nambiar, Scott R. Barbour Jr.
Source Abbreviations:
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
DXW : DX Window-Denmark
HCDX : Hard-Core-DX-mailing list-USA
JAP : Japan Premium-Japan
OBS : Observer-Bulgaria
PDX : Play DX-Italy
QIP : QSL Information Pages-Germany
TDP : Transmitter Documentation Project
BBCM items are Copyright BBCM 2002.
______________________________________________________