Clandestine Radio Watch 123
--------------xxxxxxxxxx CRW 123 xxxxxxxxxx--------------
CLANDESTINE RADIO WATCH
December 31, 2002
Clandestine Radio Watch (CRW) is a biweekly summary which centralizes the
latest news and developments affecting the study of clandestine radio in
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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 124 : January 15, 2003
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"Freedom of information is ... the touchstone of all the freedoms."
(UN Freedom of Information Conference, 1948)
------------xxxxxxxxxx Breaking News xxxxxxxxxx----------------
GENERAL : 2002 Clandestine Activity Survey
KURDISTAN : Voice of the Struggle of Iranian Kurdistan returned
GREAT BRITAIN : Northern Ireland Clandestine gets tempory licence
IRAN : President Bush Addresses Iranians Over Radio Farda
Analysis : America's image deteriorating in Muslim world, US study
finds
...............................................................
GENERAL : 2002 Clandestine Activity Survey
By Mathias Kropf, Bad Hersfeld
During the year 2002 the activity of political clandestine stations
broadcasting on shortwave has increased by 21 % to 1732 Weekly
Broadcasting Hours (WBHs). This is the highest level of activity since
1994 and the third year with increased activity in a row. The clandestine
activity now has increased already by more than 50 % from its recent low
in 1999.
Clandestine activity to target areas on the Asian continent has increased
by 20 % to 1312 WBHs and on the African continent by 15 % to 242 WBHs. On
the American continent activity has dropped by 8 % to 162 WBHs. In
Oceania, which was not active last year, activity is now at 16 WBHs.
The number of active target areas (countries) worldwide has increased by
one to 22. While Sri Lanka and Colombia are thought to be no longer
active; Kazakhstan, Syria and Papua New Guinea are new or reactivated
target areas.
The three most active target areas worldwide are Iraq with 496 WBHs (+129
when compared with last year - the highest activity to a single target
area ever since this survey was started back in 1986), North Korea with
217 WBHs (unchanged from last year) and Iran with 193 WBHs (+43).
(M.Kropf-D Dec 21, 2002 for CRW)
...............................................................
KURDISTAN : Voice of the Struggle of Iranian Kurdistan returned
Another clandestine station had returned on the air. Voice of the
Struggle of Iranian Kurdistan reported recently by Rumen Pankov and Dave
Kenny. This radio station broadcasts 0300-0400 and 1700-1800 in the
frequency range 4260-4290 kHz; the station hasn't a constant frequency at
present (noted on 4260, 4277, 4281, 4286). The latest frequency I heard -
4286 kHz for both transmissions on Dec.16th.
Seems it is the same station which was active in 1988-1996: a format of
the programmes is identical-45 min in Kurdish and 15 min in Farsi. ID in
Kurdish also is the same: "Aira dangi Khabati Kurdistani Irana". A
shorter version of ID is: "Dangi Khabati Kurdistan". ID in Farsi "In
seda-ye mobarezeh-e Kurdistan-e Irana". Robert Petraitis with a help of
Takuya Hirayama.
(R.Petraitis-LTU Dec 17-20, 2002 for CRW)
This station had been on and off throughout the 1990s, my files show it
inactive since April 2000.
(M.Kropf-D ? Dec 22, 2002 in CDX-ML)
...............................................................
GREAT BRITAIN : Northern Ireland Clandestine gets tempory licence
Radio Failte /Triple FM
Teach Na Feile 473 Falls Road Belfast Northern Ireland BT12 6DD
Tel: +442890319150
E-mail: feile@iol.ie
The Irish Nationalist station "Radio Failte" based in Belfast has got a
temporary 28 day licence from the UK radio authority despite broadcasting
illegally in Belfast for several months now.
Most of R Failte's (Failte = "Welcome") programming is in the Irish
Gaelic language it broadcasts on 107.0 MHz FM.
The only other clandestine known to have broadcast in NI in recent years
has been the nationalist "Radio Equality" in Portadown which broadcast
during the Durmcree/Garvaghy riots in July however during the 1970's
there were a lot of broadcasts from various Nationalist and Loyalist (pro
British) factions.
(M.Byron-G Dec 20, 2002 for CRW)
...............................................................
IRAN : President Bush Addresses Iranians Over Radio Farda
Iran: President Bush Addresses Iranians Over Radio Farda
By Nick Grace, CRW Washington
[Dec 21] Radio Farda, the re-launched American surrogate broadcasting
outlet aimed at Iran, received a major boost of support from the White
House Saturday, December 21, when President Bush made a direct address to
the station's listeners.
In a move equally as significant his speech was broadcast in full and
only occasionally interrupted for a translation into Farsi. The broadcast
can be listened to at:
http://www.clandestineradio.com/audio/iran_farda_bush_021221.ram
Radio Farda is needed, he said, "because the unelected few who control
the Iranian government continue to place severe restrictions on access to
uncensored information... (Iranians) deserve a free press to express
themselves to help build an open, democratic and free society."
The station, which is translated as Radio Tomorrow in Farsi, broadcasts
24 hours per day on short wave, satellite and in streaming audio on the
Internet. It began testing on December 3.
Previously known as Radio Azadi (Freedom), it broadcast a mix of news and
cultural programs for a few hours per day.
The new broadcasts, however, are aimed at a younger audience, which the
U.S. government hopes will serve as the catalyst for change in Iran.
President Bush Radio Address on Radio Farda
December 21, 2002
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/12/20021220-7.html
http://www.radiofarda.com/transcripts/topstory/2002/12/20021221_0230_0245
_0709_EN.asp
THE PRESIDENT: I'm pleased to send warm greetings to the people of Iran
and to welcome you to the new Radio Farda broadcast. For many years, the
United States has helped bring news and cultural broadcasts for a few
hours every day to the Iranian people via Radio Freedom (Radio Azadi).
Yet the Iranian people tell us that more broadcasting is needed, because
the unelected few who control the Iranian government continue to place
severe restrictions on access to uncensored information. So we are now
making our broadcast available to more Iranians by airing news and music
and cultural programs nearly 24 hours a day, and we are pleased to
continue Voice of America and VOA TV services to Iran.
The people of Iran want to build a freer, more prosperous country for
their children, and live in a country that is a full partner in the
international community. Iranians also deserve a free press to express
themselves to help build an open, democratic and free society.
My thoughts and prayers are with the Iranian people, particularly the
families of the many Iranians who are in prison today for daring to
express their hopes and dreams for a better future. We continue to stand
with the people of Iran in your quest for freedom, prosperity, honest and
effective government, judicial due process and the rule of law. And we
continue to call on the government of Iran to respect the will of its
people and be accountable to them.
As I have said before, if Iran respects its international obligations and
embraces freedom and tolerance, it will have no better friend than the
United States of America.
Best wishes for a bright future, filled with knowledge, information, and
freedom.
...............................................................
Analysis: America's image deteriorating in Muslim world, US study finds
[CRW mentioned in this analysis -CRW]
Text of editorial analysis by BBC Monitoring's Foreign Media Unit on 30
December 2002
US efforts throughout the past year to step up radio broadcasts to the
Middle East and the Muslim world at large have culminated in recent weeks
with the launch of new services directed at Iraq and Iran.
Meanwhile, the results of a study by the US-based Pew Research Centre
released in December suggest that the image of the US in Muslim countries
has been badly tarnished over the past three years.
The Global Attitudes Project, which questioned a total of 38,263 people
in 44 countries between June and October 2002, found that three out of
four Jordanians and seven in 10 Egyptians had an unfavourable view of the
US.
The good news for America is that majorities in 35 of the 44 countries
held a favourable impression: the bad news is that the majority was
marginal and decreasing in most of these.
Commenting on the research, President Bush said he had not read it, but
added: "We'll do everything we can to remind people that we've never been
a nation of conquerors, we're a nation of liberators."
New US radio stations, "video diplomacy"
On 12 December the US stepped up psychological operations against
President Saddam Husayn with the start of radio broadcasts transmitted
from US planes flying over Iraq and targeted at military commanders as
well as civilians. The broadcasts, prepared by a specialist US "psy-ops"
unit, aim "to dissuade the Iraqi military from supporting Saddam," said a
Pentagon spokesman.
As the Clandestine Radio Watch ( www.clandestineradio.com ) web site notes,
Iraq is already targeted by approximately 27 clandestine radio broadcasts
in addition to the handful of Arabic-language international outlets aimed
at the Middle East. "At least three broadcast stations, Al-Mustaqbal (The
Future), Voice of the Brave Armed Forces, and Radio of the Land of Two
Rivers (Radio Mesopotamia), have been tied to a covert American-run
transmitter in Kuwait," CRW recalls.
But in recent months the State Department has reportedly axed funding
earmarked for the resumption of a radio station that the Iraqi National
Congress coalition of exiled opposition groups was hoping to launch.
In spring 2002, America launched Radio Sawa ("Together"), intended as a
replacement for the Voice of America's Arabic service and targeting 17-28
year old listeners in the Arab world.
The station describes itself as "an upbeat mix of Western and Arabic pop
music along with up-to-the minute news two times each hour, news
analysis, interviews, opinion pieces, sports and features on a wide
variety of political and social issues".
The autumn saw a campaign of US "public diplomacy" by video in Indonesia
and other Muslim countries. The intention, said State Department
spokesman Richard Boucher, was "to tell about American Muslims and their
life in America, and the values of our society. It is part of a bigger
picture, though, of telling our story overseas, telling our story in many
different ways at different levels, telling first basically who we are
and what we are about."
But in December, Lebanon's state TV refused to allow the screening of
paid advertisements aimed at improving the US image in the Islamic world.
"In the spots, US citizens of Arab origin talk about the freedom and
opportunity of living in America, and the respect shown by Americans
toward the Muslim faith. Information Minister Ghazi Aridi said he
rejected the spots because the reality for Arabs living in the United
States after the 11 September attacks was very different," United Press
International news agency reported.
For listeners in Iran, Radio Farda ("Tomorrow"), a new Persian-language
station aimed at an under-30 audience, went on the air in December, based
on the Radio Sawa model.
It broadcasts a combination of popular Persian and Western music mixed
with news and features around the clock.
These are the latest examples of the US government's media offensive in
the Muslim world, which got under way even before the 11 September 2001
terrorist attacks in the United States.
Mixed reception from listeners
America's new broadcast ventures have had a mixed reception from the
target audiences.
Radio Sawa began broadcasting from Washington via relay stations in
Kuwait, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates in March and plans to expand
operations.
Joan Mower, spokeswoman for the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG)
which oversees US international broadcasts, says that eight months after
its launch, Radio Sawa is gaining respect.
And Norman Pattiz, chairman of the BBG Middle East Committee, speaks of
Radio Sawa's "overwhelming success in attracting audiences and new
listeners".
A survey of Radio Sawa's target audience of 17-28-year-old listeners in
Amman in November 2002 found that the station was the most listened to
for news, and was also rated as having the most accurate and trustworthy
news, the BBG reported.
But Hazim Ghurab, an Arab media specialist, said any success Sawa enjoys
now will fizzle out once "the United States takes its next aggressive
step in the Middle East". "The US 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 in a December interview
with Associated Press.
A commentary in the Syrian government-owned newspaper Al-Thawrah on 4
December said that the US "is committing a grave mistake if it believes
that it can change the Arab people's hatred for it through the
establishment of media organs like Radio Sawa, and if it wants to end
this hatred it must change its policies toward the region".
US "must work harder" on image-building
On 16 December the White House spokesman, Ari Fleischer, acknowledged
that there was widespread recognition throughout the Bush administration
that the United States had to work harder "in better communicating
America's message of hope and opportunity".
An editorial in the Washington Post on 26 December surveyed the
importance of public diplomacy and the approach taken by the Bush
administration in meeting the challenge.
"So far, the job has been left mainly to the State Department and its
revived Office of Public Diplomacy, headed by Charlotte Beers. Known as
Madison Avenue's 'queen of branding' for her success at rescuing Uncle
Ben's Converted Rice, she is now charged with doing the same for Uncle
Sam," the paper commented.
(Source: BBC Monitoring research Dec 30, 2002)
------------xxxxxxxxxx Schedules xxxxxxxxxx--------------------
Schedules - AFGHANISTAN
Commando Solo
see 'CRW 122 Extra'
...............................................................
Schedules - CHINA
Voice of Tibet
Voice of Tibet in Tibetan and Mandarin Ch noted on Dec.15: 1430-1517 on
NF 12145+Chinese mx jammer, ex 12025, re-ex 11550, re-re-ex 11975
(Observer 231 Dec 18, 2002 via W.Büschel-D for CRW)
...............................................................
Schedules - IRAN
Radio Farda
Radio Farda, a new 24 hours Farsi service from the U.S. is scheduled as
follows: 1539 & 1593 kHz MW 24 hours
SHORTWAVE FREQUENCIES FOR RADIO FARDA
EFFECTIVE FROM 0030 UTC DECEMBER 19, 2002
TIME (UTC) FREQUENCIES -----------------------
0030-0400 9515 9585 9795
0400-0600 9585 9795 12015 15290
0600-0800 9585 15290 17675
0800-0830 9585 13680 15290 17675 21475
0830-1400 13680 21475
1400-1700 9435 13680 15410
1700-1900 11705 11845
1900-2000 6140 11960 11985
2000-2130 9785 11960 11985
(D.Ferguson-IBB-USA Dec 18, 2002 in SWBC via DXLD 2-199)
Not quite identical to:
New tentative 24h schedule for RFE/RL Radio Farda in Persian:
0000-0400 9515 9585 9795
0400-0430 9585 9795
0430-0600 9585 12015 15290
0600-0800 9585 15130 15290 17675
0800-0830 9585 13680 15130 15290 17675 21475
0830-1400 13680 15130 21475
1400-1700 9435 11730 15410
1700-1900 11705 11845
1900-2000 6140 11960 11985
2000-2100 7165 9785 9835 11960 11985
2100-2300 7165 9835 11765 11970
2300-2400 11765 11970
(Observer-BUL Dec 18, 2002 via DXLD 2-199)
Hier schon wieder eine neue Tabelle fuer Radio Farda, den US
Propagandasender der IBB mit Pop mx Richtung Iran:
FA FRD FRD 0000 2400 KWT C 1593 005
FA FRD FRD 0000 2400 DHA B 1539 010
FA FRD FRD 0030 0600 BIB 04 9795 105
FA FRD FRD 0030 0400 MOR 01 9585 075
FA FRD FRD 0030 0400 BIB 03 9515 085
FA FRD FRD 0400 0830 KAV 04 15290 095
FA FRD FRD 0400 0600 KAV 02 12015 112
FA FRD FRD 0400 0830 LAM 06 9585 096
FA FRD FRD 0600 0730 KAV 02 17675 100
FA FRD FRD 0730 0830 MOR 01 17675 075
FA FRD FRD 0800 1400 IRA 06 21475 299
FA FRD FRD 0800 1400 KAV 01 13680 100
FA FRD FRD 1400 1700 WOF 04 15410 105
FA FRD FRD 1400 1700 LAM 03 13680 108
FA FRD FRD 1700 1800 IRA 01 11845 315
FA FRD FRD 1700 1900 LAM 02 11705 108
FA FRD FRD 1800 1900 IRA 01 11845 324
FA FRD FRD 1900 2130 BIB 06 11985 105
FA FRD FRD 1900 2000 KAV 08 11960 095
FA FRD FRD 1900 2000 DUS 07 6140 264
FA FRD FRD 2000 2130 UDO 07 11960 300
FA FRD FRD 2000 2130 UDO 03 9785 300
FA FRD FRD 2100 2400 KAV 08 11970 100
FA FRD FRD 2100 2400 IRA 04 11765 324
(W.Büschel-D Dez 19, 2002 in A-DX)
Voice of the Struggle of Iranian Kurdistan
see 'breaking news'
...............................................................
Schedules - LEBANON
Voice of Reform
Re V. of Reform, 7590: "probably within the WRN bouqet, or elsewhere?"
No bouquet, but an own, digital downlink: HOTBIRD 13 E - 11.096 GHz H,
MPEG2, Symbol rate: 27500, FEC 3/4, Audio PID: 74. 73s,
(B.Trutenau-LTU Dec 14, 2002 in DXLD 2-197)
...............................................................
Schedules - SAUDI ARABIA
Voice of Reform
"In an effort to overcome the current jamming, the following frequency
shift and extended transmission is applicable starting Sunday Dec.22;
9930 *1830-2130* ex 7590 *1900-2100" end.
The above is Vo al-Islah translation of announcement ...Developing
(M.Fathi-D Dec 21, 2002 in CDX-ML).
------------xxxxxxxxxx Logs xxxxxxxxxx-------------------------
Logs - AFGHANISTAN
Radio Free Afghanistan
6010 GERMANY, RF Afgan-Wertachtal, at 0428 in Dari. ME vocals. Fair-Good.
M.Bryant-USA Dec 17, 2002 in SW-Dxing-ML)
Azadi R Afghanistan 11740 ? with reports in Dari and western pop song at
1745 and anti communist talks /reports and phone-ins. At 1805 talks on
Mojaheds and radio Kommunist Iran. Sinal level is S9+10 to 20 with very
low jamming
(Z.Liangas-GRC Dec 17, 2002 for CRW)
12140 R Azadi ..Afganistan, talks by OM in Dari, 1815 with ID, then talks
for at least 5 minutes. I stopped listening due to low signal: 24232 or
S3
(Z.Liangas-GRC Dec 17, 2002 for CRW)
...............................................................
Logs - CHINA
Star Star BC Station
8300 New Star BC Stn 1400-1416 DEC 24. S/on routine with YL ancr and some
traditional CH mx, then to the numbers at 1404. Xmsn ended at about 1416,
but the carrier stayed on. Same sequence at 1500. Checked their former
freqs but no parallels found.
(J.Wilkins-CO-USA Dec 24, 2002 in DXplorer-ML)
Re 8300 New Star BC Stn : at +1411-1416+ (Dec 25) on 8300 kHz 34333 (C in
LSB) W CH dictating (numbers?) // 9725 just barely audib. Weak. Heavy
spltr -RUS/Russ, moderate +ARS.
(V.G.Titarev-UKR Dec 25, 2002 in DXplorer-ML)
I notice some message for you. New Star Broadcasting Station is going to
equip with spare new antenna and transmitter, so all number message from
Taiwan is ceased. 11430, 8300, 9725, 15388, 13750 remains silent for
months
(Miller Liu-TWN Dec 28, 2002 in DXLD 2-204)
Voice of Tibet
Voice of Tibet via Uzbekistan, 1430 UT is still on 11975, not 12025 as
Observer stated. Shortly after start of program, Chinese musicjammer
(S.Domen-BEL Dec 14, 2002 in DXLD 2-197)
15645, Voice of Tibet *1215-1242 12/19. Intro music and ID. Several
recorded speeches, brief musical bits between items with female
announcer. Good reception with NO Chinese jammer for once (!), tho CBS,
Taipei was audible underneath. Began to rapidly fade at 1238, gone by
1242
(S.R.Barbour Jr-NH-USA Dec 19, 2002 in DXLD 2-200)
Voice of Tibet 15645 *1215-1242 12/19. Finally some audio without the
Chinese jammer! Intro music and female with ID. Male and female with
talk; several recorded talks noted. F/out by 1242. Good over co-channel
CBS,Taipei. No // noted.
(S.R.Barbour Jr.-NH-USA Dec 19, 2002 for CRW)
...............................................................
Logs - CUBA
La Voz de la Junta Patriotica Cubana
9955 WRMI 1105 still enjoying above-jammer reception of the Cuban
clandestines
via WRMI. Long Spanish talk about Cuban by man, sounded like the Junta
Patriotica Cubana program. Ended at 1124 with address, telephone, and fax
numbers. Filler music till 1129 then start of Entre Cubanos program, but
(P) as jamming had gotten
worse by this time and I heard no clear ID. Latest WRMI schedule, dated
Dec 15, shows: 1100-1130 La Voz de la Junta Patriotica Cubana (español)
1130-1230 Entre Cubanos (español) Both are Mon/Wed/Fri
(H.Johnson-TX-USA Dec 20, 2002 in CDX-ML)
Radio Marti
U.S.A. DELANO RADIO MARTI RELAY 7.365 kHz, 0115 GMT SS 333 Dec 23rd OM
ancr plus the Cuban bubble jammer
(S.MacKenzie-USA Dec 23, 2002 in HCDX)
...............................................................
Log - EASTERN EUROPE
Radio Liberty
7105 GREECE, R Lib-Kavala, at 0324 in Arabic. OM w/ nx. Good.
(M.Bryant-USA Dec 17, 2002 in SWDxing-ML)
7115 MOROCCO, R Lib-Briech, at 0448 in Arabic. OM over ME mx. Good.
(M.Bryant-USA Dec 17, 2002 in SWDxing-ML)
7120 GERMANY, R Lib-Lamertheim, at 0327 in Armenian. YL interview. Gd.
(M.Bryant-USA Dec 17, 2002 in SWDxing-ML)
7175 MOROCCO, RL-Briech, at 0337 in Arabic. Splatter from VoR on 7180.
(M.Bryant-USA Dec 17, 2002 in SWDxing-ML)
7255 GERMANY, R Lib-Holzkirchen, at 0350 in Russian. Good. Botswana
underneath.
(M.Bryant-USA Dec 17, 2002 in SWDxing-ML)
7275 GERMANY, R Lib-Lampertheim, at 0310 in C As lang. YL & OM nx. Fair.
(M.Bryant-USA Dec 17, 2002 in SWDxing-ML)
7220 GERMANY, R Lib-Lampertheim, at 0459 in Russian. Christmas carols.
Good.
(M.Bryant-USA Dec 25, 2002 in SWDxing-ML)
7245 GERMANY, R Lib-Lampertheim, at 0412 in Ukrainian. OM w/ nx item abt
Ukraine. Good.
(M.Bryant-USA Dec 25, 2002 in SWDxing-ML)
...............................................................
Logs - ETHIOPIA
Radio Solidarity
R. Solidarity (p) *1600-1629*. Opening anmt in lang, talks by YL to 1609,
then exotic HoA vocal, foll. by more talk. Closing anmts at 1627 included
a Washington, DC PO Box number.
(J.Wilkins-USA Dec 18, 2002 in CDX-ML)
Voice of Oromo Liberation
Voice of Oromo Liberation 15670 1749-1758 12/25. Ahmaric music and talks.
Phone interview. Music at 1758, crushed by 15665 WYFR s/on. Fair
(S.R.Barbour Jr.-NH-USA Dec 25, 2002 for CRW)
...............................................................
Logs - GEORGIA
Voice of Abkhazia
9489.4 R Abkhazia 1454 with Russian opera, talks by OM in Russian, ID at
1457 "... Abkhaz R" by YL followed by slow music " i will always love you
'. vacant carrier for abt 1 min then sign off. Signal ^-7 with carrier on
9490.0
(Z.Liangas-GRC Dec 17, 2002 for CRW)
...............................................................
Logs - IRAN
Radio Barabari
R Barabari 1705, YL reading a statement in farsi, 1717 a discussion
./intervieww with topics on Iran and Islam. Jammer at 1720 completely
wiping out Barabari. Not sure if Barabari used another transmitter at
7460 at1730 as a low level signal (S3 or 24242) has been heard with a YL
with talks in farsi speaking on Balucchistan and a possible ID with Azadi
has been heard. At 1740 this frequency has been jammed with the same
jammer (7470 is now clear)
(Z.Liangas-GRC Dec 17, 2002 for CRW)
Radio Barabari 7470 1714-1731* 12/18. Male and female w/ Persian music
and talks. ID and web address at 1721. Interview, music and ID at s/off.
Good.
(S.R.Barbour Jr.-NH-USA Dec 18, 2002 for CRW)
7470, Radio Barobari via Lithuania, 1728-1732* Dec 23, caught closing
discussion by a man and woman in Persian followed by ID at closedown at
1731. Carrier cut at 1732. Poor.
(R.D'Angelo-PA-USA Dec 23, 2002 in DXplorer-ML)
Radio Farda
15410 (S9+20,44444)// 11730(S9+10,42332) R Farda 1520 with Farsi songs
//Worldnet satellite sub-ch #17 or 18 . ID at after every song. Also on
9785 at 2020 with signal S6 with 2 secs of delay from the satellite link
on Hotbird Worldnet subchannel 19 or 20
(Z.Liangas-GRC Dec 17, 2002 for CRW)
R. Farda: On Medium Wave it is on 1593 kHz from Kuwait with a power of
150 kW. I would be interested in any reports on this particular frequency
because I just spent three months in Kuwait installing that transmitter
(smile). It is an old Continental 318.5D series working into a two tower
1/4 wavelength array. The transmitter in Kuwait is using an Orban Digital
Optimod limiter/processor. There is another medium wave transmitter with
only 60 kW on 1539 (I think) at Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates
(G.Johnson-?, Dec 18, 2002 in dxing.info via DXLD 2-203)
Gaines, This transmitter on 1593 kHz has even been heard in North
America. We heard this from the coast of Newfoundland on November 5th and
6th during a DXpedition. The signal was fairly strong but it was getting
chewed up by interference from Romania, Ireland and Egypt. It was
interesting that the MW signal was a couple of seconds ahead of the
parallel programming on 9680 kHz.
(J.Burnell-NS-CAN Dec 20, 2002 in dxing.info via DXLD 2-203)
Radio Farda began the transmissions on MW 1593 from a 150 kW transmitter
located in Kuwait. Heard at 0310 on 19th December with a programme of
popular music in Farsi and in English. IDs "....Radio Farda".
(R.Petraitis-LTU Dec 19, 2002 for CRW)
On 1593 kHz I have heard a station wich I cannot Identify. I hope that
one of you out there can help to Identify, the station name sounded like
Radio Pada, they we're mentioning also their webpage, but I did not
understood everything alas enough. They we're playing Top 40 Hitsmost of
the time.
(R.Vos-HOL Dec 20, 2002 in HCDX)
Unidentified station on 1593 kHz : I am listening to 1593 kHz via a
remote receiver in Malmö [Sweden] - Time is 0200utc - Who is the station
which runs pops and has an ID of Radio Fadar or Radio Fador - I have an
MP3 file if anyone wants to listen to it
(T.Magon-AUS Dec 20, 2002 in MWDX-ML)
Thanks to everyone who responded - I managed to find the info on google
about an hour after I sent the post - This station i think has been on
the air for a few weeks just running pops but no ID and was very
surprised to find it now IDing just about after every song and of course
on the hour and then the news flashes.
(T.Magon-AUS Dec 21, 2002 in MWDX-ML)
1640 UTC on 15410 Radio Farda-- ID at 1645 (sounds like Radio Fardo) and
Washington DC QTH. Mid-east and US pop music. QRM from Deutsche Welle
sign-on at 1658. Off abruptly at 1700.
(J.Dybka-TN-USA Dec 22, 2002 in CDX-ML)
Radio Farda: I asked about the 7165 and 9835 frequencies, beaming the
former Radio Azadi to Europe. Done; they were cancelled, confirmed on Dec
20 check. Re the frequency lists, I understand that VOA Farsi will
continue. Otherwise it appears that the FRD outlets replace the RFE
circuit 12 transmissions completely since they contain most of the former
RFE Farsi (Radio Azadi) frequencies
(K.Ludwig-D Dec 22, 2002 in DXLD 2-201)
Radio Farda has attracted a bubble jammer - noted on 13680 [KAV] c0830.
The 21475 [IRA] outlet seemed unaffected.
(N.R.Green-G Dec 24, 2002 in CDX-ML)
Radio Farda (Radio Tomorrow) broadcasting in Farsi to Iran puts in a good
signal here in Ontario at 1400 s/on on 15410 kHz. Site is unknown.
Parallel 13680 fair. Lots of IDs, which sound like "Far-dough". Also lots
of popular Iranian music. This joint VOA-RFE/RL venture began
broadcasting in early December.
(H.Sellers-ON-CAN Dec 24, 2002 in ODXA-ML)
Another note on Radio Farda: The RFE/RL tape loop after a Radio Farda
transmission heard by Glenn as well as the use of a RFE/RL server for the
audio stream http://www.rferl.org/realaudio/c21.ram seems to indicate
that the console stands at Prague, so to speak, i.e. it appears that the
output originates from the RFE/RL radiohouse, unlike Radio Sawa
(K.Ludwig-D Dec 23, 2002 in DXLD 2-202)
15410 R Farda 1413 ID by YL showing also sats relayed and giving weg
adress at radiofarda.org . Persian pop songs ID at every 2 songs 1430
with talks (news) . Good signal 43443 to 42442
(Z.Liangas-GRC Dec 26, 2002 in GRDXC-ML)
Having looked, in presumably all the wrong places, to find information on
a station which transmits on 21475kHz and ID's itself as Radio Fardo*, I
am at a loss to confirm a logging. Does anybody have any info on this
station please. *(? presumed spelling of Fardo) Generally the station
plays mixed "pop" music etc... and ID's regularly. The language being
Spanish or Portuguese in nature??? I am located on the Island of Guernsey
and receive the station (sio: 454) at around 11.00 - 13.00 utc, (although
these are not sign-on/off times).
(Robin-I (?) Dec 28, 2002 in BCL-News-ML)
"USA." 11845, R. Farda (via Iranawila per IBB sked), 1843-1858* Dec 28,
pop mx, IDs, fairly good signal with some flutter, and was surprised it
is Sri Lanka xmtr; off abruptly.
(J.Berg-MA-USA Dec 28, 2002 in DXplorer-ML)
21475 kHz, 1110 44444 CLN R Farda via Iraniwila 2812 Farsi ws+mx
(H.-F.Dumrese-D Dec 28, 2002 in A-DX)
I have been hearing Radio Farda on 12015 and 15290 kHz at 0400 and on
17675 at 0730, all via Kavala at good level. Radio Farda now has a
website up and running at www.radiofarda.com By going to their home page
and clicking on #10 you will then get their schedule. By going to
www.monitor.ibb.gov and clicking on language you will then be able to
determine which site each broadcast is from by checking times against
Farsi broadcasts. Radio Farda have advised that they will e-mail
verifications for reports sent to comments@radiofarda.com
(I.Cattermole-NZL Dec 29, 2002 in CDX-ML)
Just a quick list of the Radio Farda tranmissions audible here in South
Wales today:-
Freq UTC Transmitter Location SIO
9585 0030 Radio Farda, Briech, Morocco. 343
9515 0040 Radio Farda, Biblis, Germany. 131
9795 0050 Radio Farda, Lamperheim, Germany. 141
17675 0720 Radio Farda, Kavala, Greece. 151
17675 0730 Radio Farda, Briech, Morocco. 253
15290 0745 Radio Farda, Kavala, Greece. 243
9585 0748 Radio Farda, Lamperheim, Germany. 333
21475 0800 Radio Farda, Irana Wila, Sri Lanka. 333
13680 0805 Radio Farda, Kavala, Greece. 242
13680 1450 Radio Farda, Lamperheim, Germany. 243
15410 1455 Radio Farda, Woofferton, UK. 232
9435 1515 Radio Farda, Kavala, Greece. 131
11845 1700 Radio Farda, Irana Wila, Sri Lanka. 343
11985 1903 Radio Farda, Lamperheim, Germany. 343
11960 1906 Radio Farda, Kavala, Greece. 142
9785 2010 Radio Farda, Udon Thani, Thailand. 131
(G.Powell-G Dec 29, 2002 in HCDX)
11705 1710 R. FARDA - LAMPERTHEIM MX DISCO ID QRG WEB FARSI 45343
11845 1710 R. FARDA - IRANA WILA MX DISCO ID QRG WEB FARSI 45434
(R.Scaglione-I Dec 30, 2002 in HCDX-ML)
Radio International
7490 R International 1755 with song then canned ID , a speech by OM qbout
communism then a song of Phil Collins sung by YL . Signal S5 on 7100
43434 with litle jammer under signal
(Z.Liangas-GRC Dec 22, 2002 in GRDXC-ML)
Radio Payam E Doost
7460 R Payam E Doost [news from friend/of friendship] 1759 with music,
and YL IDing "sedaye Payam E Dost' then talks by same YL 1803 with pop
song interrupted by YL and nice slow music in between talks. At 1823 with
a Rajasatani pop. takls about and with doctor Inholi
/Tirondol.Programming seemd as a religious ttype. Also web page
(bahairadio.net) coincides with my opinion as a religious radio station
Poor signal 22432 suffered by 7490
(Z.Liangas-GRC Dec 17, 2002 for CRW)
Voice of Iran
11575 Radio Sedaye Iran 1635-1640 continuous slow talks on Farsi by OM
about Mojahed, Azadi, Talebans, Hamenei, Rafgsanjani. At 1659 with ID
'Azadi Radio Sedaye Iran' Program continues and after 1700 Clear signal
with S9+10 db
(Z.Liangas-GRC Dec 17, 2002 for CRW)
11575 Sedeye Iran (p) Farsi with news by man, ID at 1709. Nice signal no
jamming, detected.
(H.Johnson-USA Javaradio Sweden Dec 18, 2002 in CDX)
11575 kHz, Radio Sedaye Iran; 1708-1725 Dec. 21, presumed the one with
nonstop talk by two M in Farsi. Clear and fair. Is this via Bulgaria?
(T.Krueger-FL-USA Dec 21, 2002 in HCDX)
Radio Sedaye Iran 11575 1806-1815 12/25. Male w/ talk in Persian. Intro
music and telephone sounds; phone interview. “Radio Sedaye Iran”
mentioned during talk. Very good
(S.R.Barbour Jr.-NH-USA Dec 25, 2002 for CRW)
11575 1640 VOICE OF IRAN - ISSOUDUN TALK OM FARSI 55555
(R.Scaglione-I Dec 30, 2002 in HCDX-ML)
Voice of Mojahed
7070 V of Mujahed 1732 YL with talks in Farsi about Sharia ,Bush and
Islam etc. Signal level S9 though full of QRM //5650v -5670v
(Z.Liangas-GRC Dec 15, 2002 for CRW)
Vanmorgen gehoord, 28 December: 5650, Voice of the Mojahed (presumed),
local music, male about Iraq, Iran but signal drowned by heavy jamming
and hopping to 5640 (0431), 5630 (0433), 5650 (0434), 5630 (0435), 5640
(0437), 5630 (0440), 5650 (0441), 5620 (0443) etcetera.
(P.Pijpers-HOL Dec 28, 2002 in Benelux DX Club-ML via DXLD 2-205)
Voice of the Communist Party of Iran
Voice of the Communist Party of Iran heard on Dec. 14th at 1737 UTC on a
frequency drifting between 3880,5 and 3881 kHz with many mentionings of
Iran and an ID at 1800 UTC "Sedaye Hezbe Komunisti Irana"
(P.Robic-AUT Dec 14, 2002 for CRW)
...............................................................
Logs - IRAQ
Commando Solo (?)
9715 kHz now [1503 UTC ] blocked by DW in Russian (I think)... Before it
signed on, however, I caught a fluttery signal with popular-style Arabic
music and two male announcers. Might not be Information Radio, however,
since it was audible in both USB and LSB. Had a good signal though and
would be worth checking. Nothing yet on 11292 kHz...
(N.Grace-USA via Javaradio.net Malmö/Copenhagen Dec 17, 2002 for CRW)
Al momento (1505 UTC) nel sud Italia è già presente una sorta di segnale
su 11292 kHz ma assolutamente incomprensibile. Aspettiamo ancora qualche
ora e speriamo di ascoltare meglio. (CRW 122 Extra - TNX Nick Grace)
(R.Scaglione-I Dec 17, 2002 in BCL-News-ML)
Nothing yet; no music. Just some utility station on 11291 kHz USB.
T.Hirayama heard nothing also and went to sleep finally. We were
listening to Tashkent on 9715 kHz before DW Russian's 1500 s/on. My guess
is that this is currently MW-only. It is aimed at southern Iraq and not
the entire country.
(N.Grace-USA via Javaradio.net Malmö/Copenhagen Dec 17, 2002 for CRW)
I am just [1759 UTC ? -CRW] listening to very weak music on 11292 kHz ...
(M.Ritola-FIN Dec 17, 2002 for CRW)
11292 1846 CLANDESTINE Commando Solo psyops to Iraq presumed the weak
signal with ME mx here, barely readable in USB mode. Thanks to Nick
Grace, CRW for the tip.
(P.Ormandy-NZL Dec 17, 2002 in HCDX)
11292U checking at 1505 on a javaradio in Europe, nothing, anyone hearing
it?
(H.Johnson-USA Dec 18, 2002 in CDX-ML)
Wasn't Information Radio on 8700U via Command Solo much easier to hear
than this? Javaradio in Sweden can't match Mauno's setup, still no joy at
1715 on 11292.
(H.Johnson-USA Javaradio Sweden Dec 18, 2002 in CDX-ML)
Information Radio in Arabic heard on 9715 at 1741 while a female voice
reading a 3 minuets commentary followed by ID 1752 "Antom tastameon eli
masdar ma'lomatikum, Izaa't Radio al-Ma'lomat" .SINPO/33232 c/o channel ?
Tashkent
(M.Fathi-D Dec 18, 2002 in CDX-ML)
Information Radio Very strong here Dec 18 at 1930 on 9715U with music,
id's and infos. Nothing on 11292.
(J.Savolainen-FIN Dec 18, 2002 in CDX-ML)
Translation of ID, "You are listening to your information source,
Information Radio."
(H.Johnson-USA Dec 18, 2002 in CDX-ML)
I'm monitoring 11292 USB from Milano but nothing, as yesterday afternoon.
Only some usb civil air messages on 11291 kHz giving some splatter.
(G.Bernardini-I Dec 18, 2002 in CDX-ML)
Re: Information Radio - Yes, a very faint DSB signal with Arab music at
1530, a bit better than yesterday.
(M.Ritola-FIN Dec 18, 2002 in CDX-ML)
Information Radio, the American military propaganda radio that we heard
on 8700 kHz in Afhanistan, is now broadcasting on 9715. I heard it from
from 19.45 to 20.00 yesterday 18 December 2002 in Arabic with poor to
very good signal. Better in USB. At 20.00 disappeared and I could hear DW
in Russian. I heard arabic songs, talks about America, UN, and the
"Rais", an announcement at 19.58, then song till the end.
(G.Bernardini-I Dec 18, 2002 in HCDX)
Indeed it is [broadcasting], and we made a recording in Hilversum at 1635
UTC yesterday. You can hear a 3 minute Real Audio file by clicking on the
link at http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/html/medianews.html
The same audio file is also available www.clandestineradio.com , with whom
we
work closely. The UK media have picked up on this story. Nick Grace of
CRW was interviewed about it on this morning's edition of Up All Night on
BBC 5 Live.
(A.Sennitt-HOL Dec 18, 2002 in HCDX)
RE: 11292 There seems to be something wrong with the modulation on this
frequency. I hear a strong carrier on exactly 11292.00 [1525 UTC ?], but
only occasional snaches of very faint modulation, which does indeed sound
like Arabic music. With the hash from 400 computers and God knows how
many fluorescent light tubes, this place isn't electrically quiet enough
to hear anything intelligible.
(A.Sennit-HOL Dec 18, 2002 for CRW)
Just now 15:26/18.12 the Psyops are heard with good carrier but low
audio. Arabic? song is heard Signal extremely low S1 with 10 db preamp
and Noise blanking
(Z.Liangas-GRC Dec 18, 2002 for CRW)
Morning broadcast from Command Solo ? 9715 Information R, Command Solo,
Dec 27, 0625-0645, tentatively heard with Arabic ann and Arab songs.
22332 with sideband splashes.
(A.Petersen-DNK Dec 27, 2002 in DXplorer-ML)
Radio al-Mustaqbal
1575 kHz, 1440-1528* 16/12 KWT Radio al-Mustaqbal, Arabic, Arabic
traditional music, talk about Iraqi people and Saddam Hussein; heard
clear ID (shorter version): "Huna idha'atu al-Mustaqbal", sign-off 1528
23442
(R.Petraitis-LTU Dec 16, 2002 for CRW)
Twin Rivers Radio
Twin Rivers Radio heard on Dec. 14th, at 1831 UTC on 1566 kHz with SINPO
33333 with arab popmusic and many IDs "Idha´atu Wadi al Rafidayn"
(P.Robic-AUT Dec 14, 2002 for CRW)
Voice of Iraqi People
9570 V.O.Iraqi People Dec 11 1614-1617 23332 Arabic, Arabic music.
//9563.1kHz.
(Ko.Hashimoto-JPN Dec 11, 2002 in JAP 243)
...............................................................
Logs - ISRAEL
Voice of Palestine
7250 IRAN (p), VO PALESTINE-Kamalabad, at 0417 in Arabic. OM talking
Arabic amid heavy ARO QRM.
(M.Bryant-USA Dec 25, 2002 in SWDxing-ML)
...............................................................
Logs - KAZAKHSTAN
Dat Radio
9925 Dat Radio 1610 talk by man in Russian, with what sounded like a
quick ID at 1611.
(H.Johnson-USA via Javaradio Sweden Dec 12, 2002 in CDX-ML)
9925 R Dat 1615 OM with news in RR. Mentions on a professor, Problems on
Kazakhstan, Nazerbayev. ID as "govorit Radio Dat, svobodna radio dlja
svobodna Kazakhstana, shljushate radio Dat" giving freqs at 1630 and web
address www.datradio.com . and later with reference to Yeltzin. Signal abt
S5 On 18.12 with S9+10 and 33433
(Z.Liangas-GRC Dec 17, 2002 for CRW)
...............................................................
Logs - KOREA (SOUTH)
Voice of National Salvation
4450 V of Natl Salvation 1633 with a songs fro MN korea, man talks in KO,
mentioning possibly ID, lkHz, Corea. Signal level S4 max S6 22423 best on
narrowband or USB Also on 17 at 1520 with S4with talks and Korean operas
at 1520 (224x2)
(Z.Liangas-GRC Dec 15+17, 2002 for CRW)
...............................................................
Logs - KURDISTAN
Denge Mesopotamia / Voice of Mesopotamia
11530 Voice of Mesopotamia 1255 with tones, *1300 to local music. 1311
man and woman in chorus with ID. Then woman interviewing man.
(H.Johnson-TX-USA Dec 12, 2002 in CDX-ML)
Voice of Komala
Voice of Komala heard on Dec. 15th at 1700 UTC on 7560 kHz with the s/on
and and ID "Aira Dengi Kudilara, Aira Dengi Kudilara, Dengi Komala, Dengi
..., Dengi Azad u Barabari, Dengi ... Komunisti ... Kurdestana". SINPO:
44333
(P.Robic-AUT Dec 15, 2002 for CRW)
V of Komala/Mesopotamia 1700 English ID 'You are listening to the Voice
of Mesopotamia' follwing with Arabic and farsi ID over a background pop
music. Arabic type song at 1705 follwing with with kurdish? songs. Good
signal but sure to strong QRM better heard at +1.5 kHz
(Z.Liangas-GRC Dec 17, 2002 for CRW)
3902.94, 5.12 1830 Voice of Komala in Kurdish and with several IDs, spoke
a lot about "azadi" (which means freedom both in Persian and Kurdish),
Iran and Irak. Komala is as well the name of a former Iranian ?Kurdish
Communist Youth Movement, which helped setting up an independent Kurdish
republic in Mahabad in the northern
Iran in 1946. The republic was set up with The Red Army as the godfather
but existed only for a year before being slaughtered in a big political
deal with Russia and Great Britain. S3 BV
(B.Vestesen-DNK SW Bulletin Dec 15, 2002 translated by T.Nilsson for DXLD
2-199)
Voice of the People of Kurdistan
4024.65 V.O.People of Kurdistan Dec 12 1611-1616 22432 Kurdish, News. and
talk. ID at 1612.
(Ko.Hashimoto-JPN Dec 12, 2002 in JAP 243)
1206.0 2015-2030 19th Dec., Voice of the People of Kurdistan,
Sulaymaniyah, ID, polit. commentaries in Kurdish //4025,4400 23422
(R.Petraitis-LTU Dec 19, 2002 for CRW)
...............................................................
Logs - LEBANON
Voice of Freedom
11515 Voice of Free Lebanon (t) 1631 Arabic music, but heavy jamming and
a weak signal left no chance for an ID.
(H.Johnson-USA via Javaradio Sweden Dec 12, 2002 in CDX-ML)
11515 kHz, 1615 VOICE OF FREEDOM - SAMARA MX TIPICA A 45544
(R.Scaglione-I Dec 16, 2002 in HCDX)
11515 Sawt Al Huriah 1612 with ID "Sawt Al HUriah'- Idaatu Lebanon Radio
Tayyar ' then with songs. Full ID again on 1631 with email address
radio@tayyar.org
(Z.Liangas-GRC Dec 17, 2002 for CRW)
11515, Voice of Freedom/Free Patriotic Movement of Lebanon (Sawt Lubnan
Al-Houriya), *1600-1700* Dec.21 Sign-on with Patriotic anthem, with
opening announcements by one announcer. This was followed another
announcer with (speech) references to Syris/Arafat and the Middle-east.
Variety Program of Middle eastern vocals was played ranging from
patrolic-style to up-beat. Gave web site information as www.tayyar.org .
Noted to sign-off with closing announcements, possible ID, gave this
address radio@tayyar.org and off with closing melody (no anthem) Signal
was quite good at times(s3-s7) but audio was quite unstable and choppy
due to distinctive polar flutter.
(E.Kusalik-CAN Dec 21, 2002 in DXplorer-ML)
According to their web site, Clandestine Voice of Liberty (FPM) testing
period has ended on Dec. 22nd. Programs are scheduled to restart on the
6th of January 2003.
Off air today Dec.23ed., I heard *1600-1700* on 11515 an hour of Chinese
music!
(M.Fathi-D Dec 23, 2002 in CDX-ML)
11515 V.O.Free Lebanon Dec 21 *1600-1621 34222 Arabic, 1600 s/on with
national anthem of Lebanon. Talk by man. music. ID at 1613.
(Ko.Hashimoto-JPN Dec 21, 2002 in JAP 244)
...............................................................
Logs - MIDDLE EAST
Radio Sawa
Re : Radio Sawa (schedule) on (Eutelsat Hotbird 3 and News Skies
Satellites 703)
Recently I have put a satelitte antenna, and I found this 4 channel
network in double in the Hotbird. I notice that the quality however as
sent is not CD quality stereo, just a usual FM audio station ... But it
has nice music.
(Z.Liangas-GRC Dec 16, 2002 for CRW)
...............................................................
Logs - MOLDOVA
Radio Pridnestrovye
5960 kHz, 1700 44444 MDA R Pridnestrovye E s/on, nx 2512 -nur mi-
(H.-F.Dumrese-D Dec 28, 2002 in A-DX)
...............................................................
Logs - MYANMAR
Democratic Voice of Burma
9435, Voice of Democratic Burma, 12/13 Dec. Signed on at 2326, broadcast
ended at 0028, carrier cut at 0030. In Burmese, according to DTK
operating schedule. SIO=454 until the midnight, slight sideband QRM by
WSHB (9430 kHz) noted after 0000.
(V.Doroshenko-UKR Dec 13, 2002 in DX Signal 84)
...............................................................
Logs - SAUDI ARABIA
Voice of Reform
Sawt al Islah (tent.) heard on Dec. 11th at 1858 UTC on 7590 kHz with a
sign on and a male voice speaking. No ID heard. There were a lots of
breaks in the programme when only the carrier signal was audible.
(P.Robic-AUT Dec 11, 2002 for CRW)
7590 V.O.Reform Dec 11 *1858-1940 33333 Arabic.1858 talk by man. ID at
1858.
(Ko.Hashimoto-JPN Dec 11, 2002 in JAP 243)
7590 Al Islah / MIRA 1913 checked with Al islah satellite feed and
program is totally in parallel. MAn with continuous talks in Arabic. Many
audio problems over the HF air as well in the satellite with HF gaining
in 'fidelity' over satellite. Signal level S9+20
(Z.Liangas-GRC Dec 17, 2002 for CRW)
7590 Radio Al-Islah (P) *1859 with jamming already in progress. Started
suddenly with audio difficult to understand and frequent breaks. All in
Arabic, but nothing sounding like an ID or opening sequence.
(H.Johnson-USA via Javaradio Sweden Dec 18, 2002 in CDX)
7590, Voice of Reform, Dec 9, 10, 15, 16, *1900-2100*. On Dec 9, 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. Sa`udi Arabia was mentioned. 44544. Already slightly jammed by
Sa`udi Arabia from Dec 10. It ceases at 2102*. On Dec 15 the broadcast
opened already at 1858 with Arabic talk, Arab songs, the Saudi Arabian
jammer was on already at 1854. The program is all talking. No IDs heard
(A.Petersen-DNK DSWCI DX Window Dec 18, 2002 via DXLD 2-199)
Sawt-Al-Islah 7590 1905-1912 12/18. Male w/ talk in Arabic. As others
have reported; periods of silence, breaks in audio. RTTY interference.
Poor
(S.R.Barbour Jr.-NH-USA Dec 18, 2002 for CRW)
I also heard the same station (Voice of Reform) Dec 21 on new 9930 at
1833-1857* and again at *2058:53-2127:00*. The same man continued talking
in Arabic on the usual 7590 at *1858:50-2058*, so it is rather obvious
that the same transmitter is used, just switching between these two
frequencies.
(A.Petersen-DNK Dec 21, 2002 in HCDX)
Sawt al Islah noted on the new channel of 9930 (9929.96m)kHz at 1854 with
a much stronger signal than on 7590, though the bubble jammer has
followed them. Still has audio breaks.
(P.Ormandy-NZL Dec 23, 2002 in HCDX)
9930 Al Islah 1950 man with continuous talks with flattery continiung
after 2000 . Possible ID before 2000 . Signal very good (44444 ) with
many audio line problems (audio breaks) Previous night on 2130 I have
heard VoiRI in arabic, therefore i can suspect Iran is relaying it.
(Z.Liangas-GRC Dec 23-24, 2002 in GRDXC-ML)
Islah on New Freq ? Checking 9930 and 7590 from 1843 to 1902, untraced on
both channels. Did hear a bubble jammer on 9930. Checked their website
which mentions 9925, but nothing I could hear there either. Anyone
hearing them?
(H.Johnson-USA via Javaradio Sweden Dec 30, 2002 in CDX-ML)
Voice of Al Islah presumed the one on 9925 1955 check, continuous talk
apart from occasional audio breaks, good signal with bubble jamming way
underneath.
(M.Barraclough-G Dec 31, 2002 in CDX-ML)
9925 here at 2021 is blocked by bubble jammer, Al-Islah audible at 30% or
so...
(P.Ormandy-NZL Dec 31, 2002 in CDX-ML)
I live in Buenos Aires, Argentine. I head a UNID station at 2035+ on this
frequency with very jamming. Only with the Icom IC-R75's Twin PBT I can
hear the station.Thanks for the tip Mike!
(A.Slaen-ARG Dec 31, 2002 in CDX-ML)
...............................................................
Logs - SRI LANKA
IBC Tamil
7460 kHz, 0035 IBC TAMIL - NOVOSIBIRSK MX TIPICA TALK OM+YL TAMIL 23422
(R.Scaglione-I Dec 17, 2002 in BCL-News-ML)
...............................................................
Logs - SYRIA
The Arabic Radio
7470 Arabic Radio 1605 with ID in Arabic and then comment on Syria.
Strong signal but bubble jammer starting up at 1609.
(H.Johnson-TX-USA Dec 12, 2002 in CDX-ML)
7470 //12015 R ... YL with talks on start of the program, OM with Quranic
verses 1610 Arabic song 1620 talks with references to community
(serikat). Signals 7470 on S9 //12085 delayed 15 secs with no signal...
(Z.Liangas-GRC Dec 17, 2002 for CRW)
...............................................................
Logs - ZIMBABWE
Voice of the People
7120 Voice of the People 0328 open carrier. Clear channel today and a
better signal. Short tone at 0329, then return to dead air. 0330 man with
ID's in English as well as postal and email addresses. Interview with a
musician, it may have been Thomas Mapfumo, and playing of Zimbabwean
music. This program was also in English, a bit of a blessing since when I
have listened in the past they were broadcasting mostly in vernaculars.
Interview continued through 0400, when I tuned out.
(H.Johnson-TX-USA Dec 29?, 2002 in CDX-ML
------------xxxxxxxxxx QSL Verifications xxxxxxxxxx------------
Qsl's - AFGHANISTAN
Information R
Information R. 8700kHz, QSL card & Stacker of 193rd Special Operations
Wing in 319 days. Report sent to Pennsylvania Air National Guard,
Headquarters, 193rd Special Operations Wing, 81 Constellation Court,
Middletown, PA 17057-5086, USA.
(K.Hashimoto-JPN Dec 6, 2002 for CRW)
...............................................................
Qsl's - CHINA
World Falun Dafa Radio
The official address is:
World Falun Dafa Radio, PO Box 93436, City of Industry, CA, 91715, USA
(WFDR via F.Carnevalini-I Dec 12, 2002 for CRW)
...............................................................
Qsl's - IRAQ
Voice of Islamic Revolution in Iraq
7105, Voice of Islamic Revolution in Iraq, postal reception report to 27a
Old Gloucester Street in London address returned "Not Known At This
Address." Earlier, an e-mail report bounced.
(R.D'Angelo-PA-USA Dec 28, 2002 in DXplorer-ML)
...............................................................
Qsl's - KAZAKHSTAN
Strange Fate of Radio Dat Reception Report
The fate of my Radio Dat reception report might be of interest in your
QSL section:
Radio Dat 9775 via ???. This one is rather strange. Others have reported
their letters being returned by the Belgian Post Office. Mine met a
different, but equally disappointing, fate. Somehow my report ended up in
the office of the Secretary General of the Brussels-Capital Region. They
returned my money and other enclosures.
(W.Craighead-KS-USA Dec 27 for CRW)
...............................................................
Qsl's - KOREA (SOUTH)
Voice of National Salvation
As I promised I have tried to make scanned copies of a letter and a
"QSL-card" (so they say, but it is a program schedule) from Voice of
National Salvation. I heard it on 4450 kHz.
The address used was: National Democratic Front of South Korea, Grenier
Osawa 107, 40 Nando-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
(B.Fransson-S Dec 20, 2002 for CRW)
...............................................................
Qsl's - LAOS
Hmong Lao Radio
Heute kam auch mein Brief an ULMD/Hmong Lao Radio (Box 2426, St. Paul, MN
55106) zurück. Auf dem Brief findet sich allerdings ein Hinweis "try St.
Paul MN 55102-1139". Ich weiß allerdings nicht, ob das nur ein Hinweis
für einen POstbeamten ist, und der Brief schon dort war. Ich werde es auf
jeden Fall noch einmal mit diesem ZIP Code versuchen.
(P.Robic-AUT Dec 16, 2002 for CRW)
...............................................................
Qsl's - LEBANON
Voice of Free Lebanon
Voice of Free Lebanon 11515 kHz, Full data e-mail QSL (HTML format) in 4
days. Report sent to radio@tayyar.org According to this QSL, Station name
is Voice of Free Lebanon
(K.Hashimoto-JPN Dec 6, 2002 for CRW)
11515, Voice of Free Lebanon (the Free Patriotic Movement of Lebanon
station) verified an e-mail report with a full data e-mail reply
featuring a green background in 1 day from radio@tayyar.org address.
(R.D'Angelo-PA-USA Dec 21, 2002 in DXplorer-ML)
...............................................................
Qsl's - MIDDLE EAST
Radio Sawa
MOROCCO 7255, Radio Sawa verified an e-mail follow-up report to
comments@radiosawa.com with an e-mail reply in one day indicating they
still do not have QSL cards "so please accept this email as a
confirmation of your reception report below."
(R.D'Angelo-PA-USA Dec 28, 2002 in DXplorer-ML)
7195 - R. Sawa (Serviço em árabe da VOA), Woofferton - 1 dia. Recebido
e-QSL confirmando minha escuta em 24 horas. A R. Sawa transmite em Arabe
as 2000 UTC em 7195 kHz e nomomento não possui cartões QSL
(C.Gomes de Faria-MG-B Dez 2002 in Atividade DX 128)
...............................................................
Qsl's - SAUDI ARABIA
Voice of Reform
7590, R. Alisalah (Sawt-al-Islah), arnd 1915-1945, rcpn quite good and
prgmng in AR. I sent them an E-mail rpt and rcvd a very prompt
verification but with no xmtr site details as I had requested. E-mail
address is info@islah.org
(I.Cattermole-NZ, NZRDXL via H.Johnson-USA Dec 15, 2002 in DXplorer-ML)
...............................................................
Qsl's - SOMALIA
Radio Hargeisa
Radio Hargeisa, 7530 kHz in 3 weeks. Letter, including 1 USD, sent to
addres in Germany: Konsularishe Vertretung Somaliland, DJ6SI, Baldur
Drobnica, Zedernweg 6, D-50127 Bergheim, Germany. Letter poststamped in
Czech Republic.
(C.Olsson-S Dec 26, 2002 in CDX-ML)
...............................................................
Qsl's - SYRIA
The Arabic Radio
9950, Sout al Watan, Voice of Homeland (Cf. DX-Window No. 207), QTH:
Bashir Kyle, P. O. Box 7897, Oslo, Oslo 01673, Norway. E-mail:
bkyle@post.com which I tried, but it was incorrect
(M.Ishii-J DSWCI DX Window Dec 18, 2002 via DXLD 2-199)
...............................................................
Qsl's - VIETNAM
Radio Free Vietnam (New Orleans)
9930, R. Free Vietnam (via KWHR, 1230-1300), very nice card with picture
of flag on left, "QSL" at right, printed seal, photo of (apparently) V/S
Vuong Ky-Son, Director in Chief, full details. In 10 days for CD rpt to
P.O. Box 29245, New Orleans, LA 70189. [..]
(J.Berg-MA-USA Dec 15, 2002 in DXplorer-ML)
------------xxxxxxxxxx Miscellaneous xxxxxxxxxx----------------
Misc - PSYOP
Beware of Forked-Tongue Warriors
By Ian Urbina, San Antonio Current
December 12, 2002
Wedged between a rack of 99-cent cheese crisps and a display of pork
rinds stood a life-sized cardboard cutout of a buxom blonde in a red
miniskirt. Resting on her inner thigh was a frosty bottle of Miller
Genuine Draft. "That's essentially what we do," an army major remarked,
pointing to the stiletto-heeled eye-catcher. "But we don't sell beer."
The scene was a recruitment barbecue conducted by the U.S. Army's 11th
Psychological Operations Battalion ("Psy-ops," for short), held recently
at Andrews Air Force Base outside of Washington, D.C. Amid the Cheetos,
cheesecake, and a sweaty game of softball, there was casual chit-chat
about the workplace challenges faced by these fatigue-wearing PR execs.
Part ad men and part ethnographers, these specialists, some of whom are
just back from Afghanistan, are dispatched regularly to front lines in
the Middle East for hearts-and-minds campaigns aimed at undercutting the
enemy's military morale and winning over civilian support. Many are
waiting eagerly for a call to Iraq. With the U.S. military deploying in
every corner of the globe, demand is booming in the psychological warfare
industry these days, and Psy-ops is especially eager to recruit outsiders
who have experience or interest in the Middle East. Hence, the barbecues,
accompanied by war stories - actually, psy-war stories.
Although invited, I am a reporter, so recruiters and guests wouldn't
speak to me for attribution. They did, however reluctantly, share some
yarns.
"Much of the time on the ground," one private recalled about a tour of
duty in the Middle East, "is spent driving around the desert in Humvees
mounted with nine speakers, each blasting a thousand watts of noise. Tank
treads, helicopter propellers, huge guns - we broadcast anything that'll
scare the shit out of 'em." When music is chosen, the playlist tends to
be short: Beach Boys, AC/DC, and Jimi Hendrix's shrill "Star-Spangled
Banner," repeat ad nauseam until the enemy submits out of sheer
annoyance. Other psy-opers parachute in and then remain stationary,
setting up the army's equivalent of a battlefield copy shop to churn out
agitprop handbills in the millions. Some operatives are airborne aboard
Commando Solo, an Air Force cargo plane converted into a $70 million
flying radio and TV station, beaming news, tunes, and an occasional bit
of disinformation to the enemy.
"We just deliver the goods," quipped the major who played host to me.
"The guys down South drawing the cartoons are the ones paid six figures
to know that because bananas are a delicacy in Iraq, they should get
drawn into the picture with an enticing feast scene."
Headquartered at the 4th Psychological Operations Group in Fort Bragg,
North Carolina, the psy-op artists typically rely on cartoon animations
to convey their messages. But it is psy-op history itself that belongs in
a comic strip: Its collection of harebrained schemes is sometimes almost
too colorful to believe, though all of the following tales have been
covered in the press at one point or another. One such plan initially
investigated by the Air Force before Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait
entailed the projection of a holographic image of Allah floating over
Baghdad and instructing Iraqi civilians to overthrow Saddam. The idea was
promptly dropped after scientists informed the Pentagon that it would
require a mirror a square mile in area, not to mention the added problem
that no one knows what Allah looks like. Furthermore, since divine
portrayals of any kind are strictly forbidden in Islam, the hologram
would surely have elicited a reaction, but probably not the one intended.
Framing an understandable message is always tough. When using comic
strips, captions need to be as concise and simple as possible. Yet, even
in small amounts, the use of text raises questions. One has to wonder,
for example, whether it was really effective to drop millions of
text-based leaflets on Afghanistan, where barely 30 percent of its 27
million people can read. In all cases, well-crafted animations are a
must, and for the highest quality drawings, the 4th at Bragg sometimes
opts to contract out. In 2000, it hired DC Comics to produce special
versions of Superman and Wonder Woman comic books, in the languages of
the Balkans, Central America, Africa, and Southeast Asia, to educate
locals on the dangers of land mines. But even Superman can be confusing
at times: Although widely understood in some contexts, thought bubbles
appearing above a cartoon character's head left some readers, especially
rural ones, completely baffled, according to press accounts.
Often more confusing than convincing, psy-ops can suffer hugely from the
smallest graphical errors. A T-shirt used in Cambodia to try to deter
kids from entering certain unsafe zones featured a boy squatting over a
mine that he was poking with a stick. The silk-screened shirt was yanked
from production, according to one account, when angry villagers kept
asking why American personnel were distributing images of kids defecating
over land mines. The squatting boy was eventually redrawn.
Bigger mistakes mean bigger consequences. Leaflets dropped in Somalia in
1992, prior to the U.N. troop arrival. were meant to assure the populace
of the mission's humanitarian intentions. Unfortunately, of all the
personnel the U.S. initially deployed in the country, only two were
native speakers, and one turned out to be the son of the country's
bloodiest warlord. Pamphlet proofreaders, needless to say, were in short
supply, and the result was sometimes quite embarrassing. Instead of
announcing help from the "United Nations," the pamphlets spoke of help
from the "Slave Nations," and as anyone who has seen the movie Black Hawk
Down can certainly attest, neither the blue helmets nor the boys with
stars and stripes were welcomed with open arms when they eventually
landed ashore.
The backflow of misinformation can also be a serious problem. Although
the Pentagon and the CIA are barred by U.S. law from propaganda
activities in the United States, during the mid 1970s increased scrutiny
of military intelligence operations revealed that programs planting fake
leaks in the foreign press had resulted in false articles running back
through the U.S. media. But sometimes the false articles are intentional.
When the American public seemed to be developing weak knees about the
Nicaraguan contras, the Office of Public Diplomacy, part of the
Reagan-era State Department, quickly leaked fake intelligence to The
Miami Herald that the Soviet Union had given chemical weapons to the
Sandinistas.
Distribution of misinformation overseas can be trickier. In 1999, during
the NATO air war in Yugoslavia, more than 100 million leaflets were to be
dropped on Kosovo. But at the designated time, there was too much
ground-to-air fire for planes to fly lower than 20,000 feet. Swept by
strong winds, many leaflets landed in the wrong country, according to
military reports.
Sometimes, the packages land in the right place, and the enemy is quite
happy about it. During World War II, the Japanese utilized the standard
tactic of telling American soldiers that their girlfriends were getting
busy while they were away from home. But on the air-dropped handbills the
Japanese illustrated their point a little too well, using graphic
pornography that was otherwise tough to come by on the front lines.
According to military historian Stanley Sandler, "Our guys loved it.
They'd trade them like baseball cards ... five for a bottle of whiskey."
But there are also some psy-ops success stories. In Vietnam, U.S. planes
sprinkled enemy territory with playing cards, but prior to carpet
bombing, they dropped only the ace of spades. Before long, the Pavlovian
technique took hold, and just the dropping of aces was sufficient to
clear an entire area. During the Persian Gulf War, many Iraqi soldiers
surrendered with U.S. leaflets in hand. Throughout that war, American
forces also cleverly floated 10,000 bottles with intimidating notes in
the gulf toward Iraqi shores. According to subsequent interviews with
captured Iraqi soldiers, the bottled messages effectively increased
concerns in Baghdad over the possibility of a massive amphibious landing.
No such landing took place.
On occasion, enemy psy-opers have gotten it right, too. The North
Vietnamese peppered American soldiers with leaflets using anti-war
slogans from the States. "Hey, hey, LBJ, how many kids did you kill
today?" was a particular favorite appropriated by Vietcong leafleteers.
When American soldiers finally came home, many commented that the printed
reminders of stateside opposition to the war really wore down morale.
Last decade, the Iraqis made occasionally smart use of disinformation,
often disseminated through their old enemy, Iran (making it more
believable). According to U.S. military sources, leaflets were circulated
in Bangladesh citing a Tehran radio report that U.S. troops had opened
fire on Bangladeshi troops who refused to join the military strike on
Iraq. The incident, allegedly leaving hundreds dead, was a complete
fabrication.
Less than an exact science, psy-ops is a clumsy art that has seen few
real innovations over the years. In the 4th century B.C., Alexander the
Great ordered his metalworkers to craft giant helmets to fit men the size
of 20-foot monsters. His soldiers would then leave the helmets strewn
about in conquered villages, hoping to inflame the wildest imaginations
of enemy armies passing through the area. More recent psy-op folklore has
it that along the same lines, though pitching at a slightly lower angle,
American psy-op specialists in Vietnam left foot-long condoms along the
Ho Chi Minh Trail, presumably to preoccupy the enemy soldiers with hiding
their wives and daughters.
The laundry list of actual psy-ops bloopers is certainly long and dirty,
leaving some in the U.S. military skeptical of whether the American
forked-tongued brigades are keeping up with the enemy. A May 2000 report
by the Defense Science Board Task Force, an advisory panel to the Defense
Department, concluded, "While the United States is years ahead of its
competitors in terms of military technology, in terms of psy-ops there
are already competitors on par with, or even arguably more sophisticated
than, the U.S." But in other circles, confidence is unwavering. At a
recent press conference, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said, "If
Saddam were to issue such an order to use a chemical or biological
attack, that does not necessarily mean his orders would be carried out."
Rumsfeld's oblique speculation rested on the dubious hope, gaining
popularity on Capitol Hill, that psychological operations might just do
the trick on Saddam's key weapons handlers. But as one unnamed senior
defense official pointed out to USA Today, the men in charge of the
supposed Iraqi chemical or biological weapons and missile forces are
likely Saddam's most loyal soldiers. In fact, if our psy-ops people are
left to their old devices, the Iraqi commanders might just hit those red
buttons all the faster.
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=6343127&BRD=2318&PAG=461&dept_i
d=484045&rfi=6 (via N.Grace-USA Dec 17, 2002 for CRW)
...............................................................
Misc - AFGHANISTAN
RADIO TRANSMITTER INSTALLED IN AFGHAN GHOWR PROVINCE - IRAN RADIO |
Text of report by Iranian radio from Mashhad on 20 December
An FM radio transmitter has been installed in the [Afghan central]
province of Ghowr. According to the [Iranian] Central News Unit from
Kabul, Dr Sayd Makhdom Rahin, the Afghan minister of information and
culture, said that one of the most important programmes of the Ministry
of Information and Culture was to install radio transmitters in all
provinces of Afghanistan. Among them, some deprived provinces like Ghowr,
Nimroz, Farah, Khost, Bamian, Urozgan and Badakhshan were at the top of
the ministry's priority list. It [Ghowr] is the first deprived province
of Afghanistan where a radio transmitter has been installed.
The Afghan minister of information and culture had promised Herat, Farah
and Nimroz provinces this [that they would have a transmitter installed].
The slow pace of reconstruction and non-realization of international
assistance have prevented most provinces from getting even one radio
transmitter.
Source: Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mashhad, in Dari 0330 gmt
20 Dec 02 (via BBCM via DXLD 2-200)
PAPER CONDEMNS INSTALLATION OF FOREIGN RADIO TRANSMITTERS IN AFGHANISTAN
|
Text of report by Afghan newspaper Payam-e Mojahed on 19 December
The Ministry of Information and Culture has violated the press law by
permitting the installation of foreign radio transmitters in the country.
After the establishment of the transitional government, BBC radio, Voice
of America and Radio France received permission from either the minister
or deputy minister of information and culture to install their
transmitters inside the premises of [Afghanistan] radio-television and
embark on broadcasting their programmes received via satellites.
The first paragraph of the fourth article of the press law considers
broadcast of radio-television programmes as the privilege of the citizens
of Afghanistan.
It is worth reminding that the 1343 [1964y] constitution that is now in
force (except for chapters referring to the king and the national
council) radio and television broadcasting is the monopoly of the
government. It seems that the Ministry of Information and Culture, which
had drafted the press law, has not taken the articles of 1343
constitution into account.
Therefore, the installation of foreign radio transmitters on the soil of
Afghanistan is contrary to the constitution and the press law. The
Justice Ministry and the office of attorney general are duty bound to
take necessary actions in case of violation of the law. It is worth
mentioning that so far the foreign radio stations are broadcasting on FM
which has a short range.
However, according to another agreement that was signed recently by the
minister of information and culture with the president of the Voice of
America in Washington, the Voice of America will be permitted to install
a mediumwave transmitter in Pol-e Charkhi for broadcasting its
programmes.
The main problem will arise when foreign countries embark on broadcasting
their television programmes in the country which will inflict cultural
and social harms on the society that could not be compensated.
It is worth reminding that the Ministry of Information and Culture has
undertaken these agreements unilaterally and without consulting with the
cabinet or the head of state, otherwise, this explicit infringement of
law would have been pointed out in the cabinet.
It is to be added that the government of Afghanistan has no control over
the content of programmes that are disseminated by foreign radio
stations, and in many respects the contents of the programmes of these
radios are contrary to the government policy, religious values, and the
customs and traditions of our Muslim people.
A point worth mentioning is that the minister of information and culture
has signed a similar agreement for rebroadcasting Iranian radio
programme, but fearing the reaction of the Western countries he is
dragging his feet to implement it.
Source: Payam-e Mojahed, Kabul, in Dari and Pashto 19 Dec 02 (via BBCM
via WORLD OF RADIO 1162 in DXLD 2-202)
...............................................................
Misc - AZERBAIJAN
Voice of South Azerbaijan Radio
From http://www.bakutoday.net/view.php?d=1643
The press service of SANAM also says that the first independent radio of
Southern Azerbaijanis "Voice of South Azerbaijan Radio" will be
broadcasted in near future. The radio will broadcast programmes directed
towards South Azerbaijan, beginning the first week of January. The
radio-programmes to be broadcasted twice a week.
(via A.Sennit-HOL Dec 31, 2002 for CRW)
NEW RADIO STATION BEAMED TO SOUTH AZERBAIJAN
The online newspaper Baku Today, quoting the press service of SANAM
[Southern Azerbaijan National Awakening Movement], says that the first
independent radio of Southern Azerbaijanis, "Voice of South Azerbaijan
Radio", will start broadcasting programmes directed towards South
Azerbaijan in the first week of January. The programmes will be broadcast
twice a week, says the report. SANAM is one of the largest opposition
groups in Iran. An estimated 16 million Azeris live in Iran, about twice
as many as in Azerbaijan itself. A station of the same name was active in
1996-1998, and was the subject of an investigative report by Clandestine
Radio Watch: http://www.qsl.net/yb0rmi/vosa.htm [suggesting a possible
link to Israel]. It's not yet clear if there's a link between the two
(Radio Netherlands Media Network Dec 31, 2002 via DXLD 2-205)
...............................................................
Misc - CUBA
DUDAS E IRRITACIÓN POR CAMBIOS EN RADIO MARTÍ
RUI FERREIRA, El Nuevo Herald, Posted on Sat, Dec. 21, 2002
El director de noticias de Radio Martí, Lázaro Asencio, fue despedido
hace dos días de sus funciones al cabo de un año en el puesto, una
decisión del director de la Oficina de Transmisiones hacia Cuba (OCB),
Salvador Lew, quien no quiso hacer ayer comentarios al respecto.
El despido, reveló Asencio a El Nuevo Herald, surgió en forma sorpresiva
por medio de una carta donde se le aduce su presunta incompetencia para
separarlo del cargo, pese a sus 40 años de experiencia profesional.
''Mi despido se produjo el 18 de diciembre con una carta de Lew cesándome
en el cargo de director [de noticias] y como empleado de Radio Martí'',
dijo Asencio, de 75 años.
En marzo de este año, en una entrevista con El Nuevo Herald, Lew, de 73
años, defendió el profesionalismo y la calidad de Asencio, en un momento
en que la emisora era blanco de críticas en Washington por parte de
congresistas y senadores.
''Puede ser, pero no tengo las pruebas'', dijo el periodista, interrogado
sobre si su despido puede estar relacionado con esas críticas.
Según Asencio, él ha tenido diferencias con Lew, pero no han sido
relevantes.
''Hubo diferencias porque él estaba llevando a cargos importantes a
personas que habían puesto demandas contra él. Incluso trajo a un nuevo
jefe de personal, Fernando Rojas, que ha asumido distintas posiciones que
no corresponden al cargo'', dijo Asencio, refiriéndose a uno de los
directores del grupo de exiliados Consejo por la Libertad de Cuba.
De todos modos, ''para mí, esto es algo irracional, que no tiene ninguna
explicación. Yo tengo las pruebas de que en mi gestión aumentaron las
audiencias en Cuba'', añadió Asencio, quien en la década pasada dirigió
el departamento de noticias de la emisora por años.
Contactado ayer por El Nuevo Herald, Lew se excusó para no comentar el
despido, limitándose a confirmar el hecho.
La decisión fue, a todas luces, sorprendente para Asencio, quien ayer
estudiaba si podía o no cobrar algún subsidio por desempleo. ''Estoy
estudiando a ver qué hago'', dijo.
Asencio y Lew se conocen desde sus tiempos de estudiantes en la provincia
de Las Villas. La amistad siguió cuando ambos vinieron al exilio, y se
prolongó durante los años que trabajaron juntos en emisoras de radio de
Miami.
Lew fue nombrado director de la OCB el 26 de julio del año pasado, y en
octubre trajo a Asencio de vuelta a Radio Martí como director provisional
de noticias. En enero de este año, el veterano periodista ganó un
concurso interno para ocupar el puesto permanentemente.
Tras el despido de Asencio, Margarita Rojo, quien trabaja en la estación
federal desde sus orígenes en 1984, lo ha sustituido interinamente. Según
escribió Lew en un memorando anunciando el nombramiento, Rojo ``por años
ha demostrado un firme compromiso en la implementación de la misión de
Radio Martí''.
Lew ha estado bajo fuego de críticas por el modo en que ha conducido la
administración de la OCB. De hecho, el modo como se procedió al cambio en
la dirección de noticias de Radio Martí es, en lo mínimo, ''profundamente
irregular en el ámbito federal'', según fuentes del Capitolio.
De hecho, Rojo fue nombrada al puesto provisionalmente el 5 de diciembre,
pero fue el 18 cuando Lew despidió a Asencio. Mientras, el departamento
de noticias de Radio Martí tuvo oficialmente un director de noticias fijo
y una directora provisional. Lew no quiso comentar sobre el detalle, ni
siquiera sobre insistentes rumores, dentro y fuera de la emisora, de que
se prepara para abandonar el cargo en enero.
''Yo me voy de aquí cuando me boten, y aún así y todo lo voy a pensar'',
dijo Lew a El Nuevo Herald.
(via Oscar-FL-USA Dec 22, 2002 in DXLD 2-201)
...............................................................
Misc - ERITREA
NEW SWEDEN-BASED OPPOSITION RADIO UNHEARD ON 22 DECEMBER |
Text of report by Monitoring research on 22 December
Please note that BBC Monitoring could not hear the Sweden-based new
Eritrean opposition radio, Radio of the Voice of the Eritrean People, on
Sunday, 22 December, on 15735 kHz.
Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 22 Dec 02 (via DXLD 2-201)
...............................................................
Misc - IRAN
FREEDOM ON IRAN'S AIRWAVES
washingtonpost.com Friday, December 20, 2002; Page A42
The U.S. decision to kill Radio Freedom broadcasts to Iran in favor of
pop music programs might seem merely silly were it not a slap in the face
to the youths demonstrating for reform in the streets of Tehran ["Casey
Kasem or Freedom?" op-ed, Dec. 16]. The Broadcasting Board of Governors
said it made the decision in the name of ratings.
It cited its Radio Sawa, another pop music station that replaced the
Voice of America's Arabic service, as being listened to by 41 percent of
a youth sample in Amman, Jordan, as opposed to 10 percent who listened to
the British Broadcasting Corp. The board should ask itself which group is
more important to the Arab future -- those who tune in to hear Eminem and
Britney Spears or the smaller number who seek out the news and thoughtful
commentaries of the BBC.
The board dismisses the broadcasts of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty
during the Cold War as "propaganda." In fact, they were not propaganda,
because they reflected reform ideas emanating from the audience, not U.S.
government positions. Why not offer the same service to people in the
Middle East? JAMES CRITCHLOW, Newburyport, Mass.
The writer served with Radio Liberty, the U.S. Information Agency and the
Board for International Broadcasting.
Contrary to what Jackson Diehl says in his op-ed article, dissident
Iranian students remain in close and useful contact with the broadcast
efforts the United States is aiming at Iran's young people. As we
complete the transition to greatly increased programming aimed at Iran's
under-30 audience, the voices of student protesters who use their cell
phones to reach us are being heard daily on our broadcasts beamed into
Iran. We are giving these brave young people what their own government
denies them: a way to speak to their fellow citizens. Our new service
will also increase news and current affairs programming by 135 minutes,
to 315 minutes each day.
Mr. Diehl also did not tell The Post's readers that as of Dec. 18 our
broadcasts aimed at Iran's young population -- based on Radio Sawa's
success in using popular music to attract a huge audience in the Middle
East -- will increase by more than three times and that our signal will
become available on AM in addition to shortwave. At the same time, the
Voice of America will continue its radio and television broadcasts aimed
at Iran's older audiences.
The new broadcasts and the programming already in place for the older
generation will give the United States round-the-clock audiovisual
coverage in a nation that is stirring in dissatisfaction over harsh
clerical rule. KENNETH Y. TOMLINSON, Chairman, Broadcasting Board of
Governors, Washington
(The Washington Post Company Dec 20, 2002 via M.Cooper-USA DXLD 2-200)
NEW ZEALAND - Radio Farda on FM ?
107.1 FM: Radio Farda's new Persian Service has made a surprise
appearance on the FM band here in Auckland New Zealand. While driving
around the eastern suburbs of Auckland doing some last minute Christmas
shopping yesterday (21 December), I discovered an unidentified Middle
Eastern broadcaster on 107.1 FM in stereo. The language wasn't Arabic and
the identification sounded like "Radio Fardough". Not having heard Radio
Farda before, but given the number of references to Iran, I tried
http://www.radiofarda.com and compared the webcast identification with
the local FM signal to confirm they were the same, though programming was
not in parallel. Then today 22 December I have tracked down a couple of
Radio Farda's shortwave frequencies (15290 and 17675 at 0800 UTC) and
established that our local FM broadcast is running 1 to 2 seconds behind
the shortwave audio.
It`s interesting to speculate as to the source of the local signal. Here
in NZ, the edges of the FM broadcast band (88.0 to 88.5 and 106.7 to
107.3) are known as 'guardbands' and can be used by enthusiastic
microbroadcasters with a maximum transmitter output of 300 milliwatts,
that is, less than a third of a watt. Is this just an initiative of a
young Iranian living in Auckland, or is there a desire by the
organisation behind Radio Farda to entertain the worldwide expatriate
Iranian community ? I checked the NZ Immigration Service statistics
online and these show 149 Iranians have been accepted for NZ residence in
the 6 months ending December 2002, compared with 300 in 2000/01 and 350
in 2001/02. So not sure there's a big Persian-speaking audience around
here, and the 300 milliwatts probably has a range of 10-15 miles. Anyone
else hearing Radio Farda on local FM?
(B.Clark-NZ Dec 22, 2002 in DXLD 2-201)
IRAN BLASTS BUSH BROADCAST ON RADIO FARDA
Iran has responded to last Friday's speech by US President George W Bush
marking the inauguration of Radio Farda, the new US international radio
service for Iran. Foreign ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Assefi described
the speech, in which Bush told Iranians of his support for their "quest
for freedom", as "a fruitless and interfering act intended to create
divisions between the Iranian people and officials." He added that "the
Iranian people have not given Bush the authority to express his opinion
as their spokesman."
(Radio Netherlands Media Network Dec 24, 2002 via WORLD OF RADIO 1162 in
DXLD 2-202)
LAUNCH OF NEW PERSIAN-LANGUAGE SERVICE TO IRAN.
Radio Farda, a unique Persian-language radio service designed to give
Iranians additional news, information, reports on public affairs, and
entertainment went
on the air on 19 December, the U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG)
announced. The BBG is an independent federal agency that supervises all
U.S. government-supported, nonmilitary, international broadcasting,
including the Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty,
Radio Free Asia, Radio and TV Marti, and WORLDNET Television. "Iran is a
country where 70 percent of the population is under the age of 30, and
many of those brave young people are leading the fight for democracy and
freedom in their country," said Kenneth Tomlinson, chairman of the BBG.
"We created Radio Farda so we can serve these Iranians -- in fact, all
Iranians -- better," Tomlinson said. "Meanwhile, our popular Voice of
America Persian programs on radio, television, and Internet will continue
their excellent work in reaching the Iranian people." Radio Farda
( www.radiofarda.com ) will be broadcast around-the-clock on medium wave
(AM 1593 and AM 1539) and digital audio satellite and 21 hours a day on
shortwave. Streaming audio on the Internet will begin shortly. Norman
Pattiz, a BBG member and chairman of the Middle East Committee, said
Radio Farda expands the amount of news and information Iranians have been
receiving from existing services. In an opinion piece in "The Wall Street
Journal" on 16 December, however, Senator Jesse Helms (Republican, North
Carolina) said that the new youth-oriented Radio Farda is dominated by
"American and local pop tunes delivered with a spoonful of headline news
content." In Helms' view, Radio Farda "likely will insult the cultural
sensitivities of the Iranians, as well as their intelligence."
(RFE-RL Media Matters Vol. 2, No. 48 Dec 27, 2002)
RADIO FARDA FLOODED WITH EMAILS SUPPORTING THE NEW PERSIAN-LANGUAGE
STATION
Washington, DC., December 27, 2002--Washington, D.C., Dec. 27, 2002
More than 1,000 people, most of them inside Iran, have emailed Radio
Farda http://www.radiofarda.com in its first week of broadcasting,
expressing thanks and support for the new Persian-language station. "You
are famous among Iranians - every body is whispering of Farda," wrote one
listener. "God Bless America," wrote another. "I have to say that Radio
Farda is very professional and it is about time to show the world that we
can produce a serious radio that is like their radios,"
said one email. "I think also that this is the more effective way to
reach Iranian youth and people. I am very proud of you and wish you the
best." Added a college professor inside Iran: "We love your radio. You
have saved us from being bored. We listen to your radio whenever we can.
I am a college professor. The most drivers who drive between two towns …
they all listen to your radio. We all love you." ... (BBG Press Release
Dec 27, 2002 via DXLD 2-204)
More R. Farda fan-mail, strangely enough all in English and seemingly
unedited: http://www.bbg.gov/_bbg_news.cfm?articleID=56&mode=general
(BBC Press site Dec 27, 2002 via DXLD 2-204)
VOA IN FARSI: A-OKAY
Tuesday, December 31, 2002; Page A16
The Dec. 27 letter from the president of the American Federation of
State, County and Municipal Employees at the Voice of America suggesting
that "plans are afoot" for Radio Farda to replace VOA's Farsi Service is
false. As we have informed the members of VOA's Farsi Service, we are so
proud of the work they have done on their short-wave radio (and
television) broadcasts that we plan to improve and expand them, not
replace them. The VOA demonstrates every day to the world its belief in
the values of democracy and freedom of speech. We hold in equally high
regard the value of accuracy
(D.S.JACKSON, Director, Voice of America, Washington, © 2002 The
Washington
Post Company Dec 31, 2002 via M.Cooper, DXLD 2-205)
...............................................................
Misc - IRAQ
"Iraqi English Channel" launch announced for January - Babil web site
The Babil Online News Network web site - www.iraq2000.com/online - was
observed on 16 December 2002 to post the following announcement:
"An informed source has told Babil Online that the Iraqi English Channel
is scheduled to be launched in the middle of January 2003. The source
added: This channel is the first in Iraq in the English language. It will
carry the name Babil English Channel (BEC). It is hoped that the channel
will at first transmit to some countries for a number of hours. It will
adopt a policy different from that of other Arab media. Its transmission
will be Western in style. It is worth mentioning that some of its foreign
staff will be British and American, in addition to Iraqi engineers and
technicians. Transmission will be 100 per cent Iraqi once the channel is
fully operational."
The announcement does not say whether this will be a radio or television
channel, nor does it give any technical data on transmission or
frequencies to be used.
[Babil Online News Network is accessible via a link from the web site of
the Iraqi National Olympic Committee - www.iraq2000.com . The domain
www.iraq2000.com is host to web sites for several Iraqi publications and
organizations affiliated with Uday Husayn, the eldest son of President
Saddam Husayn. They include the dailies Babil and Al-Ba'th al-Riyadi; all
the Iraqi weeklies and monthly newspapers and magazines, except Alif Ba;
and the web sites of the National Olympic Committee, the Iraqi
Journalists Union, the National Union of Iraqi Students, and the General
Union of Iraqi Youth.]
(Source: Babil Online News Network web site in Arabic 16 Dec 02 via BBCM)
[HCDX] propaganda to iraq: freqs?
Yahoo has a news story about the Pentagon having a new radio propaganda
service to Iraq. The article mentions five frequencies. Anyone know what
they are? Mediumwave? FM? SW? Any shortwave feeders like 8700 kHz for
Afghanistan?
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=540&ncid=736&e=10&u=/ap/200212
17/ap_on_re_mi_ea/us_iraq
(P.McDonough-MA-USA Dec 17, 2002 in HCDX)
Iraq (non) - Information R daily 9715 11292 kHz 1500-2000 UTC
"Information Radio" broadcasts to Iraq from US Central Command Psyops are
now being broadcast daily on 5 frequencies according to this item from
Associated Press in the Guardian: (extracts below - full story at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-2251241,00.html )
PENTAGON BROADCASTS PROPAGANDA OVER IRAQ
Tuesday December 17, 2002 9:10 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Pentagon has launched a radio propaganda war over
Iraq, broadcasting anti-Saddam Hussein messages officials say are aimed
at
weakening his support among his people and his military ...........
Transmitted five hours a night from American planes flying Iraq's
southern no-fly zone, the broadcasts are the first of their kind since
those used in the 1991 Persian Gulf War when Iraqi forces were ousted
from Kuwait, defense officials said. [but what about their operation in
Afghanistan - ap??]
The broadcasts of Arabic music and anti-Saddam messages began Thursday,
said Pentagon spokesman Lt. Daniel D. Hetlage. But the program only
became known Monday when the Central Command said it had dropped 480,000
leaflets over the southern no-fly zone in Iraq, including some alerting
the Iraqis to radio frequencies and times to tune in to the American
broadcasts.
The radio programs aim to "dissuade the Iraqi military from supporting
Saddam,'' said Hetlage.
Other versions include ones on Saddam's past use of weapons of mass
destruction and explaining the world's view of weapons inspections now
under way in Iraq.
They are being transmitted from an Air Force EC-130E Commando Solo
aircraft, according to another official.
Leaflets dropped Monday to advertise the broadcasts feature a map of Iraq
and two radio transmitters, with a message saying "Information Radio''
can be heard from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., at five frequencies..........
[extract ENDS]
According to the US Central Command public information website:
http://www.centcom.mil/Default.htm which pictures the leaflets droped at
http://www.centcom.mil/Galleries/Photos/leaflets/Iraq_Leaflets/20021216.htm
the 5 frequencies used "1800-2300 daily" (= 1500 to 2000 UTC?) are:
693 and 756 kHz mediumwave
9715 and 11292 kHz shortwave
and 100.4 MHz FM
Transcripts of the messages broadcast are also on this site.
So worth checking these shortwave frequencies 1500-2000 UTC!!
(A.Pennington-BDXC-G Dec 17, 2002 in BDXC-ML)
AIRBORNE RADIO STATION BEAMS MESSAGES TO IRAQ
U.S. MILITARY URGING SOLDIERS TO STOP SUPPORTING SADDAM
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. military is using aircraft to broadcast
radio signals into southern Iraq, encouraging Iraqi military forces to
stop supporting the regime of President Saddam Hussein. The signals are
coming from a type of modified Air Force transport plane known as
"Commando Solo," which saw similar action over Afghanistan when personnel
aboard broadcast messages that urged the Taliban to surrender.
These are the first such broadcasts to the Iraqi region by the U.S.
military since the recent escalation of tension began between Washington
and Baghdad, a Pentagon official said Tuesday.
The radio programming is transmitted during flights of EC-130J aircraft
operated by the 193rd Special Operations Wing of the Pennsylvania Air
National Guard, based near Middletown, Pennsylvania. The flights began
Thursday, and the signals are to be transmitted between 6 p.m. and 11
p.m. local time in southern Iraq every day, depending on the weather. The
planes remain in Kuwaiti airspace. Military officials said the broadcasts
include songs in Arabic and English to encourage Iraqi soldiers to
listen. U.S.-backed political messages are also played. Officials said
the themes of the broadcasts include:
• Saddam's diversion of money intended for food to weapons production,
and previous Iraqi "intransigence" on U.N. Security Council resolutions
• Saddam's use of chemical weapons on his own people
• Saddam's previous military "misadventures," and his "squandering" of
money on personal pursuits such as palaces
The U.S. military has used "Commando Solo" aircraft before as tools of
"psychological operations" or propaganda, defense sources have confirmed.
Some of the signals sent to Afghanistan last year were monitored by
short-wave radio hobbyists in the United States. [with illustrations,
links:]
http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/meast/12/17/us.iraq.radio/
(CNN via A.Bigley Dec 17, 2002 in DXLD 2-198)
VOAnews version:
PENTAGON BEGINS AIRING PROPAGANDA BROADCASTS TO IRAQ
http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=9F1B4D59-367D-47AE-806D788DD1
E57798
(via Artie Bigley Dec 17, 2002 in DXLD 2-198)
PENTAGON BROADCASTS PROPAGANDA OVER IRAQ
The Associated Press, Washington, Dec. 17
The Pentagon has launched a radio propaganda war in Iraq, broadcasting
anti-Saddam Hussein messages officials say are aimed at weakening his
support among his people and his military.
"People of Iraq ... the amount of money Saddam spends on himself in one
day would be more than enough to feed a family for a year," said an
English translation of one radio broadcast released by the U.S. Central
Command. "How much longer will this corrupt rule be allowed to exploit
and oppress the Iraqi people?"
"Soldiers of Iraq. Saddam does not care for the military of Iraq," said
another of several radio messages. "Saddam uses his soldiers as puppets
... for his own personal glory.
"Saddam also sacrificed thousands of soldiers during the Iran/Iraq war
... When the Iraqi soldiers that were taken prisoner were returned,
Saddam ordered their ears to be cut off as punishment for being
captured."
Transmitted five hours a night from American planes flying outside the
country, the broadcasts are the first of their kind since those used in
the 1991 Persian Gulf War when Iraqi forces were ousted from Kuwait,
defense officials said.
The broadcasts of Arabic music and anti-Saddam messages began Thursday,
said Pentagon spokesman Lt. Daniel D. Hetlage. But the program only
became known Monday when the Central Command said it had dropped 480,000
leaflets over the southern no-fly zone in Iraq, including some alerting
the Iraqis to radio frequencies and times to tune in to the American
broadcasts.
The radio programs aim to "dissuade the Iraqi military from supporting
Saddam," said Hetlage. Other versions include ones on Saddam's past use
of weapons of mass destruction and explaining the world's view of weapons
inspections now under way in Iraq.
They are being transmitted from an Air Force EC-130E Commando Solo
aircraft, according to another official.
Leaflets dropped Monday to advertise the broadcasts feature a map of Iraq
and two radio transmitters, with a message saying "Information Radio" can
be heard from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., at five frequencies.The mass drop of
nearly half a million leaflets was the seventh distribution of flyers
over southern Iraq in three months and the largest. Leaflets were dropped
over six locations and also included messages warning Iraqi military not
to shoot at coalition aircraft monitoring the restricted zones, saying
the zones are set up to protect the Iraqi people.
Officials said other drops have had little effect in getting Iraqi forces
to stop harassing British and American planes that have been monitoring
no-fly zones set up a decade ago over the country. The northern zones
protect the Kurdish minority and the southern zones protect the Shiites.
Saddam considers the zones a violation of his sovereignty.... (via Mike
Cooper, DXLD; also:) http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20021217_784.html
(via ABCNews.com via A.Bigley Dec 17, 2002 in DXLD 2-198)
Of the frequencies mentioned, 11292 kHz looks like an interesting choice.
A quick search on the Internet revealed that this frequency has in the
past been used by Radio Iraq International - as well as by a so-called
spy station broadcasting in Arabic, // 6645 or 6647 kHz. Anyone hearing
the station on 11292 or other frequencies?
(M.Mäkeläinen-FIN Dec 17, 2002 at dxing.info via DXLD 2-198)
ANALYSIS: US RADIO PROPAGANDA BROADCASTS TARGET IRAQIS |
Text of editorial analysis by Peter Feuilherade of BBC
Monitoring's Foreign Media Unit on 17 December
The US has stepped up psychological operations against President Saddam
Husayn of Iraq with the start of radio broadcasts targeted at military
commanders as well as civilians. The broadcasts, launched on 12 December,
are transmitted by US planes flying over southern Iraq.
They urge the Iraqi people not to support their president, and accuse him
of diverting revenue from oil sales from food to weapons purchases. And
in the seventh leaflet blitz over southern Iraq in three months,
coalition aircraft dropped half a million leaflets warning Iraqi forces
not to repair damaged communications facilities hit in air strikes on
Saturday 14 December.
Overthrow Saddam, US broadcasts urge
The American radio broadcasts comment that "Saddam lives like a king,
while his soldiers are underpaid and underequipped... Saddam does not
wish the soldiers of Iraq to have the honour and dignity that their
profession warrants." They urge the Iraqi armed forces: "Do not let
Saddam tarnish the reputation of soldiers any longer."
The broadcasts, which feature Arabic music as well as anti-Saddam
messages, aim to "dissuade the Iraqi military from supporting Saddam,"
said Pentagon spokesman Lt. Daniel D. Hetlage.
Other broadcasts, directed at Iraqi civilians, point to the many
monuments and portraits of Saddam Husayn dotted around the country.
Saying the cost of the leader's ego trip would be better spent on the
welfare of his people, the US broadcasts ask: "How much longer will this
corrupt rule be allowed to exploit and oppress the Iraqi people?"
Specialist US psy-ops unit
Leaflets printed in Arabic and English dropped over Iraq say the American
"Information Radio" broadcasts are on the air from 1500-2000 gmt on five
separate frequencies in the FM, mediumwave and shortwave bands.
The frequencies listed are: 693 and 756 kHz mediumwave, 9715 and 11292
kHz shortwave, and 100.4 MHz FM. These are all frequencies that have been
used at some stage by Republic of Iraq Radio. The broadcasts come from
Commando Solo aircraft operated by a specialist US psy-ops unit.
The EC-130E Commando Solo is a modified four-engine Hercules transport
aircraft that can 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.
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 has the use of ground
transmitters in Kuwait and elsewhere in the Gulf to beam anti-Saddam
programming to the Iraqi people.
"Bombs will do the talking"
The aim of the propaganda broadcasts is "to isolate the Iraqi leadership
who are hiding in bunkers," John Pike of the US think tank
Globalsecurity.org told the Washington Post newspaper earlier this year.
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 17 Dec 02 (via DXLD 2-198)
I watched the Rumsfeld/Myers press conference Tuesday, expecting
information, but news about the Bush Administration's missile defense
deployment took precedence. Nothing about the radio station...
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Dec2002/t12172002_t1217sd.html
(N.Grace-USA Dec 17, 2002 for CRW)
PENTAGON PROPAGANDA BROADCASTS TO IRAQ MONITORED IN HILVERSUM
Both shortwave frequencies advertised for the Pentagon's Information
Radio service to Iraq were monitored in Hilversum on 18 December. The
signal on 9715 kHz was clearly audible co-channel with Deutsche Welle in
Russian. The signal on 11292 kHz was weak, and the modulation level was
extremely low, although it improved briefly just before 1600. The station
uses the Arabic ID "Idha'at Radyo al-Ma'ulumat." Transcripts in English
of the messages broadcast by the station can be found here:
http://www.centcom.mil/News/Misc/radioscripts.htm The programming also
includes both Arabic and US pop music.
Listen to Information Radio as monitored in Hilversum on 18 Dec at
1635 UTC, 9715 kHz (3'12")
http://www.omroep.nl/cgi-bin/streams?/rnw/medianetwork/iraq021218.rm
The Pentagon launched the much-anticipated broadcasts on 12 December from
EC-130E Commando Solo aircraft of the US Air Force. However, news of
their existence only became public on 16 December. Leaflets dropped over
Iraq:
http://www.centcom.mil/Galleries/Photos/leaflets/Iraq_Leaflets/20021216.htm
on 16 December give the times of the broadcasts as 1800-2300 (1500-2000
UT), and mentions the additional frequencies of 693 and 756 kHz
mediumwave (both are also used for Iraqi domestic services) and 100.4 MHz
FM. US officials said that the Commando Solo aircraft are flying "outside
the country." Thanks to Nick Grace and Alan Pennington for helping with
research
(Radio Netherlands Media Network Dec 18, 2002 via DXLD 2-199)
[Re CRW 122 Extra B] My take on this: One questions the need for a
Commando Solo airborne operation to Iraq. Unlike Afghanistan, Iraq is
already served by numerous US-controlled transmitters nearby, notably in
Kuwait, which could carry out this mission from the ground. But since it
*can* be done, it *must* be done, even limited to Kuwaiti airspace, which
is rather limited? Tho of great interest to us DXers, these two little
shortwave transmitters would seem to be even less needed, to reach Iraq.
But then this gives the military an opportunity to say what it wants to
say, rather than US government-sponsored civilian outlets
(G.Hauser-USA WOR 1161 Dec 19, 2002 in DXLD 2-199)
Another copy of the story, this one illustrated with leaflet about
fibre optic cables: http://www.brunei-online.com/bb/wed/dec18w31.htm
(via A.Bigley in DXLD 2-199)
BBC news version:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/not_in_website/syndication/monitoring/media_re
ports/2583893.stm
(via A.Bigley in DXLD 2-199)
No US Funds for Radio Hurriah
Iraqi opposition groups, meeting during an historic US-sponsored
conference in London over the weekend, agreed to agree on a democratic
framework for a post-Saddam government. Simply getting all these groups
together was an achievement in itself. There are bitter rivalries amongst
them, something that's reflected in the large number of clandestine radio
stations beaming programmes into Iraq. Echoing American restraint to
sponsor radio broadcasts for Afghanistan's Northern Alliance a year ago,
Washington appears to be walking the Iraq tightrope with extreme caution.
Long-term plans to fund a radio station on behalf of the main group
opposing Baghdad have been dropped. Nick Grace of Clandestine Radio Watch
reports.
http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/iraq021216.html
(A.Sennit-HOL Dec 21, 2002 in MediaNetwork-NL)
Commando Solo-Information Radio
NPR's Weekend End edition had an interview on Dec 21 with BBC Monitoring
about the new Information Radio broadcasts to Iraq. Asked if there was
anything unusual about the broadcasts, BBC Monitoring replied:
While the broadcasts are in Modern Standard Arabic, the announcers (man
and woman) are native-Lebanese, not native Iraqis.
Given that this is a PSYOPS station, BBC Monitoring didn't understand the
selection of some of the music being played, particularly some of the
Western tunes.
(H.Johnson TX-USA Dec 22, 2002 in CDX-ML)
Here`s the 7-minute item; has actualities off the air, and an ID at the
very end:
U.S. RAINS RADIO BROADCASTS, PAMPHLETS ON IRAQ
Starting Dec. 16, the U.S. military has been broadcasting "information
radio" to the people of Iraq, from a special-equipped transport plane
outside Iraqi air space. Scott Simon discusses the messages -- similar to
those transmitted to Afghanistan in Fall 2001 -- with Mike Linstead of
BBC Monitoring, which intercepted the broadcasts....
http://www.npr.org/ramfiles/wesat/20021221.wesat.04.ram
(via G.Hauser-USA Dec 22, 2002 in DXLD 2-201)
U.S. adds psychology to strategy on Iraq: Pentagon crafting radio,
cell-phone messages for use during attack
By Tom Bowman
Baltimore Sun, November 11, 2002
WASHINGTON -- Sometime after the first of the year, residents of Baghdad
could find some new programming on their FM radio dial: a soothing Arabic
voice urging them to remain in their homes or away from the approaching
U.S. troops who will liberate them from Saddam Hussein.
Meanwhile, the faxes or cell phones of Iraqi military and security
officers may whir or chirp with more explicit and personal messages: "We
know who you are. Lay down your arms or else."
Top Pentagon officials and members of the Iraqi opposition are now
crafting what could be the most widespread and complex psychological
operations campaign mounted by the American military since the Vietnam
War, should President Bush give the order to invade Iraq, said defense
officials and retired psy-ops officers.
"If you can minimize the conflict by way of information warfare, that's a
significant thing," said a source familiar with recent psy-ops
discussions that have included Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz
and Undersecretary of Defense Douglas Feith. "Communicating with them is
a very high priority."
The ambitious plan includes sending targeted radio messages to the groups
that make up the 5 million residents of Baghdad, a polyglot of urbane
Sunni Muslims, impoverished Shia Muslims and pockets of anti-foreign
nationalists. In addition, though Iraq is a modern and secular country,
there are elements of fundamentalism in both Muslim communities.
Another part of the operation will be to persuade members of Hussein's
military and security forces not to resist the invading allied force.
Keeping the citizens of Baghdad on the sidelines will be an important
part of any U.S. military operation in the Iraqi capital, a city that
could quickly turn into a bloody battlefield should Hussein's forces dig
in and fight and civilians get caught in the mix, officials said.
But some military analysts and retired officers are cautioning that not
all psychological operations employed in past conflicts have had good
results. Moreover, reaching the different groups within Iraq and cutting
through anti-Western feelings or anger over the decade-old U.N. sanctions
may be difficult, they said.
"I think it's going to be a terribly challenging effort. There are all
kinds of different audiences. You've got to somehow figure out how to
reach people," said retired Army Col. Charles P. Borchini, who commanded
the 4th Psychological Operations Group during the U.S.-led bombing
campaign against Serbia. The group, based at Fort Bragg, N.C., takes the
lead in writing scripts, beaming radio and TV messages and publishing
newspapers aimed at foreign foes and their civilian counterparts.
William Arkin, a former Army intelligence officer and now a military
analyst, said 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. Some elements of Iraqi society might not
trust an American-led campaign to set up a new government, said Arkin,
who also doubted U.S. operatives would be able to reach any Iraqi
officers with the "Gucci methods" of cell-phone calls or faxes.
Still, Iraqi opposition officials and longtime observers of Iraq contend
that after nearly a quarter-century of living under a brutal dictator,
strong support exists within the country for an overthrow of Hussein,
even if it has to be carried out by the United States.
"Nobody wants a continuation of the regime. They want a return to
normalcy," said Phebe Marr, a former professor at the National Defense
University and author of Modern History of Iraq. "I think they want the
job done and over with, and they don't want any long-term American
occupation."
Marr said U.S. forces must send a simple and straightforward message: "We
are not occupiers, we are liberators. We are going to help you set up
your own government as rapidly as possible."
Like Political Campaign
Said an Iraqi opposition official, "These folks don't support Saddam.
What's necessary is to explain to them what's happening and what they can
do."
Specific messages to the various civilian groups in Iraq are no different
than an American political race, said the official. "It's like any
campaign, you want to talk to the ironworkers differently than the guy
who works at IBM," he said.
Meanwhile, officials with the Iraqi National Congress are providing the
Pentagon with cell phone numbers, fax numbers and home addresses of key
Iraqi security officials in an effort to drive a wedge between them and
Hussein. The message would be, "We know who you are. ... It's definitely
in your interest to lay low," said the source familiar with the Pentagon
plans. "We are working actively to get that message to them when it
counts."
U.S. military plans for city fighting say that "the key to success" might
lie in the ability to "influence the thoughts and opinions of adversaries
and noncombatants," according to "Doctrine for Joint Urban Operations," a
Joint Chiefs of Staff publication that was updated in September. To do
this, U.S. forces must seize what the plan terms "the information
environment."
Retired Army Maj. Gen. Robert H. Scales Jr., who has written extensively
on urban warfare, said it's vital in any conflict to immediately capture
and control the sources of information for civilians. "The images have to
be ours, not [Hussein's]," said Scales. "Mao said the surest way to win a
war is to separate the army from its people."
Radio transmissions are expected to be the most effective way of getting
the message out, officials said, since televisions aren't nearly as
widespread as radios. Moreover, some of the initial targets of U.S.
warplanes would likely include TV transmitters and other communications
facilities, thereby preventing Hussein from contacting the population or
his military once the war starts.
Sophisticated broadcasting planes, known as "Commando Solo," operated by
the 193rd Special Operations Wing of the Pennsylvania National Guard,
together with ground transmitters in Kuwait and elsewhere, would be used
to transmit anti-Hussein programming to the Iraqi populace, officials
said. The psychological operation also is expected to include leaflet
drops -- some of which started last week over the southern no-fly zone in
Iraq with a warning to Iraqi soldiers not to fire on patrolling allied
aircraft. And, once troops are on the ground, newspapers printed in
Arabic by specialized U.S. Army units are to be distributed.
Most Since Vietnam
Daniel T. Kuehl, a professor of information warfare at the National
Defense University, said a psychological operation in Iraq may be the
most extensive effort since the Vietnam War, which included a
six-year-long wave of loudspeaker announcements, radio and TV broadcasts,
newspapers and leafleting by U.S. forces.
Although U.S. psychological operations units were active during the 1991
Persian Gulf war, they did not focus on the civilian population. Instead,
they concentrated on the Iraqi forces in Kuwait with leaflets and radio
broadcasts.
Such tactical efforts were effective, said Arkin, the military analyst.
Specific Iraqi army units were named in the leaflets and radio messages,
which urged them to abandon their vehicles or risk being bombed. Iraqi
units fled their armored vehicles and surrendered in droves.
"It was sending a message of omnipotence," said Arkin. "That kind of
message had an enormous impact."
The military's psychological operation also seemed to work well in
Operation Just Cause, the weeklong 1989 military campaign in Panama to
capture the country's leader, Gen. Manuel Antonio Noriega, who was wanted
on drug-trafficking and racketeering charges in the United States and had
annulled Panama's presidential election, declaring himself head of state.
Rather than bomb the communications towers and transmitters, Army Special
Forces troops seized the radio and TV stations, broadcasting their own
prepackaged programs. Military-produced leaflets and newspapers carried
the same message: The United States has no quarrel with the Panamanian
people but rather with Noriega -- precisely the kind of message expected
to be used in Iraq.
Before long, Noriega's forces began to surrender and, finally, the
Panamanian dictator did as well. He is now serving a 40-year sentence in
Florida for drug trafficking.
Yet a decade later, the same efforts by U.S. psychological warriors
failed to persuade the Serbian people to abandon their leader, Slobodan
Milosevic, during the 1999 American-led air campaign to oust Serb troops
from Kosovo.
Once again the sophisticated C-130 aircraft took to the skies,
broadcasting radio and TV programs, such as The Big Lie, an attack on
Milosevic's policies. E-mails and faxes were sent to Milosevic cronies in
Belgrade.
Borchini, the retired Army colonel who commanded the 4th Psychological
Operations Group, said U.S. bombing had more of a psychological effect
than any leaflets or broadcasts.
"The more we bombed, the more people rallied around Milosevic," he said.
Surveys done after the war showed that the American broadcasts fell flat,
said Borchini, adding, "They thought it was propaganda, just like
Milosevic was putting out propaganda."
(via N.Grace-USA Dec 25, 2002 for CRW)
USA STARTS INVASION OF IRAQ
Some purists might object to the headline atop this column, for a couple
of reasons. At column deadline time for this month`s issue of The ACE
there has still been no actual invasion of Iraq by United States military
troops. Further, prior to now, aggressive military invasions of other
countries had been lumped into a pejorative category formerly occupied by
the former Soviet Union (who invaded a variety of countries over the
years), the Nazi regime in Germany (who invaded several adjacent
countries in the 1930`s and 1940`s), and similar governments. It has
therefore baffled your editor about why it has suddenly become a good
thing for the strongest country in the world to formulate and execute
plans to militarily invade countries who have not attacked that country.
In another comparison, about ten years ago it was considered a terrible
thing when the military of Iraq invaded and occupied Kuwait. Countries
simply do not have a license to aggressively invade other countries. That
is, all countries except for the United States are covered by this
principle, since being the strongest country in the world entitles the
United States to invade anybody they want to at any time that they see
fit. I have been
baffled by this obvious bit of illogic.
I expressed this bafflement to some other ACE members, from whom I
received an explanation. I will leave the name of the person who provided
me with the explanation anonymous in the column this month. But, here is
the explanation: ``When the big dog wants to eat, you get out of the
way.`` I was not very reassured about this new principle of international
organization, which in fact is not really new, since empires throughout
history have been big dogs that decided to eat at various times. Other
political entities had to get out of the way of military aggression when
those dogs started to develop an appetite. That`s it for the political
analysis of the current situation this month.
From a clandestine radio perspective, the United States invasion of Iraq
has already begun. On or about December 15 the Unites States government
cranked up its clandestine broadcasting effort. Its usual mobile radio
transmissions from Commando Solo, previously made famous from his widely
heard Information Radio broadcasts to Afghanistan and other countries, is
on the air once again. USA aircraft dropped leaflets on Iraqi soil
announcing the new broadcasts. Both Artie Bigley and Clandestine Radio
Watch picked up this story virtually immediately. The station, according
to the leaflets and various press accounts, was operating in mid-December
on 9715 and 11292 kHz shortwave between 1500 and 2000 UT. In addition, it
is using two medium wave frequencies on 692 and 756 kHz. Further, a
channel on 100.4 MHz FM is being used for the broadcasts.
On DXplorer, Paul Ormandy in New Zealand quickly noted a logging of the
station on 11292 kHz at 1846 UT on December 17, although he had a weak
signal and did not copy much in the way of programming except for Middle
Eastern Music. Obviously all DXers will want to stay up on the latest
information about this new operation. The best place to do this is the
http://www.clandestineradio.com web site. A copy of the USA leaflet
announcing the broadcasts is posted up on this web site.
Clearly, even during the winter, these times and frequencies are a little
less than wonderful for North American DXers. But, on a good opening to
the Middle East, it is conceivable that either of these frequencies might
poke through across the Ocean, especially to listening locations in
eastern North America. So, if you have not tried to hear this one yet,
you ought to turn on your receiver and give it a try, perhaps around 1900
UT or a little later. I have tried for it here in Cleveland, but so far I
have heard nothing.
Of course, if Saddam Hussein sent airplanes to drop leaflets over Florida
announcing his new clandestine transmitter on 11292 kHz, we could expect
that J. Eager Heaver would not be the only FCC employee assigned to
counter this aggressive act. A full force of the USA military would be
quickly deployed and war would be immediately declared. So, as you see,
the USA invaded Iraq over the airwaves in
mid-December
(G.Zeller-USA Clandestine Profile The A*C*E Jan 2003 via DXLD 2-2002)
...............................................................
Misc - KOREA (NORTH)
Propaganda in the DPRK
[Quoted from the article "The Official Propaganda in the DPRK: Ideas and
Methods]
By Andrei Lankov, 1995
http://www.fortunecity.com/meltingpot/champion/65/propaganda_lankov.htm
Since the outside world is seen by North Korean authorities as a source
of danger and ideological corruption, the utmost care is taken to seal
all possible channels by which unauthorized data from the outside could
otherwise filter into the North Korean information space. Obviously, of
these channels, radio is the most "natural" source of unwanted
information: it is easy to use, relatively cheap (even by North Korean
standards), and portable, as well as capable of being received at
long-distances -- i.e. from foreign or South Korean radio stations. Thus,
radio is a source of the special attention by the authorities and is kept
under particularly harsh control. Pyongyang does not follow the old
Soviet example of jamming foreign radio stations. The North Korean
authorities have found a cheaper, and more reliable solution: they have
simply banned the domestic sale and use of the free-tuning radio
receivers. The small lamp receivers which can be bought in North Korean
shops (of course, one has to have special permission to buy even this
piece of vintage technology) are fixed on the wave-length of the official
broadcasting station. Certainly, a person with some technical knowledge
can easily make the necessary changes and transform such a receiver into
a real radio set. To prevent this from happening, the police undertake
periodic random inspections of all registered receivers. Controlling the
"right" use of radio receivers is also an important task of the heads of
the so-called "people's groups" (inminban) {*1}. According to some
reports, the head of inminban can break into any house at any time (even
in the dead of night) to check whether there is a non-registered receiver
present. Such measures, obviously, are not water-proof, since at least
one of the author’s North Korean acquaintances had access to a "normal"
radio with free tuning and listened to foreign programs with his family,
but this was, no doubt, a rather risky business...
It has to be said that in North Korea there exist other sources of
information which are not accessible to ordinary people, but only to
officials. For the cadres (Kor.: kanbu) a special newspaper is published
which is supposed to give much more information on the outside world than
Nodong sinmun. However, when the author eventually managed to get hold of
a few copies of this classified publication, he was somewhat
disappointed: it was not much different from “open” North Korean
newspapers and in comparison the Soviet Pravda of Brezhnev’s times could
be considered an example of tough and truthful journalism. Thus, news on
South Korea might be limited to a report that the movement of buses on
one of the highways disturbs the local peasants evoking protests.
Perhaps, the potentially subversive nature of this news lay in the fact
that there are indeed highways and buses in South Korea. It appears as if
even the majority of North Korean officials are denied the opportunity of
receiving a truthful information about the outside world.
The radio programming in North Korea appears very exotic to a foreign
visitor. Music alternates with short propaganda information blocks. Every
hour begins with the news more or less identical to that published by
Nodong sinmun. Then there is several minutes of marches or one or two
songs about Kim Il Song, Kim Chông Il, or the party. Songs are followed
by a short 5-10 minute talk -- either a commentary on the internal
situation, or on South Korea, or on the philosophy of Juche. Often,
articles from Nodong sinmun are also broadcast on radio. Then there are
again military marches and songs followed by another short news program.
The intonation of announcers is always exaggerated and even hysterical,
reading the news as if they were calling upon soldiers to attack an
enemy.
The majority of North Koreans listen to the radio constantly. Indeed,
they have no choice. Radio receivers are in every home, metro carriages,
factories, and sometimes, even on the fields during agricultural work,
and in most public places they remain constantly turned on. Thus, most of
the day North Koreans imbibe the same background consisting of military
marches and political slogans literally shouted down the air waves by the
announcers.
On the whole, North Korean propaganda aims at creating a constant and
intense ideological environment in which the populace has to live. Not
only is the radio ubiquitous but so is the visual propaganda - from
simple red flags to huge concrete obelisks to special permanent
billboard-type structures. Such structures, about three meters high, are
to be found virtually at every intersection in major cities. They bear
frescoes which depict either scenes from the lives of Kim Il Song and Kim
Chông Il or merely portraits of the Leaders themselves, usually
surrounded by admiring crowds...
Verbal propaganda is also widely used adding to the influence of
broadcasting. In cities, will often encounter special vans with a
loud-speaker and sometimes a small rostrum at the back carrying an
announcer. Usually, such propaganda vans are deployed at large
construction sites. Speakers transmit loud music (a normal mix of
military marches and songs about the Kims) from time to time interrupted
by slogans shouted by a girl sitting in the car or standing on the
rostrum. Such accompaniment is expected to have a good ideological impact
on the workers and improve their productivity. The image of a girl with a
huge loud-speaker under her armpit has become the symbol for propaganda
activities inspiring the masses to feats of labor. This image is very
popular in modern North Korean arts, be it literature, painting or
cinematography.
One of the most distinctive features of the North Korean ideological
system is a particularly widely use of meetings or, rather, ideological
indoctrination sessions. Kim Il Song is often cited as saying that every
Korean has to work eight hours, study eight hours, and rest eight hours.
It should be noted, however, that under "studying" mostly "political
studying" is meant, that is, studying the works of Kim Il Song and Kim
Chông Il. Obviously, the authorities' dream that every Korean would spend
eight hours a day reading the sacred texts has remained just such.
Nevertheless, the achievements of the North Korean authorities in this
respect are very significant. There is hardly another country in the
world where every citizen has to spend on average about two hours daily
in compulsory meetings. This used to be the norm in North Korea in the
1970s and 1980s, but more recently there has been a decline in the
frequency and length of these meetings. The meetings are as much a part
of the daily routine as, say, lunch or sleep. A working day starts and
finishes with such meetings though the time spent on them is, of course,
not included in one’s working hours. In addition, Saturday afternoons are
exclusively devoted to such meetings. Even vacationers are not free of
this compulsory ideological education. While in resorts, North Koreans
are still obliged to attend meetings at the venue, spending there on
average a couple hours per day...
One of the most important questions about any propaganda system is its
efficiency. How effective is the North Korean propaganda? Obviously, it
is difficult to give a definite answer since no sociological field
research
can be undertaken in the country. Nevertheless, the author would venture
to
suggest some conclusions based on his personal experience in the country
and with North Koreans generally.
Firstly, on the whole, the North Korean propaganda system seems fairly
effective, mainly because of the absence of alternative sources of
information. The majority of people in the DPRK believe (or, at least,
had believed until the food crisis of 1995) that the living standards in
their country are quite high. They obviously respect Kim Il Song,
although not his son who is much less popular among the population. As to
nationalist, not to say chauvinist beliefs, they are typical to most
Koreans, both in the North and the South.
Secondly, it seems that during the late 1980s and 1990s, the efficiency
of the North Korean propaganda machine has been waning. The reason being
a certain weakening of the country's isolation tolerated by the
leadership in the hope of solving their economic problems. This has lead
to spread of skepticism towards the official doctrines, especially among
the elitist youth and students.
Thirdly, achievements of North Korean propaganda system have been based
not so much on any efficient program of propaganda as on a system of
total control and isolation from the outside world. This means that even
a slight detour from the strict isolationism and minimal contact with the
outside world would lead to a rapid collapse of the official world view
(though some elements of this world view may and indeed will most
probably would last for a very long time). In other words, the position
of the official world view in North Korean society does not seem
particularly strong.
{1. These groups consist of a few dozens of neighboring families. Each is
headed by an official who has to check upon the behavior of all persons
under his control as he is personally responsible for their political
loyalty.}
(via N.Grace Dec 27, 2002 for CRW)
...............................................................
Misc - KOREA (SOUTH)
The Truth about the Voice of National Salvation (National Democratic
Front Broadcast)
Statement by the Republic of Korea National Intelligence Service, 2001
Published on the www.nis.go.kr Web site (URL now broken)
The Voice of National Salvation is a malicious anti-South propaganda
radio broadcast aimed at South Koreans.
- It was initially launched on June 1, 1970 under the name of the Voice
of the Revolutionary Party for Reunification. The broadcast changed its
named to the current Voice of National Salvation on August 8, 1985,
following the renaming of the Revolutionary Party for Reunification as
the National Democratic Front for South Korea (in fact, the Korean
Worker's Party).
- Thereafter, the broadcast station increased its frequency range,
broadcasting hours and output, to intensify its function as ideological
indoctrinator of pro-North student activists and instigator of
anti-government struggles in the South.
The broadcast is transmitted from the "Mt. Chilbo Liaison Office" under
the United Front Department.
- All broadcast and recording scripts prepared by party organizations
undergo proofreading by South Koreans (defectors or abductees) to
disguise the broadcast as one originating from the South. Word choice,
spelling and pronunciation are carefully checked to make them sound
natural. The broadcast starts with the opening, "This is the Voice of
National Salvation of the National Democratic Front for South Korea
reporting from Seoul."
- Anchors are mostly defectors and abductees from South Korea. Song Kyung
Hee and Jong Kyung Suk, who were kidnapped and taken to the North when
their plane (Korean Air) was hijacked to the North in 1969, work as
anchorwomen. Yoon Noh Bin, a former professor at South Korea's Pusan
University, who defected to the North through Singapore, also works as an
anchorman.
The station operates one medium-range and six short-range frequencies.
They are transmitted from Haeju, Wonsan and Pyongyang to all of South
Korea for 16 hours a day, with 30 minutes of English service each day.
(via N.Grace Dec 27, 2002 for CRW)
Voice of National Salvation
Quoted from the Congressional Research Service: Report for Congress
94-933 S
November 29, 1994
http://www.fas.org/spp/starwars/crs/94-933s.htm
Through clandestine publications (the quarterly Ch'ongmaek in particular)
and the Voice of National Salvation broadcasts, North Korea urged South
Koreans of all walks to rise up in "anti-U.S., pro-independence"
struggles. To that end, Pyongyang in August 1985 inaugurated an
anti-U.S./anti-R.O.K underground organization called the "South Korean
National Democratic Front"--actually a renaming of the North Korea-based
"Reunification and Revolutionary Party" at the disposal of Pyongyang
since 1969, as an instrument of propaganda, agitation, and disinformation
against U.S./R.O.K. interests.
(via N.Grace Dec 27, 2002 for CRW)
Voice of National Salvation Profile
By North Korea Today, 1998
http://www.koreascope.org/newdocs/etext/sub/2/1/nk7_2.htm
The Korean People's Democratic Front Radio is an organization disguised
as an anti-regime organization in the South, pretending that it exists in
Korea. This is the mouthpiece of the"Korean People's Democratic Front"
(its name was changed in July,1985, from the Unified Revolutionary
Party), which airs propaganda in the name of the "Voice of National
Salvation."
This radio employs kidnapped South Koreans as announcers in order to
pretend to be airing from within Korea in the dialect spoken in Korea,
but in reality its transmitting station is located on Mt. Namsan in Haeju
City, Hwanghae Province, and the "Chilbosan Liaison Office" (located in
Hungbudong, Pyongyang City), under the North Korean Workers'Party United
Front Department, controls its broadcasting.
The contents of the broadcasts consist typically of false rumors devised
to stir up disorders in Korean society, and the propaganda to praise the
North Korean system, also making efforts to agitate leftist activists in
the South to lead anti-government struggles.
The Korean People's Democratic Front Radio stands proxy for North Korean
agencies in propagandizing anti-South revolutionary lines, advertising
that Juche ideology should be the basis for a world view, and contending
that Korea must be unified in the formula of a confederacy through
ceaseless struggles to attain the objectives of "independence from the
United States," an"anti-fascist democracy," and finally "national
unification." At the same time, the radio agitates for the pullout of the
U.S.troops from Korea and the overthrow of the present Korean government.
In fact, the People's Democratic Front Radio had a great influence upon
leftist students and subversive forces in South Korea, giving birth to
the organization of a leftist group called the "Juche Ideology Faction,"
which was indulged in listening to the Voice of National Salvation and
struggling against the government according to the instructions of the
radio, although lately the strength of the faction has been considerably
reduced.
(via N.Grace Dec 27, 2002 for CRW)
North Korea's New Year Message and Juche (Self-reliance) Ideology Faction
Anonymous letter to the Chosun Ilbo, January 14, 2001
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200101/200101140304.html
South Korean left-activist students may undergo more drudgery than North
Koreans in memorizing North Korea's New Year message to its people in its
entirety, as reported in the North Korean Report, for the former are
required to completely master the (South) Korea Nationalism and Democracy
Front's New Year message as well...
Though the front is claimed to be a vanguard organization of the Juche
ideology faction operating in the South, its' generally accepted that it
in fact exists in the North. Broadcasts of the "Voice of National
Salvation" aired from a transmission tower in Haeju, South Hwang hae
Province, North Korea, the Juche ideology faction in the South takes
notes and disseminates
them.
The Nationalism and Democracy Front also issues a New Year's message
every year. The left-activist group has a small team, specializing in
listening to the "Voice of National Salvation" radio, compiling its
contents into booklets and distributing them. They are distributed on
January 2 or 3 every year without fail, titled, "Friends," "National
Salvation Front," "Voice of No-defeat," "Patriotic Voice," or
"Lighthouse."
Printed in them are Kim Il Sung's New Year's message, the Nationalism and
Democracy Front's address, annual evaluations and prospects, and New
Year's discussions, issued by the Front. Debates take place on them among
seniors first and then by juniors. In the course of conducting about a
dozen debates, the activist students naturally learn them by heart.
Shameful as I'm, I too recited Kim Il Sung's New Year's message in full,
perfectly imitating his voice...
Two sentiments assail me as I write this letter. One is a sense of guilt
toward North Koreans. Once I read a story about a person who was beaten
to death in a political detention camp in the North for having failed to
memorize the New Year's message, in the memories of a North Korean
defector named Ri Sun Ok. The story made me agonize. Another is a sense
of pity toward some South Korean leftist students, who appear to be
filled with admiration for "comrade Kim Jung Il's greatness and
affection."
(via N.Grace Dec 27, 2002 for CRW)
...............................................................
Misc - LEBANON
VOICE OF FREEDOM OFFICIAL BROADCAST NEXT WEEK.
The clandestine Voice of Freedom is to launch its official broadcast from
France targeting Lebanon and the Middle East next week, said the station
manager Mr.Simon Abby Rmya to some source recently in Paris. Voice of
Liberty, as they prefer to call their station, has been test transmitting
since Nov.22 daily at 1600 on 11515 for one hour.
The station was not heard last Sunday ,I got instead voice of France
international in Persian *1600-1630*. Lately I noticed a minor ID change
"Sawat al-Horria, Izaa't Lobnan al-mowahed al-Mostaquel,wa Saout
al-Moqawama al-Lobnanyh". Developing...
(M.Fathi-D Dec. 12, 2002 in CDX-ML)
Despite the shrill language in this column so far [IRAQ non], all of the
clandestine activity on shortwave is not concentrated only in Iraq. On
DXplorer, Ed Kusalik noted a logging of Voice of Freedom/Free Patriotic
Movement of Lebanon on 11515 kHz for an hour at *1600 UT on December 21.
Ed heard a patriotic anthem at sign-on, with multiple announcers talking
about Middle Eastern politics. If Ed can hear this one in Alberta, it
certainly is worth a check at your own QTH. Ed notes that this one has a
web site, in case you would like more information about the station. CRW
#121 noted the appearance of this one with a test broadcast, but we don’t
know a great deal about it yet. CRW notes that
http://www.radio@tayyar.org is an apparently valid e-mail address for
contact with the station
(G.Zeller-USA Clandestine Profile The A*C*E Jan 2003 via DXLD 2-2002)
...............................................................
Misc - MIDDLE EAST
POP-AGANDA By PAUL TOUGH
New York Times (magazine, I think) December 15, 2002
Why do they hate us? According to a theory being tested this year by the
Broadcasting Board of Governors, an arm of the United States government,
they hate us because we haven't been playing them enough J. Lo. In March,
the B.B.G. addressed that shortfall by budgeting $35 million to start
Radio Sawa, a 24-hour radio network broadcasting from studios in
Washington to FM stations in Jordan, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and
Qatar; it's also piped into Iraq, past Saddam's scramblers, via Kuwait.
Radio Sawa is the brainchild of Norman Pattiz, chairman of the Westwood
One radio network. Soon after President Clinton appointed him to help
oversee the government's foreign broadcasting efforts, Pattiz took a
fact-finding trip to the Middle East, and he came back with
twoobservations: there is a ''media war'' going on in the Arab world, and
the United States is losing.
The Arab-language all-talk Voice of America, also under the control of
the B.B.G., wasn't up to the fight, Pattiz concluded. It was boring,
especially to the younger generation Pattiz wanted to target. Radio Sawa,
by contrast, is lots of fun: an upbeat mix of contemporary Western and
Arabic pop (J. Lo segués quite nicely into the Egyptian heartthrob Hisham
Abbas, it turns out), no ads and two brief news segments each hour,
presenting the events of the day with a gently pro-American spin. Pattiz
recruited Arab journalists from Al Hayat (a London-based newspaper) and
''Nightline'' to write the news briefs.
Officially, the reports are balanced and objective, seeking the truth
from all sides. But critics charge that Radio Sawa presents the American
point of view more explicitly than Voice of America did. For example, the
V.O.A. was criticized in Washington late in 2001 for broadcasting
excerpts from an interview with the Taliban leader Mullah Muhammed Omar;
the news director of Radio Sawa, by contrast, told reporters that he
wouldn't have broadcast Omar's interview, nor would he broadcast the
voice of Saddam Hussein. President Bush's June 24, 2002, speech calling
on Palestinians to replace Yasir Arafat, however, was broadcast live in
its entirety, translated instantly into Arabic.
The message comes through in the music, too -- like Casey Kasem, the
D.J.'s on Radio Sawa introduce each song with a story about the artist.
''When we play a song by Jennifer López, we talk about all the
difficulties she has overcome,'' Pattiz explains. ''Those are great
stories about the kind of things that can happen to you when you live in
a democracy.''
Though reliable ratings figures are sometimes difficult to come by, so
far indications are that Radio Sawa (sawa means ''together'' in Arabic)
is getting through: Pattiz says that 80 percent of 18- to 30-year-olds in
Amman are regular listeners. And the network is expanding; this month,
the B.B.G. plans to start a Radio Sawa-like service that will broadcast
in Farsi to Iran.
The main problem, so far, is that the network's young Arab listeners seem
to like the pop a lot more than they like the news: Avril Lavigne, yes;
Condoleezza Rice, no. One Jordanian listener told the BBC that he listens
to the music on Radio Sawa all the time but turns the dial whenever the
news comes on. ''It's like listening to Israeli radio,'' he said. ''It's
biased.''
(via K.A.Elliott-USA in DXLD 2-198)
...............................................................
Misc - RUSSIA
BACKGROUND ON MOVEMENT FOR ISLAMIC REFORM'S RADIO |
Excerpt from report by London-based Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia
in Arabic on 10 December about the movement's Sawt al-Islah [Voice of
Reform] Radio;
sub-headings as published
.. The movement has made many efforts to deliver its message through more
effective means than faxes and the Internet. It has tried to implement a
broadcast initiative to achieve this aim. But such a project is far from
easy, especially since we oppose a state, with its great capabilities and
international support. After many patient efforts, we have succeeded,
thank God, in beginning broadcasting. We ask God to grant us success in
delivering the word of truth, fulfilling the obligation of spreading the
message, and allowing all members of the [Islamic] community to
participate... .
Broadcast content
The most important content will be direct dialogue with the movement's
official spokesman or with individuals selected by the movement to speak
with listeners. Broadcasts will also include other cultural, social,
historical, news and press materials, as well as contributions from
listeners and letters to read on the air, God willing. The air will
always be open for listener suggestions.
How can listeners participate?
By phone, fax, and e-mail - the station's address is radio@islah.org ;
through the movement's web site http://www.miraserve.com which has a
special window for radio comments; through the radio section of the
discussion forum; through the al-Islah room in PalTalk
http://www.paltalk.com open every day between 2200 and 2400 hours
Mecca time [1900 to 2100 gmt] for secure participation. The listener can
participate electronically and ensure complete security by employing
easy-to-use voice alteration programmes available on the Internet....
[Question] Why did the movement choose HotBird [European broadcast
satellite at 13 degrees east] ?
[Answer] The movement did not choose HotBird. It was compelled to choose
it, as the other satellites that broadcast to the region are controlled
by agencies that prevented the movement from using them. The movement is
prepared to switch to another satellite if it is
guaranteed secure service...
FAQ [frequently asked questions] on broadcast content
[Question] What programmes does the station offer?
[Answer] The most important programme content offers direct dialogue
with the movement's official spokesman, or with individuals selected
by the movement to speak with listeners. There will be open dialogue
on all subjects relating to our country, our [Islamic] community, and
especially current problems and future dangers.
[Question] Are there any limitations on broadcasts?
[Answer] There are absolutely no limitations aside from a prohibition on
insults, abuse, foul language, or attacks on religion and personal
dignity. Additionally, European governments impose certain limitations.
The movement will be careful to heed them. There are no limitations,
other than those mentioned above, on discussions of politics, society,
government, or rulers...
[Question] How will the movement compete with other media in its
programmes?
[Answer] The movement does not aim to compete with other media. Broadcast
content is intended to further the movement's aims. The movement feels
that, in essence, this project has no competition. As far as we are
aware, there is no organization capable of delivering
the unvarnished truth and opening a free space for vital discussion
beyond the bounds set by the ruling regime.
Participation FAQ
[Question] How can I call without the destination of the call becoming
known?
[Answer] You can do this by using an international calling card such as
AT&T, MCI, or by using a "Call Back" system. In the latter, you dial a
number in Europe or the United States, hang up the receiver, and then get
a call that provides an international line. These methods, however, do
not guarantee security if the individual's phone is tapped. What applies
to the telephone applies to the fax as well. Perhaps the only means to
avoid wiretapping, even if the phone is tapped, is by using internet
telephony systems such as "Net-To-Phone." This is an affordable system
that provides good voice quality and makes it impossible to trace the
call.
[Question] Is written communication with the movement safe?
[Answer] Yes, written correspondence with the movement, whether by e-mail
or the Web site forum, is completely secure, God willing. There is no way
for anyone to trace the electronic path back to the person who sent the
letter or message.
[Question] Will the movement pay attention to what it receives?
[Answer] Yes, the movement will read everything it receives. We cannot,
however, guarantee that all questions and comments will be read on the
air. A comment may be inappropriate, or we may receive too many comments,
or there may be other reasons. We ask that anyone who wants his comment
to be read as is kindly provide clear reasons why this should be done.
[Question] How can I participate using PalTalk [an online chat system]?
[Answer] The movement will open a PalTalk room each day from 2200 to 2400
hours. The room will be connected to the broadcast so that you can hear
what is happening in the room on air. People will be able to enter the
room to participate in the broadcast with a virtual microphone. According
to the information we possess, it will be virtually impossible to perform
an electronic trace on participants.
[Question] Will participants be able to alter their voices?
[Answer] Yes, there are many programmes available on the Internet for
secure voice alteration. They make it virtually impossible for the state
to restore the original voice....
Source: Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia web site, London, in Arabic
10 Dec 02 (via BBCM via DXLD 2-198)
...............................................................
Misc - SRI LANKA
The Sri Lankan opposition has strongly criticised the government upgrade
of Voice of Tigers
The Sri Lankan opposition has strongly criticised the government for its
decision to permit an upgrade of Voice of Tigers (VoT), operated by the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The opposition says that the
government should re-start its own service to the region, Wanni Sevaya,
which was closed down on 31 March 2002 following a ceasefire between the
government and the LTTE. Wanni Sevaya carried personal messages from the
families of police and security forces deployed in the region. It also
informed the civilian population of government policies on key issues.
President Chandrika Kumaratunga is said to be 'deeply concerned' at the
government's decision permit the LTTE to upgrade its radio station while
closing down Wanni Sevaya.
source-dinamani daily
(D.Prabakaran-IND Dec 14, 2002 for CRW)
PA queries Voice of Tigers
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka
Colombo: The PA [sinhala ethnic opposition party alliance -D.P.]
expressed its opposition to the government for allowing the Voice of
Tigers to take the radio transmission equipment to Wanni [tamil eelam
region -D.P.]. The customs has allowed some transmitters and other
equipment gifted by Norway to take to Wanni.
PA spokesman Dr. Sarath Amunugama said the action of the government was
against customs procedures and telecommunications regulatory authority
act. He said the action of Norway raises many doubts about the neutral
role of Norway in the peace process.
Dr. Amunugama said the equipment has been cleared by PM’s secretary
without any customs inspection and taken to Wanni without any checking.
Tigers have said they wanted the equipment to expand their broadcast
which earlier started as a clandestine radio.
(D.Prabakaran-IND Dec 14, 2002 for CRW)
Permitting LTTE upgrade radio station ridiculous
Restore Wanni Sevaya - Opposition
by Shamindra Ferdinando
The opposition wants the government to restore the special radio service
which was closed down following a ceasefire agreement with the LTTE,
particularly as it recently allowed the LTTE to acquire state-of-the-art
equipment to boost its clandestine Voice of Tigers (VOT) broadcasts. The
government station - "Wanni Sevaya" - was set up for the benefit of the
police and the security forces deployed in the Wanni theatre. The new
equipment will allow the LTTE to greatly expand VOT coverage which was
previously limited to the Wanni.
The station - "Wanni Sevaya" - was closed down on March 31, subsequent to
the ceasefire agreement between the government and the LTTE reached in
February. "The government must restore the station," a JVP spokesman
said, accusing the government of closing down the station to make the
‘Tigers’ happy.
The station was set up on a directive of the then President Ranasinghe
Premadesa as a part of the strategy to counter the VOT.
The station also gave families of officers and men deployed in the region
an opportunity to send messages to their men on the front. "There were a
lot programmes for the listening pleasure of the troops," a security
official said, adding that the station was also used to keep the Tamil
civilian population informed of government stance on key issues including
the peace process.
The opposition on Wednesday (11) queried whether the equipment brought by
the Norwegian embassy and handed over to the LTTE recently would be
taxed. "Will the customs apply the law?" MEP leader Dinesh Gunawardene
asked Finance Minister K. N. Choksy in parliament.
SLFP frontliner Anura Bandaranaike told the Island that the government
should not have permitted the LTTE to upgrade its clandestine radio
broadcasts. "It was a ridiculous situation," he said, accusing the
government of allowing the LTTE to take advantage of the so-called peace
process.
Bandaranaike blasted the government for permitting the Norwegians to
bring down radio equipment sought by the LTTE. The station was situated
within a key security forces base in Vavuniya.
Wanni Security Force Headquarters made representations to the government
through the Army Headquarters. The office of the Chief of Defence Staff
(CDS) has been informed of the situation.
The opposition was convinced that the government should restore the Wanni
Sevaya that was put to use by successive adminstrations to reach the
Tamil speaking people living in the LTTE-held areas.
A spokesman for the office of the president said that President Chandrika
Kumaratunga was deeply concerned over the decision to close down the
Wanni Sevaya and permit the LTTE to upgrade its clandestine radio
network. He blamed the government for legalising a clandestine radio
Service while terminating its own broadcasts.
(D.Prabakaran-IND Dec 14, 2002 for CRW)
Jaffna News reporter working for the clandestine IBC-TAMIL, was severaly
assaulted by soldiers of the Sri Lanka army and members of EPDP
On 10 th december Mr. Tamilselvan, jaffna news reporter working for the
clandestine IBC-TAMIL, was severaly assaulted by soldiers of the Sri
Lanka army and members of EPDP. At the time he was attacked, the
journalist was covering a mass demonstration in Nelliyadi town against
EPDP and its unlawful activities.EPDP is a pro-governement tamil outfit,
funded and armed by srilankan military,now fights alongside government
troops against the LTTE. During the incident, more than 50 civilians were
also assaulted by the soldiers. Several human rights organisations and
tamil political parties condemned this brutal act of army .
In the worst press freedom violation of the year 2000, on 19 October,
Mariyadasan Nimalaranjan who worked for several local newspapers in
srilanka, radio and TV stations like IBC-TAMIL , and was also a regular
contributor to the BBC's Sinhala and Tamil services, died after being
shot by members EPDP , in his home, which was very near to a srilankathe
Sri Lankan authorities prevented Colombo-based journalists from attending
the funeral of Nimalaranjan. On the basis of reports within Sri Lanka,
the defence ministry had given clearance for four journalists to travel
to the town of Jaffna from the capital but later withdrew permission. The
reports were later confirmed by the defence ministry who failed to
provide a reason for the volte-face..
(D.Prabakaran-IND Dec 16, 2002 for CRW)
PA queries Voice of Tigers
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka
The PA expressed its opposition to the government for allowing the Voice
of Tigers to take the radio transmission equipment to Wanni. The customs
has allowed some transmitters and other equipment gifted by Norway to
take to Wanni. PA spokesman Dr. Sarath Amunugama said the action of the
government was against customs procedures and telecommunications
regulatory authority act. He said the action of Norway raises many doubts
about the neutral role of Norway in the peace process.
Dr. Amunugama said the equipment has been cleared by PM's secretary
without any customs inspection and taken to Wanni without any checking.
Tigers have said they wanted the equipment to expand their broadcast
which earlier started as a clandestine radio.
(D.Prabakaran-IND Dec 16, 2002 for CRW)
LTTE GIVEN LICENSE FOR FM RADIO STATION
source- THE HINDU- tamil daily from india
The controversy over broadcasting equipment imported for the ' voice of
tigers' has deepned with media reports that the LIBERATION TIGERS OF
TAMIL EELAM was granted a temporary license for a private fm radio
station.The LTTE was given the license last month to broadcast at an
frequency of 98 mhz subject to condition that the station would be at
kilinochi[ a rebel held town at northern srilanka], with a coverage of
20kms radius and an altitde of 75 mts.
With kilinochi around 120 kms [???- D.P.] as crow files, from southern
india , the ralative ease with which repeaters can be installed , the
existing VOT network and the fact that signals are stronger across seas,
could still it possible for the LTTE broadcasts to reach south india.
The temporary license , was to broadcast educational, sports,
entertainment and foreign news alongwith local news.The equipment
imported includes transmitters,antennas, amplifiers, a 20 channel audio
mixer and speaker systems.The consignment, which was handled by norwegian
embassy was then sent with government escort and handed over to the ltte.
(D.Prabakaran-IND Dec 16, 2002 for CRW)
India voices concern over VOT
By The Sunday Times Diplomatic Correspondent
The Government of India has expressed serious "concern" to the Government
of Sri Lanka over Tiger guerrillas acquiring modern broadcasting
equipment for its clandestine Voice of Tigers broadcasting station via
Norwegian diplomatic channels.
The Sunday Times learns that India's Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal who
was on an official visit to Colombo early this week raised the matter
during a meeting with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Despite Government claims that the radio station had only a limited
range, India's "concerns" has been heightened by the distinct possibility
of the equipment being upgraded to reach areas in the southern Indian
State of Tamil Nadu.
Exacerbating this "concern" of the Government of India, The Sunday Times
learnt, was the apparent cloak of high secrecy over the transfer of six
tons of broadcasting equipment. Although one of the Government's peace
negotiators, Minister Milinda Moragoda, regularly visited the Indian
capital before and after every round of peace talks with the LTTE to
brief Indian Foreign Minister Yaswant Sinha, National Security Advisor
Brajesh Mishra, and other Indian leaders, no mention had been made of the
transfer of the broadcasting equipment.
The Government of India had learnt of the move for the first time only
from the Opposition party in Sri Lanka. This was after Parliamentarian
Anura Bandaranaike, who was a member of a three-member People's Alliance
delegation, briefed Indian leaders.
The Sunday Times learns that questions on how the broadcasting equipment,
said to be worth millions of rupees, was procured and handed over to the
LTTE without payment of any duty have become a subject of concern not
only for the Government of India but also the Opposition.
Several questions are being raised. Who raised the funds to procure the
broadcasting equipment? Were diplomatic norms and procedures not violated
when an embassy in Colombo imports such equipment, clears it without duty
and hands it over to a private organisation? Since diplomatic cargo is
not subject to Customs inspection, was the container with the
broadcasting equipment examined? These were among the many questions that
are being asked.
Premier Wickremesinghe has told Indian Foreign Secretary Sibal that the
Government would make available a full report to them. However, it is not
immediately clear whether the UNF Government will make a public statement
explaining the details.
The secrecy over the transfer of the broadcasting equipment was further
confounded after Defence Secretary Austin Fernando wrote to The Sunday
Times to say he did not issue any letter to a Police Inspector who
accompanied the container-load of equipment upto the Army check-point at
Omanthai from where it was moved to guerrilla controlled territory.
He said "....I wish to state categorically and with full responsibility
that I, as the Defence Secretary, have not issued any such letter to
anyone and accordingly the news item is entirely false as regards the
said letter." The Sunday Times stands corrected as regards a letter being
issued by the Secretary.
However, Defence Secretary Fernando did preside at a top-level conference
at the Defence Ministry where he issued verbal instructions. Among those
taking part in the conference were Interior Ministry Secretary M.N.
Junaid, Army Commander Lt.Gen. Lionel Balagalle and Police Chief T.E.
Anandarajah.
The conference was held to facilitate the movement of the LTTE equipment
from government-controlled area to the LTTE-dominated Wanni. It was
thereafter that Mr. Anandarajah ordered a police team led by a Chief
Inspector to accompany the cargo and a member of the LTTE to Omanthai. At
the security forces checkpoint there, Army personnel had wanted to
examine the sealed container to which the Chief Inspector had objected.
His orders had been to escort it and ensure it was released in that
condition.
Brigadier P. Pannipitiya who had been the senior officer on duty at that
time had informed Wanni Security Forces Commander Susil Chandrapala. He
had clarified the matter with Army Headquarters in Colombo and later
ordered that the container be released.
The Sunday Times had also learnt that the deputy leader of the LTTE's
Political Wing, Puli Thevan, who is in almost daily telephone contact
with Defence Secretary Fernando, had also made several appeals to him to
have the equipment released earlier. This was to enable LTTE leader
Velupillai Prabhakaran to make his "Maveerar Day" broadcast on November
27. Despite Mr. Fernando's efforts, procedural formalities delayed its
release.
(D.Prabakaran-IND Dec 16, 2002 for CRW)
Inside story of LTTE’s radio booty
By Frederica Jansz
An apparent sinister move by the LTTE to import an entire consignment of
radio equipment from Singapore has surfaced as being nothing more than an
attempt to evade a Rs. 2 million customs duty.
An in-depth investigation by The Sunday Leader has found that the recent
controversy over the government having allowed the LTTE to import new
radio equipment for its station the ‘Voice of Tigers’ boils down to the
fact, the Tigers involved the Royal Norwegian Embassy to facilitate the
import in order to avoid paying over Rs. 2 million in customs duty. The
radio equipment in reality was not a gift from the Norwegians to the
LTTE.
The LTTE in this instance did not attempt to smuggle the items through
Colombo, but formally sought approval for the import from the government
as well as an official radio license.
Functioning its political arm out of their own Peace Secretariat in
Kilinochchi, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), were keen to
secure a license to operate their clandestine radio station the Voice of
Tigers. One of the purposes the LTTE says it sought a license to do so
was to begin disseminating news to the Tamil people on the ongoing peace
process.
Keen to legalise the rebel radio station, the LTTE made an official
request from the government to do so. The radio equipment was purchased
in Singapore, doubtless with the assistance of expatriate Tamils and
arrangements made to ship the consignment to Colombo.
The government meanwhile refused a request by the LTTE to waive the
customs duty that would be incurred on the items once it arrived in
Colombo. That is what led to the Norwegians coming into the picture.
On November 11, Secretary, Mass Communications Ministry, Kumar Abeysinghe
wrote to the Secretary General of the Peace Secretariat informing him
that a
license had been issued on the approval of Minister Imtiaz Bakeer Markar
to the LTTE to operate and maintain a private radio station.
The Minister had granted such approval by virtue of Section 44 of the Sri
Lanka Broadcasting Corporation Act No. 37 of 1996 on the same terms and
conditions accorded to radio stations in Sri Lanka’s south.
The terms and conditions stipulate that the licensee shall provide
broadcasting programmes in accordance with the norms, standards and code
of ethics followed by the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. That the
licensee shall confine its broadcasting programmes to educational,
sports, entertainment and foreign news. That the licensee shall broadcast
local news only with the approval of the director of information. And
that the licensee shall abide by all conditions laid down by the
Monitoring and Approving Committee. Also, that advertising shall be in
accordance with the norms and ethics adopted by the Sri Lanka
Broadcasting Corporation.
Whether the government will be in a position to maintain any kind of
checks or balances or impose a fine if the LTTE choose to violate these
conditions remains to be seen.
Nevertheless, once informed that the government license had been
approved, the LTTE moved the Royal Norwegian Embassy and sought their
assistance to clear the items. When a diplomatic mission clears imported
goods, there is a duty waiver.
Section 19 (1) of the Customs Ordinance reads as follows: “The Minister
may from time to time by order published in the gazette exempt the
consular officers or clerks of the foreign states named in such order
from payment of customs duty on goods consigned to or imported to or
cleared out of bond by or for the use of such consular offices or
clerks.”
This clause however, certainly does not give any diplomatic mission the
right to clear imported items on behalf of a third party.
Be that as it may, the Norwegian Embassy wrote to the Foreign Affairs
Ministry seeking permission to clear this equipment. In other words, the
Norwegians sought a duty waiver.
The mistake made in this instance is that this privilege is accorded only
if such items are for the use of the diplomatic mission concerned and
definitely not for any other party. That the Norwegians facilitated this
import on behalf of the LTTE is a contravention of the laws of this land.
In this context, irrespective of their intentions, the Norwegians had
violated Section 19 of the Customs Ordinance.
That is because, once cleared, the Norwegians handed over the items to
the government Peace Secretariat, which forms part of the Prime
Minister’s office. Needless to say, even at this juncture, the Peace
Secretariat should have ensured the duty of over Rs. 2 million was
collected from the LTTE.
Meantime, Sri Lanka Customs could not inspect the container since the
consignee was a consular service.
Aware of the various connotations to this issue and since the goods were
to be transported to the LTTE, Defence Secretary Austin Fernando insisted
the container be searched. Fernando took this decision as a precautionary
measure against any other items being introduced into the container.
Though Sri Lanka Customs could not check the container due to the fact
that the consignee was named as the Royal Norwegian Embassy, Fernando
ordered a thorough security check after the customs cleared the goods at
the very location. Thereafter, he appointed a four member team to inspect
the consignment.
They were: Advisor, Mass Communications Ministry, R. D. Somasiri,
Director Signals, Sri Lanka Army, Brigadier W. S. A. de Silva, Director
Electronics and Telecommunications Sri Lanka Air Force, Group Captain A.
Gunewardena and Additional Director General, Sri Lanka Rupavahini
Corporation, Upali Arambewela.
Having inspected the container, all four members of the inspection team
signed a document, which they handed over to Austin Fernando on November
26, stating that the items contained therein were all parts of radio
equipment and nothing else. (See box for full details of items).
Thereafter, the question of transporting the goods arose. Fernando was
determined to ensure that nothing was introduced to the container
en-route to Kilinochchi. Thus, having sealed the three boxes, he
telephoned IGP T. Anandarajah and Interior Ministry Secretary M. N.
Junaid and told them he wanted an escort to travel up to Omanthai with
these items. Fernando stressed that the escort was not to protect the
items inside the container, but to ensure nothing was introduced en-route
before the box was handed over to the LTTE.
Anandarajah sent a chief inspector from the Fort police called
Liyanapathirana who travelled with this equipment up to Omanthai from
where the LTTE took it over. Ironically, Fernando who took steps to
ensure there was nothing introduced into the boxes en-route to the LTTE,
came under attack by the opposition as a LTTE sympathiser. Prime Minister
Ranil Wickremesinghe has now demanded that the LTTE pay the government
the Rs. 2 million in duty as he has determined that the Tigers do not
hold the right to import the items albeit via the Norwegian Embassy and
thus evade paying due taxes.
Despite the People’s Alliance and the JVP voicing strong objections to
the LTTE having been granted a license to operate their radio station
legally, it is noteworthy to point out at this stage that the Tigers by
formally applying for the license have accepted Sri Lanka’s sovereignty
and Sri Lankan law. In other words, the LTTE have in this instance at
least, in seeking legitimacy for their radio station have subjected
themselves to government regulations and become part of mainstream rules
and regulations.
Report submitted by the four member committee
Ministry of Mass Communication
Level 17 West Tower
World Trade Center
Colombo.
Secretary,
Ministry of Defence,
Colombo 03
26th November 2002
Inspection of Communication Equipment
1. As instructed by the Secretary, Ministry of Defence, the following
committee was appointed to inspect the consignment of communication
equipment received by the Royal Norwegian Embassy.
Mr. R. D. Somasiri, Advisor Ministry of Mass Communications
Brigadier Y. S. A. de Silva, Director Signals, Sri Lanka Army
Group Captain A. Gunawardana, Director, Electronics & Telecomm. Sri Lanka
Air Force
Mr. Upali Arambewela, Additional Director General, Sri Lanka Rupavahini
Corporation
2. The items which were inspected are listed in Annex “A”.
3. Following observations are made with respect to the items inspected
a. As per the items list (Annex B) provided by the Secretary Ministry of
Defence, the following items were not found with the consignment
i. VMC
ii. VSAT Communication Unit
b. The FM transmitter equipment in this consignment are capable of being
used for FM broadcasting and Radio Data Transmission.
c. The equipment is tuned to 99.0 MHZ (as per the data sheet provided)
with
a power output of 1kW. It is noted that this frequency is already
allocated
to Shri FM.
d. Due to the non-availability of the antenna specification, the final
output power (EIRP) cannot be determined
e. Despite the approval given for 98.0 MHZ for the FM broadcast, the data
sheet of the inspected transmitter equipment reveals 99.0 MHZ as its
frequency of operation.
f. The Radio Data System (RDS) equipment that has come with this
consignment
is capable of sending data from point to multi-point and cannot be
monitored
without a specific decoder.
g. This transmitter is designed to handle frequencies from 87MHz to
109Mhz
where as FM frequency band assigned in Sri Lanka for FM broadcasting, if
from 87.5 Mhz to 108.0 Mhz.
Upali Arambewela,
Additional Director General,
Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation,
(A Gunawardana)
Group Captain,
Director Electronics & Telecomms. Sri Lanka Air Force,
(Y. S. A. de Silva)
Brigadier Director Signals,
Sri Lanka Army,
R. D. Somasiri
Advisor,
Ministry of Mass Communications Communications,
Copies to:
1. DG/SCOPP
2. Mr. Liyanapathirana Chief Inspector-Police
Annex “A”
Package #01
Description Qty
1 FM Broadcast Antenna (4 Panels) Ea 01
2 7/8" RF feeder Cables Rolls 01
3 Splitter cables Set 01
4 Antenna Splitter Ea 01
5 Cable Guides/Holders Ea 01
Package #02
Description Qty
1 Broadcast Electronics BE FX-50 Exciter Ea 02
2 Rf Amplifier 500 Watts (BE
Part No: 334-2500) (87.5 - 108 Mhz) Ea 02
3 RF Amplifier 500 Watts (Be Part No: 334-2500)
(87.5-108 Mhz Ea 02
4 Manuals for FM 1C1 1 kW Transmitter/FX-50 Exciter Ea 02
5 PA Combiner (BE Model FM 500C1/FM1C1/FM-1PA) Ea 02
Note: Item Nos. 2,3 & 5 are parts of the FM Transmitter
Package #03
Description Qty
1 19" rack mountable compact disc player Sony CDP-D11 Ea 01
2 19" rack mountable Digital FM Stereo Generator Omnia.sg (MPX
Clipper/Generator) Ea 01
3 Professional Headphones Sennheiser HD-280 Ea 02
4 Professional Unidirectional Dynamic microphone Shure SM7B
(complete with wind shield Ea 01
5 Mic Stand Ea 01
6 Transmitters patch cables Set 01
7 19 “ rack mountable Audio Processor Focusrite Voice Master Ea
01
8 Audio Mixer 20 Channels (20 Input 4 Bus Soundcraft Spirit Sx Ea
01
9 Powered Monitor Speaker System Sony SMS-1P Ea 02
10 19" Rack mountable Mini Disc Recorder Sony MDS-10 Ea 01
11 RDS Encoder Phobos Audio EC2005X Ea 01
12 Furniture for control table with patch panels Ea 01
Letter sent to Prime Minister’s office
MC/D2/16
09 Dec. 2002
Secretary to the Prime Minister,
Prime Minister’s Office.
Dear Sir,
Licence to operate and maintain a private broadcasting station
Further to the licence issued to operate and maintain a broadcasting
station
by the LTTE Peace Secretariat.
The TRCSL has informed me that, the Peace Secretariat will have to make
the
following payments, in connection with the above licence:
1. Frequency assignment fee for 12 months - Rs. 22,500
2. Licence fee and power charges - Rs. 45,000 to be paid after the test
transmissions are in order.
3. Yearly licence and power charges Rs. 45,000 payable yearly to TRCSL.
I am also enclosing the Memorandum, which has been forwarded to me by
DGT/TRCSL, for further information.
Yours sincerely,
(Kumar Abeysinghe)
Secretary,
Ministry of Mass Communication.
Licence for radio station
MC/D2/16
11 Nov.2002
Secretary General
LTTE Peace Secretariat
Licence to Operate and Maintain a Private Broadcasting Station
I hereby issue a licence to operate and maintain a private Broadcasting
Station to LTTE Peace Secretariat, on the approval given by the Hon.
Minister of Mass Communication, under the powers vested in him by virtue
of Section 44 of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation Act No. 37 of
1966 on the following terms and conditions:
(1) The licensee shall provide broadcasting programmes in accordance with
the norms, standards and code of ethics followed by Sri Lanka
Broadcasting Corporation.
(2) The licensee shall maintain a broadcasting service of high quality,
both, as to the transmission and the matter transmitted.
(3) The licensee shall confine its broadcasting programmes to
educational, sports, entertainment (with desirable family content) and
foreign news.
(4) The licensee may broadcast local news only with the approval of the
Director of Information.
(5) The licensee shall abide by the conditions that are laid down by the
monitoring and approving committee established for the operation of
private television and broadcasting stations and also by any other
government authority in relation to programme content, quality and the
time limits and presentation of tapes for a period of two weeks after
broadcast.
(6) All advertising shall be in accordance with the code of ethics
adopted by the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation.
(7) This licensee shall be a temporary one until such time that a
formal licence is issued.
(8) The licensee fee will be notified in due course.
(9) Assigned frequency is 98 MHz subject to the following:
Location Kilinochchi
Output power from the final stage of the Transmitter 5kw Coverage area
20 km radius Altitude 75 m
(10) The Minister may impose any other conditions from time to time which
is deemed necessary for the purpose of carrying on the service of
broadcasting
in Sri Lanka and for developing, extending and improving the service and
for
matters connected herewith or incidental thereto.
(Kumar Abeysinghe)
Secretary,
Ministry of Mass Communication
Approved list FM Transmitter
1. FM Transmitter+Back Up transmitter 2 $52,600
2. FM Antenna (4 Boxes) 1 $18,000
3. FM Audio 1 $800
4. MPX Clipper/Generator 1 $3,850
5. VMC 1 $4,000
6. Antenna Cable 1 $2,600
Edit Room
1. Mixing console 1 $750
2. CD Player 1 $560
3. MD Recorder 1 $906
4. Microphone 1 $595
5. Microphone Holder 1 $95
6. Microphone Processor 1 $2,275
7. Patch Panel 2 $880
8. Loudspeaker 2 $920
9. Head Phones 2 $300
10. Technology Furniture 1 $1,800
11. Cabling 1 $1,500
$93,265
12. Vsat communication unit 1 $25,000
SOURCE- SUNDAY LEADER
(D.Prabakaran-CLN Dec 18, 2002 for CRW)
The Civil Administration in Thamil Eelam
-An American Academic -
A US Academic, who spent several months in Thamileelam during a three
year period (1994 - 1996), on his return to the US in 1996 sent this
special report to the Tamil Voice. In this report he outlines his
observations on the LTTE administration of the north
I spent a total of 18 months in the northern province of Sri Lanka since
early 1994, as a volunteer working with farmers and educators. During
this period I came to know the LTTE administrators and their
administration of the Northern Province areas under their control.My
observations below are based on that experience.
The Sri Lanka government services are provided through the Government
Agent (and the divisions within his responsibility) and by government
ministries, such as the departments of Agriculture, Education, Health,
Irrigation, etc. Since 1988/89, positions in the north that became vacant
due to retirement, resignation or transfer have not been filled in any of
the government departments. Equipment, such as machinery, vehicles, etc.
for the conduct of government services also have not been replaced since
that time. As such, government services are provided by a skeleton staff,
with none of the facilities that their counterparts in the rest of the
island have. Electricity, transport, water and other such departments of
the government do not function at all in the North.
The civil administration in the north, with the exception of the army
camps, are under the control of the LTTE. Mr. Prabakaran is the Leader,
equivalent to Head of State. The LTTE civil administration is headed by
Mr. Thamilchelvam. The two major administrative regions are the Jaffna
Peninsula and the Vanni region. Services are provided by "sectors," and
each sector is headed by a secretary (Porupalar - literal meaning person
responsible) - an LTTE appointee.
The Porupalar for Thamil Eelam Financial Division is Mr. Thamilanthi.
Transport and Trade affairs are also the responsibility of the Finance
sector. The Secretary of Justice is Mr. Para. The Secretary of the
Protection Department (Police) is Mr. Nadesan. Mr. Ravi Champion heads
the Economic Development Department (EDD) which is responsible for
Agriculture, Fisheries, Industry, and Environment. The Education
Department is headed by Mr. llangkumar. I have not met the person in
charge of the Health Department. Each of the Districts in the Vanni
region and the Jaffna peninsula have LTTE offices for each of the
Department and sections within the departments such as Finance, Justice,
Police and EDD. At the district level there are about 20 divisions
functioning through committees, structured on functional as well as on
departmental basis. The EDD has a division consisting of 12 persons at
the village level for each of their divisions.
The Visa (Pass) office, under the internal security division within the
Eelam government, has offices in all towns. Visa or Pass is required to
go out of the Northern region. When entering the Northern region visa is
issued at the Omanthai LTTE checkpoint. At Thandikulam (Vavuniya) the Sri
Lanka government issues a permit to go into Vavuniya town or to other
parts of Sri Lanka. People who are fifty and over have no restrictions on
leaving or entering the LTTE controlled area. However, those who are
under 50 have to get someone to stand surety (bond) before they leave.
Those who wish to leave the North for good have to pay an "exit fee". The
amount depends on the financial status of the family. It can be up to
Rs.300,000 per person.
At the district level, the LTTE staff coordinate their activities with
the Government Agent (GA) and his staff. No decisions that concern the
welfare of the people or the land is taken by the GA’s office or
government officers or committees without consultation with LTTE officers
responsible for the sector and/or area. In effect the GA’s office, except
for the routine government affairs such as salaries, pensions and other
such matters, is used as an arm of the LTTE government.
Transportation
The civilian air link to the northeast was cut off in 1990. The shipping
lanes are also closed to traffic other than the army and the
international humanitarian agencies such as ICRC, UNHCR. There are no
train services in the north. The railway lines in the north were
destroyed during and after the Indian occupation. There are no tracks or
stations now. Because of the embargo on iron, the railway lines are used
as a source of iron. The train service up to the northern border town of
Vavuniya is functioning on a regular basis. The journey of about 160km
from Vavuniya to Jaffna takes 16 to 36 hours by road and sea. The roads
are no longer maintained by the government, though the GA allocates
limited funds sporadically to the LTTE operated infrastructure sector.
There are foot-deep potholes on the roads, as well as on the gravel and
sand tracks, which were once highways. A total ban on tar and road
machinery has prevented repair of the roads. The LTTE administration has
done limited repairs with locally available materials.
The LTTE administration has prepared blueprints ready to build airports,
seaports, town centres and a comprehensive road and railway network,
schools and other buildings in the northeast before the current
hostilities started in April 1995.
Means of transport
There are no planes, cargo ships, trains, large buses, trucks or new cars
in the north, for a population of over 1.2 million. There are
approximately 200 pre-1956 Morris minor and Austin cars, 300 trishaws,
400 vans used as buses, and a few hundred motorcycles. In all there are
less than 2000 vehicles in operation. This is less than 10% of the
vehicles that were in the North prior to 1956. Vehicle population in the
north is less than 1% of the total vehicle population of Sri Lanka. This
state of affairs was brought about not only by the economic blockade and
embargo, but also due to the confiscation and destruction of vehicles by
the invading Sri Lankan and Indian armies.
The main mode of passenger and small goods transport is bicycles, which
number over 200,000. Most people walk or cycle (2 to 3 people on a
bicycle is the norm). The LTTE operates public (road and sea) transport
services. Privately run road transportation is also available. The fares,
operations and passenger loads are prescribed and enforced by the LTTE
administration. In spite of the limited vehicles, fuel, spare parts and
tyres, the road and sea transport is efficient, reliable and orderly.
Communications
The north has no telecommunications link with the rest of the island or
world. In total about 100 computers were in use before the October 95
offensive. The Sri Lankan radio and television programs are received in
certain parts of the north with a tall antenna. International radio
stations are the main source of reliable news. The LTTE operates an FM
station for a few hours each day.
Electricity
Electricity was cut off to the north in 1990. The power lines and the
transformers are now in disrepair. Electricity is produced in small
amounts by tiny generators, solar panels and windmills. Biogas is also
produced. Kerosene lamps are used at night to study and for housework.
Remarkably, research and development is carried out, despite the army
embargo and blockade, to produce large scale cheap energy from sources
such as wind, waves, solar power and methanol gas. Firewood or kerosene
is used for cooking.
Sewage
In the absence of a public sewage system, there are only individual
septic tanks. This is now encouraged and regulated by the LTTE to protect
the environment and control water pollution. Since the 1990 embargo on
chlorine and cement, the latrines and wells are not repaired adequately
and, the wells are not disinfected properly. This has lead to dangerous
levels of coliforms in the drinking water. There are no pipe water
systems for households. Water is drawn from the well by kerosene pumps or
humans. Water pumps are a banned item and what is available now are those
brought in before the war started. During the past four years some of the
reservoirs, ponds and canals which the Sri Lankan government failed to
repair, are being repaired. Cement is a banned item and repairs to
reservoirs last only an year or two.
Schools and universities
Schools were functioning normally (with a Thamil curriculum, sports,
music, dancing and prayers) before the invasion by the Sri Lankan army in
October ‘95. University admissions are on a point system. Private
tutories were flourishing. University faculties were operating with
limited resources and facilities. Repairs to buildings and equipment are
not done due to the embargo. The Faculty of Agriculture conducts lectures
in wall-less, thatch-roof buildings. Computer education is only at the
theoretical level due to the embargo on computers and lack of
electricity. Except for the Faculty of Agriculture at Kilinochchi, no
other faculties of the University are functioning since the October ‘95
army offensive. The university administration is now in Kilinochchi and
Chavakachcheri. The staff and students are scattered in Vadamaratchchi,
Thenmarachchi and the Vanni. The schools in the North were also disrupted
in October. All schools in the North were closed to accommodate the
refugees from Valigamam. In 1990-92 the schools in the islands and the
northern coast were closed due to army operation that resulted in
displacement of the people from these areas. In March the LTTE
administration reopened the schools at the request of the parents and
teachers.
Agriculture
This is a success story for the LTTE administrators. In 1994 I reviewed
the agriculture policy manual of Thamil Eelam. It is a superb modern
document which addressed all environmental concerns and the
sustainability of agriculture production. I could not make any
improvements on it. Despite the war agricultural production reached a
point that, if not for the war, and the embargo on Ammonium sulphate, the
north would have been in a position to export rice. This is something the
Sinhalese government has tried to do since independence and has failed.
LTTE achieved this within four years despite the war and the army embargo
and blockade. Various cash crops like potatoes, tobacco, and fruit trees,
are being cultivated very successfully. Agricultural research stations
and garden centres have been set up by LTTE to ensure that the
agricultural revolution is complete and the north can be self-sufficient,
once peace returns.
When the government banned ammonium fertilizer to the north around
July/August 1995, the LTTE administration established a food production
program called "Vilai Poomi" with the advice and assistance of the
Faculty of Agriculture, Farmers Welfare Societies and the extension staff
working in the area. The government actions and the drought have hampered
the program.
The process by which the Vilai Poomi project was established is a good
example of the LTTE philosophy on administration and government. With the
embargo on Ammonium Sulphate the EDD estimated that the north will not be
able to achieve the yields of the previous years. They then brought
together farmers, agriculturists, researchers and extension workers to a
two-day Seminar/workshop in September 1995, to discuss a plan prepared by
the agriculturists and researchers from the University and the Regional
Agricultural Research Station on food production with locally available
material.
The Seminar was organized by EDD (agriculture section) with Mr. Champion
giving the keynote address. It was held at the Faculty of Agriculture in
Kilinochchi. The conference was opened and closed by Mr. Karikalan, who
was in charge of affairs for the Vanni and Eastern Region. The Government
Agent of Kilinochchi took part in the final stages of the workshop.
Students of agriculture and the Sri Lankan government agriculture
extension officers from the northern districts were actively involved in
the preparation of the final project which was approved at the
conference. At no point did the members of the LTTE interfere in the
deliberations or decisions of the professional groups.
The decisions were approved by the workshop and given to the District
Agriculture Committee (DAC) in the Northern Province who adopted it. The
DAC consists of all the heads of divisions, the GA’s senior staff, heads
of other government departments, University deans and heads, farmers and
other key citizens. LTTE members were also present and the GA was the
Chairman. In October 1995, the DAC appointed a sub-committee to implement
the Vilai Poomi project. The EDD assisted and encouraged the implantation
of the project.
All farmers are registered with the EDD. All assistance to the farmers
and distribution of scarce inputs are sold through the EDD and the
government agrarian services staff.
Fuel
Due to the embargo and economic blockade the fuel supply is limited. Fuel
is received by the GA for the Multipurpose Co-operative Societies (MPCS).
The distribution is monitored and controlled by the LTTE administration.
There are no petrol stations. Instead, road-side stalls sell kerosene in
bottles. Most small spare parts for the cars are made in local workshops.
Diesel is rationed and is used only to operate the few generators still
left in the north. Since April, 1995 diesel is not available, but locally
made diesel is available in small quantities. Tractors and other
machinery operate on kerosene, and the local craftsmen have developed a
unit which is attached to the exhaust manifold of cars that allows
kerosene to be used instead of petrol. The University operates their
generators for about two hours at night and thereafter the students use
the kerosene lamps. During kerosene shortage or when kerosene was
required for the boats and lorries to transport displaced persons in
November last year, kerosene sale was restricted to one litre per family
per week. The trade of kerosene is monitored by the LTTE administration.
No one is exempt from the rule.
Industry
I have studied the industrial development policy manual of Thamil Eelam.
It is a modern plan of a free-enterprise system, with environmental
protection and human safeguards built in. The Industrial Development
Organization (IDO) of the EDD is responsible for promoting industrial
development with loans and technical assistance. IDO also monitors the
quality of the products and their environmental impact, and makes
recommendations to the manufacturers.
Industrial development in the north is suffering due to lack of
electricity and fuel. This makes it impossible to start any large scale
industries. Most of the industries are small cottage industries with
power derived from human and animal effort. Some of these industries are
sponsored by the LTTE. Despite the killing of several technicians and
artisans by the Sri Lankan and the Indian Armies (and migration of others
due to fear for their lives and unemployment), the LTTE has managed to
train a new generation of workers with technical skills.
Housing
Very few new houses were built during the past 12 years. This is mainly
due to the current war. The economic embargo and the blockade have made
it difficult to build or repair homes especially those which were damaged
by bombings and shelling by the Sri Lankan and Indian occupation forces.
Most homes are over 30 years old. Those houses that were abandoned by the
fleeing refugees are now maintained by the LTTE civil administration and
given back to the owners who returned. House prices have appreciated
significantly during the past 5 years. This is due to the shortage of
housing created by the Sri Lankan and Indian armies who not only took
over some of the
residences, but also destroyed over half the residences, offices, shops,
factories, cinemas, and warehouses. The government has not replaced them
or paid compensation or given permits to purchase building materials for
reconstruction. Property rights are now protected by the LTTE.
Hospitals and clinics
The largest hospital in the north, the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, is not
functioning. Other hospitals and clinics outside Jaffna city are
operating with limited facilities despite the current invasion. This was
possible only because of financial aid and human resources assistance to
supplement the local doctors and nurses from the Christian missionaries,
Red Cross, Care and other international charities. There are still a
number of Thamil doctors and nurses working and practicing in the north
on the strength of protection given by the LTTE. No new hospitals have
been built during the past twenty years and the limited facilities and
medicines available are reminiscent of pre World War II conditions in the
north, or 19th century Europe. All aid and donations from foreign
government and aid bodies have been diverted to the South in an attempt
to force the northern residents to poverty and ill health, to pave the
way for military, social, political and economic domination from the
south.
Licenses and taxes
Licenses and taxes are collected to operate various services including a
police force and a justice system. All motor vehicles and bicycles have
to take a license and carry number or license plates issued by the LTTE
administration. To protect the palmyrah and coconut trees an annual duty
is levied. Cutting down these and other trees is by special permission
only. There is also a tax on the sale of goods and services, and a duty
on property transactions.
Banking system
Banks from the south are still operating in the north, mostly for taking
deposits from the thrifty residents and to lend for business, speculation
and development in the south. This is at the expense of the northern
residents who need financing for agriculture, fishing. business vehicles,
machinery, trade, housing and education. Banks from the south continue to
earn commissions from foreign remittances by overseas Tamils, which
amount to over US$300 million per year. In addition, the banks are
charging a tax on these remittances to finance the war. The banks also
use very old currency bank notes which are put together with cello-tape
or gum. The above were some of the points brought up by the north with
the banks and the government, but to date it appears no steps have been
taken to rectify the problems faced by the Tamils.
Since October, 1995, The Peoples Bank branch in Kilinochchi and other
cities in the north has refused any loans to the farmers or traders, even
though 85 to 90% of the loans are paid back. The rate of repayment in the
south was 20 to 25%, but there loans are written off and new loans are
given. The LTTE administration guarantees the loans and ensures the loans
are paid back. In 1994 the repayment rate was 100%.
To meet the shortage of capital to finance small businesses, farmers,
fishermen and others in need of capital for economic development, the
LTTE has set up a rural development bank and a commercial deposit taking
bank. In addition, there is also a finance company operated by north-east
entrepreneurs.
Bribery and corruption
The LTTE administration has been successful in virtually wiping out the
caste system, bribery, corruption and begging. The age old dowry system
is under review. The LTTE, with the assistance of progressive Thamils, is
conducting an education campaign to abolish the dowry system. These
social evils have not only hampered economic and social progress, but
created dishonest politicians, administrators, businessmen and civilians
in the whole of Sri Lanka.
Unemployment
Another great achievement of the LTTE administration is the successful
reduction in unemployment and the substantial increase in the employment
opportunities for women. Following the world trend, a high proportion of
women are employed in the medical, judicial, security, police,
professional and administrative services. Their performance in terms of
professionalism, attitude and politeness gives Tamils hope for greater
achievement in economic and social progress in the future. Practically
every person who is willing to work and perform well is offered
employment at reasonable wages, similar to wages paid by the Sri Lanka
government or related businesses. In fact, there were vacancies for
skilled workers, teachers and professionals before the current invasion
by the Sri Lanka armed forces.
Discipline
Discipline is another area in which the LTTE administration has made
progress. In waiting for a bus or a boat, people stand in queues in an
orderly fashion. Hire vehicles take their turn.
The safety of all vehicles and especially the boats are rigorously
checked. The safety of passengers who travel long distances at night are
ensured by the LTTE imposed logistics.
High priority is given to the eradication of poverty. The northern
residents, despite the economic embargo and the blockade, are reasonably
well dressed, groomed and observe reasonable standards of hygiene. Public
places are kept clean.
Police force
The LTTE administration has set up police stations all over the North.
Violent crimes have dropped drastically. In Kilinochchi during the two
years I was there, there was one rape and two murders. The cases were
tried, appeals heard and judgments delivered. Public drunkenness is under
control. Citizen groups are, however, calling for a total ban on liquor.
LTTE members do not drink or serve drinks to anyone at any functions.
Most of the complaints at the police stations were family quarrels,
drunkenness or property disputes. Robberies are rare. It is safe for a
single woman to move about without fear of robbery, molestation or rape -
a matter for which people are grateful, especially after what they
suffered at the hands of some of the Sri Lankan and Indian soldiers in
the past. Police are unarmed, helpful and free of corruption or
favoritism.
Judicial system
Law courts set up by the LTTE administration are in operation in the main
districts of the north. Judgments are handled usually within a month.
Legal costs are one of the lowest in the world. Lawyers who have left the
North do complain. The citizens prefer the present judicial system
because of the lower cost and quicker resolution. Legal precedents are
based on existing laws in the north, updated for current social values
(E.g. spousal abuse). Most of the disputes that would have gone to courts
twenty years ago are solved by mediation outside the courts. By noon the
courts are empty in Kilinochchi.
Environment and pollution
The absence of large scale factories, fewer vehicles, scarcity of petrol,
diesel and other industrial pollutants has made the north-east pollution
free. The embargo on Nitrogen fertilizers has also reduced the Nitrogen
level in wells and waterways. Previously, the N-level was twice the VMO
recommended limit.
The LTTE administrators initiated a green revolution in 1991 which is
already showing results. Garden centres have been set up in towns and
villages for plant experimentation and supply of vegetable and fruit tree
seedlings to the public at cost (often free to those who cannot afford
them.) Most types of tropical plants are available. Citizens are
encouraged to plant vegetable and fruit trees in their gardens. The
roadsides are being planted with shady trees. Large tracts of sandy
coastlines are being planted with coconut, palmyrah, teak and Casuarina
trees. The LTTE policy on forest and wildlife preservation since 1990 has
now stopped deforestation. Before 1990, under the Sri Lanka
administration, 25 lorry loads of prime timber was leaving the North to
the South illegally every year. Now no tree can be cut down by anyone
without a permit. Elephants are also protected by law. The North has 40%
of its land in forests. The World Earth Day is celebrated by
all households, government departments, schools and businesses by
planting a tree each. LTTE administration observes all international
days.
Town Planning
The LTTE administration in 1990 formed a committee of specialists from
the University, Government departments, private sector and citizens to
plan and
rebuild the Jaffna city. The committee completed its work under the
chairmanship of the then Vice Chancellor, Prof. A. Thurairajah, a civil
engineer. The plan and architect drawing were presented by the LTTE
infrastructure team at a meeting of the DAC in Kilinochchi in 1994 where
I was present. It is a modern plan for a destroyed ancient city. During
my stay, a committee was elected to plan the Kilinochchi and Mankulam
towns, which completed the draft in April 1995. The committee had full
freedom and all assistance to hold meetings for people to present their
views and recommendations.
Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Seminar and Workshop.
In May 1994, the LTTE administration undertook to estimate the cost of
reconstruction and rehabilitation. The EDD secretariat coordinated the
exercise. Subcommittees for each of the sectors were formed who, in
consultation with the public, from records and direct inspection,
assessed the reconstruction need and prepared the policies, plans and
estimation of cost. Preliminary documents were then sent by the GA to the
Ministry of Reconstruction and Rehabilitation. A private consultation
team headed by a Dr. Gunasingam was appointed by the Ministry to
coordinate this activity. These documents were then discussed in a three
day Seminar/Workshop in July 1994 at the conference hall of the
University of Jaffna in Thinnevely, under the patronage of Mr.
Thamilchelvam, Mr. Karikalan and the organization of Mr. Ravi Champion. A
final document was produced and a summary of this was submitted at the
1995 Peace talks.
The government in the next peace talk session produced a proposal for the
reconstruction of the North which was estimated at Rs. 39.9 billion. The
LTTE leaders presented the government document to the committee that
produced the initial draft and organized another Seminar Workshop in
Kilinochchi on 4th and 5th January 1995, with wider representation from
other districts with about 500 participants from all walks of life,
including the government departments responsible for various sectors. The
final report was then given to the 3rd peace talk session.
At no time did the LTTE leaders dictate to or interfere in the
functioning
of the planning committee. The LTTE council accepted the document as
presented without any change. The last meeting with the committee and the
private consultants was held in Jaffna. At one stage the chairman of the
consultancy group said to Mr. Champion (who chaired the meeting to
finalize
the proposal,) that his team came to talk to the LTTE about the plan and
did not want to discuss the proposals with the members of the heads of
government departments or others. Mr. Champion replied that the LTTE
recognizes the consultancy group and the committee as the experts, and
what this group agrees to is acceptable to the LTTE administration.
This was the standard approach of the LTTE in all matters concerning the
development of the North. I have had the privilege of examining the final
draft of the document. The final draft was similar to the first draft in
cost (Rs.39.9 billion) but had more details and contained a section
giving the summary of the proposal presented by the LTTE for
approximately Rs. 100 billion. I have not seen this level of mass
participation of citizens in planning processes of governmental function
anywhere else. In the south such a process is highly centralized.
source-tamil sangam
(D.Prabakaran-CLN Dec 18, 2002 for CRW)
India expresses concern over broadcasting facility for Tigers
India has expressed its serious "concern" to Sri Lanka over the
Liberation
Tigers of Tamil Eelam acquiring modern equipment for its clandestine
Voice
of Tigers broadcasting station via Norwegian diplomatic channels, the
Sunday
Times newspaper reported yesterday.
Quoting diplomatic sources, the newspaper said that India's Foreign
Secretary Kanwal Sibal, who was on an official visit to Colombo last
week, raised the matter during a meeting with Prime Minister Ranil
Wickremesinghe.
Despite Sri Lankan government claims that the radio station had only a
limited range, India's "concern" has been heightened by the distinct
possibility of the equipment being upgraded to reach areas in the
southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
Exacerbating these "concerns" of the government of India, the newspaper
said was the apparent cloak of high secrecy over the transfer of six tons
of broadcasting equipment.
Although one of the Sri Lankan government's peace negotiators, Minister
Milinda Moragoda, regularly visited the Indian capital before and after
every round of peace talks with the rebels in recent months, no mention
had been made of the transfer of the broadcasting equipment.
India had learnt of the move for the first time only from the opposition
party in Sri Lanka. This was after Parliamentarian Anura Bandaranaike,
who was a member of a three-member People's Alliance delegation, briefed
Indian leaders late last month.
The Sunday Times stated that the questions on how the broadcasting
equipment, said to be worth millions of rupees, was procured and handed
over to the LTTE without payment of any import duty have become a subject
of concern not only for the government of India, but also the opposition.
Several questions are being raised. Who raised the funds to procure the
broadcasting equipment? Were diplomatic norms and procedures not violated
when an embassy in Colombo imports such equipment, clears it without duty
and hands it over to a private organisation?
Since diplomatic cargo is not subject to Customs inspection, was the
container with the broadcasting equipment examined? These were among the
many questions that are being asked, the newspaper said in its front-page
story.
(D.Prabakaran-CLN Dec 18, 2002 for CRW)
LTTE's FM radio station
Sri Lanka has issued a license to LTTE to set up a broadcasting station
in the northern town of Kilinochchi and assigned an FM frequency, a
weekly newspaper said today.
The license was issued to the rebel group's 'Peace Secretariat' "to
maintain and operate a private broadcasting station for which equipment
worth more than $100,000 was imported by the LTTE last month, the Sunday
Leader said.
The newspaper said the Tigers were keen to legalise their clandestine
'Voice of Tigers' and had sought a license to "disseminate news to Tamil
people on the ongoing peace process."
In a communication to LTTE 'peace secretariat', which was reproduced in
the weekly, the Mass Communications Ministry secretary has said the
"licensee shall provide broadcasting programmes in accordance with the
norms, standards and code of ethics followed by the state-owned Sri Lanka
Broadcasting Corporation.
The import of the equipment had raised concerns in India as to whether
the group, outlawed in India, would use it to broadcast propaganda in
Tamil Nadu to gain support for itself.
However, India has taken the view that it will not be unduly worried as
long as the broadcasting facilities were only for FM transmission, which
are only specified frequencies with limited range.
An LTTE cultural wing functionary had recently said the rebel radio had
expansion plans to cover South India and Singapore. (PTI)
(D.Prabakaran-CLN Dec 18, 2002 for CRW)
Report soon on LTTE's broadcast equipment - G.L. Pieris
TamilNet, December 23, 2002 17:03 GMT
The United National Front Government will soon release a report giving
details of the broadcasting equipment given to the LTTE and this will
clarify the misleading information spread to the public by some
interested parties, said G. L. Pieris, minister of Constitutional Affairs
and the leader of Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) negotiating team,
speaking to journalists at a press conference in Colombo today.
The minister said that some broadcasting equipments were imported
recently for the LTTE, but “contrary to the rumors spread by some forces
opposed to the peace process, this will not in anyway affect the security
of our country.”
“We will never act against the interests of our motherland. We are
saddened by the false propaganda spread by these forces,” he said and
asserted that such false rumors would not be allowed to affect the peace
process in any way.
Currently both sides have agreed to explore mechanisms to share power
under a federal structure. The fourth round of talks are scheduled to be
held in Thailand from January 6 to 9.
The minister said that the first three rounds held within a brief period
have resulted in agreements between the two parties on several matters.
“Compared to the previous talks, the current talks are more successful.
The contribution of the Norwegian government has been paramount for the
progress and success of the talks so far.”
According to minister Pieris, there will not be any changes in the
composition of the government’s negotiating team in the next round talks.
Minister Rauff Hakeem will participate as a representative of the
Government of Sri Lanka. Before the fourth round of talks the matters
agreed to by the sub-committee on de-escalation and normalizaton (SDN) on
security issues will be discussed.
The minister added, “Britain has expressed its satisfaction on the
progress of the peace talks so far. The British minister of foreign
affairs has said that Britain will provide assistance on planning
devolution of powers, on how best to use British aid and on restructuring
police force under a plan of power sharing.
“Many other countries have come forward to provide assistance to us. The
peace process is being taken forward with the assistance of the
international community. We will act in a way that will make progress in
the peace process possible.”
(tamilnet web www.tamilnet.com via D.Prabakaran-CLN Dec 25, 2002 for CRW)
Guns and more guns for a statement of peace
Ganesh Nadar in Vavuniya and Kilinochchi
When I reached the Sri Lankan army check-post in Vavuniya with my
colleague, we thought the security check was meticulous.
The Lankan security guards turned their attention to my vehicle, then my
driver and finally towards my colleague and me.
After about 15 minutes of grilling and thorough scanning, we were allowed
to enter the territory controlled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam.
The Tamil Tigers, as if taking a cue from the Sri Lankan security forces,
subjected us to the same procedure before handing us a red chit with
'three people mani saar' written on it.
Our next stop was Kilinochchi, where the LTTE's political office was
located.
We were received politely, but the LTTE cadres refused to tell us where
and when the press conference (addressed by the outfit's chief
Vellupillai Prabhakaran) would be.
All questions were replied with a standard: "Be ready at 9 am tomorrow
(Wednesday)."
At 5 am the next morning, we were woken up and asked to be ready by 7 am.
At the appointed time, a group of heavily armed LTTE cadres herded us
into a
bus that took us to a place, approximately fifteen minutes away, where we
were given breakfast.
While we were having breakfast, Sudha Thangam, the political head of the
LTTE in Kilinochchi, decided to hold an impromptu briefing session.
The session soon turned into a slanging match between the press corps and
Thangam, with eager journalists wanting to know the venue of the press
conference and Thangam sticking to his ground by not divulging it.
The 'briefing session' ended with a very firm declaration from Thangam:
"When we have a choice between the press and the security of our national
leader, his security is paramount."
Within a few minutes, we were issued a series of don'ts.
"No transmitting equipment, no mobile phones, no satellite phones, no TV
transmitting equipment, no radio broadcasting equipment," an LTTE cadre
announced.
When everyone complained, pat came the reply: "You will be back in 15
minutes. You can file your stories 15 minutes late."
The security check that took place made the Vavuniya security guards look
like kindergarten kids.
Cameras, dictaphones and even ballpoint pens were not spared. One Tamil
Tiger even went to the extent of combing a journalist's hair to see if
anything was hidden.
The body check was even worse, with nothing left to the imagination.
Finally, as we were about to board the bus that was take us to our
rendezvous with the LTTE chief, a poker faced cadre asked us empty our
bladders and smoke our last cigarettes, saying we would not be allowed to
do both at the press conference.
The cigarette packets were duly handed over, and even the lone toothpick
that I always carry with me was confiscated.
At the venue, the first thing that came into view were the numerous AK-47
barrels staring at us from every direction.
If only for consolation, the stares of the cadres paled in comparison.
Just before Prabhakaran arrived, more armed men arrived, reinforcing the
constant refrain heard throughout the day that 'their national leader was
all-important'.
If this was the kind of security the Tamil Tigers had put up for a
statement of peace to be made by their leader, it is beyond imagination
the security they would have maintained during their war with the Sri
Lankan army.
(via D.Prabakaran-CLN Dec 25, 2002 for CRW)
JVP wants CBK to end Oslo’s role
by Shamindra Ferdinando
The Island: The JVP is taking advantage of Norwegian Ambassador Jon
Westborg’s direct involvement in the recent transfer of radio equipment
to the LTTE to seek presidential intervention to terminate Oslo’s role in
the peace process, political sources said.
"We want the president to act," a party spokesman said alleging that Oslo
had failed at least to implement a cease-fire agreement properly.
"President Kumaratunga has been placed in a difficult position," the
sources said, adding National Bhikku Front which work closely with the
JVP which will lead the campaign against the Norwegian ambassador.
The front will protest outside the Norwegian embassy at Ward Place
tomorrow (23) afternoon before proceeding to Janadhipathi Mandiraya. They
will hand over a petition to the president demanding the expulsion of the
ambassador, the front said.
Colombo police will step up security to prevent any untoward incident and
are likely to deploy riot squads to ensure an incident-free protest.
Oslo entered the peace process a few years ago on an invitation of the
president. Lands Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne last week blasted the PA
for seeking New Delhi’s help to cripple the peace process. Addressing the
party’s 48th annual convention, he ridiculed Messrs Anura Bandaranaike,
Mangala Samaraweera and Nimal Siripala Silva for recently visiting India
for this purpose.
"They will never succeed," he said, stressing Prime Minister Ranil
Wickremesinghe’s government is determined to press on with the process.
PA spokesman Sarath Amunugama on Friday said the president could
intervene if she deemed it fit. Blasting Norway for collaborating with
the LTTE in boosting the group’s clandestine radio - Voice of Tigers
(VOT) power, he accused Westborg of taking advantage of his diplomatic
immunity.
"He is misusing his immunity," he said, describing the process as ‘a most
irregular procedure’.
The former government information chief was of the view India would not
like what the Norwegians did. The Indian government recently raised the
VOT issue with the government. MEP leader Dinesh Gunawardene asked
whether the equipment brought by the Norwegian embassy and handed over to
the LTTE recently would be taxed. "Will the customs apply the law?"
Gunawardene asked Finance Minister K. N. Choksy in parliament recently.
Choksey said he would go into the matter and reply.
Earlier in the day, Amunugama said the government closed down Wanni
Sevaya soon after a cease-fire agreement. He wants the government to
restore the special radio service particularly as it recently recognised
the VOT.
The government station - "Wanni Sevaya" - was set up for the benefit of
the troops deployed in the Wanni. "Wanni Sevaya" was closed down on March
31, subsequent to the cease-fire agreement between the government and the
LTTE reached in February
(via D.Prabakaran-CLN Dec 25, 2002 for CRW)
Powerful satellite equipment for LTTE in VOT cargo
Sunday Times:Amid the raging controversy over broadcasting equipment the
LTTE has acquired duty free through the Norwegian Embassy in Colombo,
another serious irregularity has now surfaced.
They have been allowed to acquire sophisticated VSAT satellite
communications equipment completely unrelated to the radio station in the
same consignment though the whereabouts of it have now become a mystery.
VSAT or Very Small Aperture Terminal is a software driven earth station
used for the transmission of data, video or voice via satellite. With the
help of a dish antenna, this will enable the LTTE, if it has acquired it,
to carry out voice communications, transmit data or pictures via
satellite without any interception by any source in Sri Lanka or abroad.
The Sunday Times investigations revealed that a VSAT communications
equipment officially declared to be worth US dollars 25,000 or Rs. 2.4
million (prices can even be higher) by the Norwegian Embassy was among
the items for which the Embassy obtained approval from the Government.
The VSAT equipment is in no way related to the Voice of Tigers
broadcasting station.
The mystery about the VSAT equipment has been compounded after Defence
Secretary Austin Fernando appointed a Committee to inspect the
broadcasting equipment consigned to the Norwegian Embassy -- an unusual
step since diplomatic cargo is not examined and a declaration of the
mission concerned is accepted by the host country in accordance with
diplomatic practice.
The Committee comprised R.D. Somasiri, Advisor, Ministry of Mass
Communications, Brigadier Y.S.A. de Silva, Director, Signals of the Sri
Lanka Army, Group Captain A. Gunawardena, Director, Electronics and
Telecommuncations of the Sri Lanka Air Force and Upali Arambewela,
Additional Director General, Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation.
In their report to Defence Secretary Fernando, the committee, among other
matters, has reported that the VSAT communication unit was not found with
the consignment. What happened to it? Was it cleared earlier or was it
pilfered from the consignment? Answers may not be known unless the
Ministry of Defence conducts a fuller investigation.
The Committee also made some other worrying observations. Among them --
The Radio Data System (RDS) equipment (that has now been given to the
LTTE) is capable of sending data from point to multi-point and cannot be
monitored without a specific decoder. In other words, the Sri Lanka
Government cannot monitor them unless it obtains the required decoder.
Another observation is the broader FM frequency range in the equipment
given to the LTTE. That is much more wider than the frequencies now
allotted to all other licensed FM radio stations which is 87.5 MHz to
108.0 MHz.
The LTTE equipment, however, has an extended range from 87 Mhz to 109 MHz
and signal experts confirmed to The Sunday Times that the broadcast range
could be heavily enhanced with the use of booster systems.
Among the 12 items for which Defence Secretary Fernando was the final
authority to grant approval was the VSAT communications unit. Though the
item is in his approved list, the licence for the VoT radio station
issued by Kumar Abeysinghe, Secretary, Ministry of Mass Communications,
makes no mention of the VSAT equipment the whereabouts of which are a now
a mystery.
(via D.Prabakaran-CLN Dec 25, 2002 for CRW)
Sri Lanka says shipped radio equipment to rebels
COLOMBO, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka said on Friday it had issued a
broadcasting license and transmission equipment to Tamil Tiger rebels in
a transfer intended to strengthen a peace process to end nearly two
decades of war.
The announcement ended weeks of speculation over how the radio equipment
ended up with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who have for
years broadcast over the clandestine Voice of Tigers radio.
"It will be clear that the grant of the license to the LTTE Peace
Secretariat brings, for the first time, such radio transmissions by the
LTTE under the laws of Sri Lanka," the government said in a statement.
The government and rebels are set to meet for a fourth round of
Norwegian-brokered talks in Thailand early next month, after making huge
strides this year toward ending the war that has killed 64,000 people.
The main opposition political party had accused Norway of overstepping
its role as mediator in the peace process by importing the equipment and
handing it over to the Tigers.
But the statement said it was the government that had agreed to the
rebels' request to bring in the equipment, and only enlisted the help of
Norway to resolve a dispute over whether the Tigers should be charged
duty on the shipment.
The government said the equipment "represents an important step in the
transformation of the LTTE into a political grouping within the
mainstream of the Sri Lankan political system".
The equipment had been examined by military officials and would pose no
security threat, it said.
(via A.Sennit-HOL for CRW)
Colombo asked to explain broadcast equipment to LTTE
The Sri Lankan government is under pressure to explain how high powered
radio equipment was dispatched to the Tamil guerrillas in northern Sri
Lanka.
Buddhist monks were the latest group to join opposition political parties
to protest against the Sri Lankan government for handing over the radio
equipment.
The government has declared that it would give a full explanation about
providing the guerrillas with radio equipment.
Gulf News learns that the Norwegians want the Sri Lankan government to
fully explain the position leading to the import of the equipment.
According to diplomatic sources, Norway has taken the position that the
equipment had been imported from Norway on the request of the government
and Oslo had no interest in providing the broadcasting equipment.
The equipment is expected to be used to boost the transmissions of the
guerrilla's clandestine radio Voice of the Tigers.
Buddhist monks on Monday called on President Chandrika Kumaratunga to use
her powers to expel the Norwegian Ambassador in Colombo, Jon Westborg for
providing the equipment to the guerrillas.
The monks on Monday held a protest opposite the Norwegian embassy in
Colombo, burnt down two flags of Norway and then proceeded to the
President's office to hand over a petition calling for the expulsion of
the Norwegian Ambassador.
The Ambassador left for Oslo for urgent talks with his government, while
the embassy has been avoiding answering questions regarding the
equipment.
A team of Security Forces communications experts, backed by
representatives from the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation had studied
the technical specifications before they were dispatched. They were of
the view that the equipment would enable the LTTE to only broadcast on
the FM frequency to a limited area, but other technical sources said
their transmissions could be heavily enhanced through boosters to reach
areas outside Sri Lanka.
The cleared equipment included an 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.
Meanwhile, the Marxist JVP (People's Liberation Front) has called on
President Chandrika Kumaratunge to hold an inquiry into the
transportation of radio equipment to the LTTE with the assistance of the
Norwegian ambassador on the grounds that a diplomatic mission has no
right to interfere in the internal matters of the country.
JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva said that an Independent Commission
should be appointed to look into the matter.
"The diplomat has gone beyond his call of duty. He has all the right to
get down any equipment for him or the embassy but he has no right to get
it down for a 'terrorist' organisation. We call on the president to hold
an inquiry and take action against the ambassador," he said.
The JVP states that the transaction was done illegally despite the
government claiming that it was done through the proper channels.
"Why was the equipment ordered by the ambassador to be sent to the LTTE,"
Silva said.
"We feel that this was done under cover but when it was highlighted, the
government came out saying there was nothing illegal," Silva said.
With thanks to GULF NEWS
(D.Prabakaran-CLN Dec 28, 2002 for CRW)
Sri Lanka justifies radio equipment import
By V.S. Sambandan
COLOMBO. DEC. 27. The Sri Lankan Government today justified the import of
radio broadcasting equipment for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
(LTTE) as part of the "positive developments" towards "permanent peace'',
and termed the Norwegian "assistance'' as an "important contribution'' to
the "peace process''.
In a seven-page statement, the Government today sought to answer the
queries posed by the Opposition parties on issues relating to the
legality of the import and the role played by Norway.
The LTTE, the Government said, had applied for licence on October 18 and
described it as "an important step in the LTTE's transformation into a
political grouping within the mainstream of the Sri Lankan political
system''.
The statement also reproduced a "specific request by the LTTE'' for
licence. Signed by the secretary general of the LTTE's peace secretariat,
Puleedevan, the letter had said: "the need for broadcasting services has
become all the more important today to strengthen the peace initiatives
undertaken by both the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE.''
The Government has interpreted the Tigers' application for licence as
"the willingness of the LTTE to submit themselves to the authority of the
Government in this manner is a 180 degree change from that which
prevailed in the earlier period when the LTTE ran an unauthorised and
illegal radio operation termed the Voice of Tigers'' (VoT).
There was a bitter controversy most of this month, with the Opposition
attacking Norway's role. What essentially should have been a direct
political issue between the Government and the Opposition took an
external turn on two fronts. The Opposition's charge against Norway and
apprehensions over whether the LTTE's transmissions would reach the
Indian shores.
According to the Government's statement, the Norwegian involvement was
initiated by it to resolve an impasse over a request by the LTTE for
duty-waiver. The Tigers, the Government said, had asked for duty
exemption as the import was "for a purpose associated with the peace
process''.
However, the Government could not grant the exemption "since no
exemptions on duty of VAT were being permitted''. There is no clear
explanation as to whether the duty was subsequently paid, or who paid it,
but the statement said the Norwegian Government had agreed to finance the
setting up of "institutional mechanisms to take forward the peace
process'' with an assistance of over "Rs. 12 million as an initial
contribution'' for the Secretariat for Co-ordinating the Peace Process
(SCOPP), commonly referred to as the Peace Secretariat.
The Government pointed out that the Norwegian contribution to the SCOPP
could be "utilised for reimbursement to the Ministry of Finance for any
loss of revenue, if required''. Moreover, Norway's role was that of a
"consignee'' under the understanding that the "goods would be immediately
taken over by the SCOPP'', the statement said.
(D.Prabakaran-CLN Dec 28, 2002 for CRW)
...............................................................
Misc - USA
CIA Spy Master Ted Shackley Dies at 75
By Carol Rosenberg, Miami Herald
December 13, 2002
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/4733339.htm
Theodore ''Ted'' Shackley, a legendary spy master and Cold War figure who
ran the CIA's huge Miami operation during the height of U.S. tensions
with Cuba during the 1960s, has died of cancer in Maryland. He was 75.
Nicknamed ''The Blond Ghost'' because he hated to be photographed,
Shackley was an exacting, intense, elusive covert operator. As Miami
station chief during Operation Mongoose, an interagency U.S. effort to
topple Fidel Castro, he ran about 400 agents and operatives during a
period that included the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962.
The Miami assignment was only one of the many powerful posts he held
during a 28-year counterinsurgency career that spanned the globe.
The places where he worked as a senior CIA officer -- Berlin, Saigon,
Laos -- served as signposts in the global struggle between the United
States and Soviet-backed communism.
In Miami, he directed an ambitious anti-Castro propaganda and
paramilitary campaign, and as a sign of its significance, Shackley would
later say that he commanded the third-largest navy in the Caribbean --
only the United States and Cuba had more vessels than the CIA station
chief's flotilla.
Thirty-year friend Tom Spencer, a Miami attorney, described Shackley
Thursday as "the master spy chief, a strategist, tactician, a brilliant
man, a chess player -- a person who could read tea leaves and watch
things which ordinary people could not see or pick up.''
Added fellow CIA retiree E. Peter Earnest, now director of Washington,
D.C.'s International Spy Museum: "He had a keen sense of discipline, and
was very goal-oriented. He found himself periodically in situations where
there was chaos, and he could pull some order out of that.''
RETIRED IN '79
Shackley retired from the Central Intelligence Agency in 1979 and set up
a
D.C.-area consulting firm that offered security strategy to corporate
executives.
But for nearly three decades before that, including 17 years overseas, he
served as a CIA officer who recruited and handled agents, hatched plots
and gathered intelligence in Cold War settings.
From May 1976 to December 1977, he served as associate deputy director
of operations, the No. 2 position in the clandestine operations branch.
He held the job first under CIA Director George H.W. Bush, then under
Adm. Stansfield Turner, who relieved him of his title in a late 1977
shake-up.
At issue: a Carter administration decision to fire thousands of secret
agents and informants, notably in the Middle East, and dismantle Cold War
spy networks.
Shackley, said Spencer, soon ''left in disgust,'' retiring from the
agency he had joined straight from Army duty in 1945 in Europe. Besides
consulting, he also wrote a primer on counterinsurgency in 1981 called
The Third Option.
Shackley was Miami station chief from 1962 to 1965, running his vast spy
network out of the University of Miami South Campus, now the Metrozoo. It
was the largest CIA hub outside of headquarters in Langley, Va.
''When I got there, the mission was to implement an intelligence
collection program and clean up the residuals of the Bay of Pigs,'' he
told retired Herald journalist Don Bohning in April 1998 in Washington.
"As we got into the intelligence program and restructuring, we started
detecting Soviet buildup in the context of all that, how to bring about
change in Cuba.''
IN MIAMI
Some of his Miami activities, he told Bohning, included ''psychological
warfare pressure on Cuba,'' including infiltrations, radio propaganda and
ties with a paramilitary, anti-Castro movement.
The only full-fledged CIA station in the continental United States, its
code name was JM-Wave.
After Miami, he moved on to another Cold War hot zone, Southeast Asia,
where he was a top CIA officer in Laos and Saigon in the late 1960s and
early '70s.
AUTHOR RECOLLECTS
''In Laos, Shackley helped run a secret war using local tribes people,
and at the end of that campaign the tribe was decimated,'' said David
Corn, author of the 1994 book, Blond Ghost: Ted Shackley and the CIA's
Crusade.
''Shackley was in some ways the archetype of the Cold War covert
bureaucrat. He took orders from above . . . running secret wars,
undermining democratically elected governments, compromising journalists
and political opponents overseas . . . and made them a reality,'' Corn
said.
Shackley also ran Latin American operations out of CIA headquarters in
1973 when Gen. Augusto Pincohet led a coup in Chile that toppled the
elected government of President Salvador Allende.
''He was not the mastermind of the clandestine operations of presidents
and CIA directors. He was the implementer,'' Corn said. 'And in doing so,
he avoided the moral questions that accompanied such actions and embodied
the `ends justify the means' mentality of America's national security
establishment.''
Fellow former CIA agent Mo Sovern, who said they were colleagues for 45
years, summed up Shackley's management philosophy this way: "Screw up and
you'd hear about it. Screw up twice for the same problem, and you're
gone."
He could be a controversial figure, said Sovern, chairman of the Central
Intelligence Retirees Association.
"A lot of people absolutely hated him. A lot of people thought he was
marvelous. But he got the work done."
LAST DETAILS
He cited this example of Shackley's micromanagement style:
After receiving last rites on Sunday, he had his wife summoned a funeral
director to their suburban Washington home and he picked out a casket,
negotiated the fee and asked to be buried in West Palm Beach, where he
was raised and educated before going to the University of Maryland. He
died Monday. Burial will be next week in West Palm Beach. Visitation is
scheduled for today in Washington. Mass will be said Saturday in
Bethesda, Md.
(U.Fleming-USA Dec 14, 2002 for CRW)
Ted Shackley's involvement in CIA-run clandestine radio stations includes
Radio Swan, Radio Americas and Union of Lao Races (which supported the
Hmong tribes in Laos).
(N.Grace-USA Dec 14, 2002 for CRW)
...............................................................
Misc - VENEZUELA
For obvious reasons our main concern in Clandestine radio at the moment
is related to Iraq and the United States. But, in my judgment, an even
bigger political crisis is taking place right now in Venezuela. The
continual political turmoil directed against President Chávez is having a
direct impact on the world price of oil, as well as an enormously
destabilizing impact in Venezuela itself. Currently there is no
clandestine radio activity directed toward Venezuela. As I write this
column at 0100 UT on December 23 I am trying in vain to hear the licensed
Ecos del Torbes on 4980 kHz. The days when we could hear several
Venezuelan domestic broadcasting stations on 60 meters every night are
long since gone. So, at the moment, shortwave radio is a medium that
appears to have almost no direct impact on the coverage of the political
situation in Venezuela
(G.Zeller-USA Clandestine Profile The A*C*E Jan 2003 via DXLD 2-2002)
...............................................................
Misc - ZIMBABWE
Zimbabwe journalist accused of spying for BBC: report
See 4th & 5th paragraphs! Andy.
HARARE, Dec 22 (AFP) - The Zimbabwe government has accused a local
journalist of spying for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the
state-controlled Sunday Mail reported.
The paper, which reflects government views, said Lewis Machipisa, a
Zimbabwean correspondent for BBC radio, was being hired by Britain's
Foreign Office to also film and write stories for BBC television.
The BBC has been officially banned from the country, but Machipisa, a
Zimbabwean national, has been able to continue working here for the
broadcaster.
A senior BBC official quoted in the Sunday Mail denied the
allegations against Machipisa and also said the BBC was not behind an
exiled radio station broadcasting into Zimbabwe from London, as the
government had suggested.
The permanent secretary in Zimbabwe's Information Ministry, George
Charamba told the BBC in a letter quoted in the Sunday Mail that the
BBC's denials of these charges were not accepted or believed.
The charges against Machipisa come ahead of the December 31 deadline
set by the government for all journalists working here to be registered,
turned down or de-registered under tough new press laws.
(AFP rt/ss Zimbabwe-media via A.Sennit-HOL Dec 22, 2002 for CRW)
------------xxxxxxxxxx Sources xxxxxxxxxx----------------------
Thanks to the following contributors : Andy Sennit, Björn Fransson,
D.Prabakaran, Fabrizio Carnevalini, Kenji Hashimoto, Mathias Kropf, Mauno
Ritola, Patrick Robic, Scott R. Barbour Jr., Wendel Craighead, Wolfgang
Bueschel, Zacharias Liangas
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.
______________________________________________________