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--------------xxxxxxxxxx CRW 144 xxxxxxxxxx--------------

CLANDESTINE RADIO WATCH
October 15, 2003

Clandestine Radio Watch (CRW) is a biweekly summary which centralizes the
latest news and developments affecting the study of clandestine radio in
an easy-to-read format. Editions are published on the CRW web site.
Access to CRW is free.

CRW is both not-for-profit and non-partisan. We welcome your interest,
input and queries. Contributions, support and critics, logs, QSL cards
and verification info, as well as background material can be sent to us.
CRW issues may also contain parts in other languages and the issues may
even contain 'clandestine radio related' news and stories.

CRW Team :
Editor-in-Chief : Martin Schoech, Eisenach

Correspondents : Achraf Chaabane, Sfax
                 Nick Grace C., Washington
                 Robertas Petraitis, Klaipeda

Next issue - CRW 145 : October 31, 2003

CRW is the newsletter for ClandestineRadio.com, the largest web-
site on Clandestine Radio at http://www.ClandestineRadio.com 

Old and new issues of CRW can be found at http://www.schoechi.de/crw.html 
You can also use that page in order to join the (free) CRW mailing list.

"Freedom of information is ... the touchstone of all the freedoms."
(UN Freedom of Information Conference, 1948)

------------xxxxxxxxxx Breaking News xxxxxxxxxx----------------

ETHIOPIA : CLANDESTINE RADIO STATION REPORTEDLY CLOSES

...............................................................

ETHIOPIA : CLANDESTINE RADIO STATION REPORTEDLY CLOSES |

Text of report in English by Deki-Alula Ethiopian Online Newsletter web
site on 11 October

Tigrayan Solidarity has stopped its radio broadcast to Ethiopia and
closed its office in Washington DC. Sources say Solidarity, who has ten
members, was unable to pay its monthly bills on time. Although
insignificant, it is worth of noticing that this phony civic organization
is finished for good.
Source: Deki-Alula Ethiopian Online Newsletter web site in English 11 Oct
03 (via BBCM via DXLD 3-180)

Per 3-179, this was via Germany, DTK, to have been scheduled for B-03 at
1630-1659 Tue and Fri only on 9820; now what was its A-03 schedule? Per
3-119 was 1700-1800 on Samara 12120 (G.Hauser-USA Oct 12, 2003 in DXLD
3-180)

------------xxxxxxxxxx Schedules xxxxxxxxxx--------------------

Schedules - ASIA

RADIO FREE ASIA Developments. RFA has introduced two new relay sites
at USSURIYSK and IRKUTSK for increased coverage of Korean progrming.
Ussuriysk uses 648 mediumwave 1500-1600, and Irkutsk is on 7210
1600-1700.

The TAIWAN relay currently uses 11605 for Vietnamese 1400-1500 and 2330-
0030. Seemingly Mandarin service at 2300-2359 UT via Taiwan 7315, 11935,
and 11995 have been ceased.

Due of decreasing sunspot figures, also the frequency changes on Sept
6th/7th, 2003 marked as J03[til Sept 6th] / S03[from Sept 7th], are
included.

RFA has introduced two new additional broadcast hours in Cambodian
progrming at 1130-1229 and 2330-0029. But canceled this RFA Khmer service
after a two month test in mid August already. Additional tests observed
in
the Far East on mediumwave 1350 kHz at 1300-1500 UT, location not known,
probably from either Ussuriysk-RUS, Poro-PHL, or Taiwan.

RFA schedule in A-03, valid til Oct 26th, 2003. RFA currently bcs from
1100-0700; there are no txions between 0700 and 1100. Daily programming
incl Mandarin for 12 hrs, Cantonese increase from two to four hrs, Uighur
for two hrs, and Tibetan for eight hrs.

J03=til Sept 6th. S03=from Sept 7th, 2003.
RFA uses IBB txs in HOL/H=Holzkirchen Germany, IRA/I=Iranawila Sri Lanka,
SAI/S=Saipan & TIN/T=Tinian NoMariana Isls.

And Merlin relays TWN/N=Taiwan and UAE=Al Dhabayya-UAE,
as well as irk=Irkutsk-RUS and uss=Ussuriysk-RUS relays.

Addit tx sites have been researched but deleted from this list upon
request of RFA to suppress this info, to avoid pressure from China upon
the host countries. Are we to assume that China has no way to find out
this sensitive info except through DX publications? [gh]

RFA A-03 updated schedule of September 20th, 2003.

0000-0100  LAO        12015I 13830  15545T
0030-0130  BURMESE    11540-S03 13680T 13820I 15660  17525-J03 17835S
0100-0200  UIGHUR      9350  11520  11895UAE 11945UAE 15405T
0100-0300  TIBETAN     9365  11695UAE 11975H 15225T 15695  17730
0300-0600  MANDARIN   13670T 13760T 15150T 15665T
                      17495  17525  17615S 17880S
                      21690T
0600-0700  MANDARIN   13670T 13760T 15150T 15665T
                      17495  17525  17615S 17880S
0600-0700  TIBETAN    17485  17510  17720  21500T 21690UAE

break

1100-1200  LAO         9355S  9545T 15560I 15635
1100-1400  TIBETAN     7470-S03 11590  13575-J03 13625T 13830-S03
                      15510UAE    15695-J03 17855H-(from 1200)

deleted ***** 1130-1230  CAMBODIAN  13730T 15535I

1230-1330  CAMBODIAN  13645T 15525I 15625
1300-1400  BURMESE    11540-?S03 11765T 13745T 15680-?J03
1400-1500  CANTONESE   9775T 11715S 13790T
1400-1500  VIETNAMESE  9455S  9635T  9930W 11510  11520  11535-S03
                      11605N 11765T 13775P 15705-J03
1400-1500  KOREAN      7380  11790T 13625T 15625
1500-1600  TIBETAN    7470-S03 11510 11590-J03 11705T 11780UAE 13835
1500-1600  MANDARIN    7540-S03  9905P 11765T 12025S 13690T
                      15510T 15680-J03.  Deleted 11945T.
1500-1600  KOREAN       648uss   9385S 13625T
1600-1700  KOREAN      7210irk   9385S 13625T
1600-1700  UIGHUR      7465   9350I  9370   9555UAE 11780T 13715I
1600-1700  MANDARIN    7540-S03  9455S  9905P 11750T 11795T 12025S
                      13690T 15510T 15680-J03. Deleted 11945T.
1700-1800  MANDARIN    7540-S03  9355S  9455S  9540T  9905P 11750T
                      11795T 11995S 13690T 15510T 15680-J03.
                      Deleted 11945T and 17640T.
1800-1900  MANDARIN    7530-S03  7540-S03  9355S  9455S  9540T
                      11520-J03 11740T 11995S 13680T 15510T
                      15680-J03.
                      Deleted 11945T, 11955T and 17640T.
1900-2000  MANDARIN    7530-S03  7540-S03  9355S  9455S  9905P
                      11520-J03 11740T 11785T 11995S
                      13625T 13680T 15510T 15680-J03.
                      Deleted 11945T, and 11955T.
2000-2100  MANDARIN    7530-S03  7540-S03  9355S  9455S  9850T
                       9905P 11520-J03 11700T 11740T 11785T 11935T
                      11995S 13625T 15515T 15680-J03.
                      Deleted 13670T.
2100-2200  MANDARIN    7540-S03  9455S  9850T  9910P 11700T 11740T
                      11935T 11995S 13625T 15515T 15680-J03
2200-2300  CANTONESE   9355S  9955P 11785T 13675T
2200-2300  KOREAN      7460   9455S  9850T 11670S 12080T
2230-2330  CAMBODIAN   7455-?S03  9490I  9930P 11570-?J03 13735T
2300-2359  MANDARIN    7540-S03  9910P 11785T 13640T 13800S 15430T
                      15550T 15680-J03.
                      Seemingly Mandarin service via Taiwan
                      7315, 11935, and 11995 have been ceased.
2300-2359  TIBETAN     7470   7550-S03  9365-J03  9395-S03
                       9805UAE  9875H 15695-J03

deleted **** 2330-0029  CAMBODIAN   7490I 13735T

2330-0029  VIETNAMESE  9975-?S03 11540-?J03 11560  11580  11605N
                      11670T 12110I 13735S 15560P.
(various sources, updated by W.Büschel-D Sept 20, 2003 in BCDX 640)


7380 Degar Voice 1318-1330*. Usual talks by M, closing mx 1328, carrier
off 1331. Good signal, no sign of siren jammer.
(J.Wilkins-CO-USA Oct 7, 2003 in CDX-ML)

...............................................................

Schedules - ETHIOPIA

Rainbow Radio

11840 Rainbow Radio Scheduled for Fridays *1900, checking on three
different javoradios in Europe and just heard a loud buzzing.
(H.Johnson-USA Oct 3, 2003 in CDX-ML)

Rainbow Radio : Hans, wait til B-03 season from Oct 26th onwards, or
let's say from Nov 1st like scheduled in DTK JUL/NAU/WER schedule:

 6180 0900-0959 27,28 402 non-dir 976 7=Sats 011103 280304 JUL 100kW DTK
11840 1900-1959 47,48 106 145degr 217 6=Fris 011103 280304 JUL 100kW DTK

GRA - Rainbow Radio
But in A-03 season you should try via JavaRadio, at best in Cairo or
Nairobi, hi! :
 6180 0800-0900 Saturday only
15565 1900-2000 Friday only
(W.Büschel-D Oct 3, 2003 in CDX-ML)

...............................................................

Schedules - INDIA

Radio Sedaye Kashmir

The present sked of Radio Sadaye Kashmir is: 6100 0230-0330, 1430-1530
9890 0730-0830. The first 40 mts. programs are in Urdu and the rest in
some other language. The first broadcast is at 0230 which is repeated at
0730 & 1430.
(J.Jacob-IND Oct 3, 2003 via CDX-ML)

...............................................................

Schedules - MOLDOVA

Radio DMR

Radio DMR, the External Service of the self-proclaimed Dniester Moldavian
Republic (Pridnestrovye), has apparently extended its broadcasts. Erich
Bergmann-D reports in the A-DX mailing list that the transmissions on
5960kHz (txsite: Grigoriopol aka Maiac) can now be heard (at least)
Wed/Thu/Fri 1600-1640. The first part of the prgr's is in English, the
second part was heard in German on Wed, in French on Thu, on Fri it was
fully in English. Announcements in the prgr's indicate similar
transmissions also on Mon & Tue. Other sources tell that also the Russian
language prgr of Radio DRM on 999kHz is now carried on additional days
(originally Fri only at 1700-1730).
(B.Trutenau-LTU Oct 12, 2003 in DXplorer-ML)

------------xxxxxxxxxx Logs xxxxxxxxxx-------------------------

Logs - AFGHANISTAN

Ex Information Radio

Some latest info about former Information Radio - Afghanistan, now Peace
Radio on 9000 kHz at http://www.dxing.info/community/viewtopic.php?t=1192 
(J.Savolainen-FIN Oct 3, 2003 for CRW)

DXLD 3-174 had an item about "Information Radio" of Afghanistan. I can
hear a station on 9000 on daily basis, sometimes with good signal, but
often badly interfered by rtty-like ute station. It sounds like AM mode
now, both sidebands, perhaps a bit reduced carrier. Best audible here
around 15-16 UT. I believe they sign off sometime around 1830. Mostly
local music with very short announcements in Dari/Pashtu. I've been
trying to find out what is the station name/ID nowadays, but no luck yet.
They were on 7000 and disappeared sometime in June, maybe moved then to
9000. On 7000 they used id like "Radyo Mau'lumati" but this might have
been changed now.
(J.Savolainen-FIN Oct 3, 2003 in HCDX-ML)

AFGANISTAN(?) 09 Oct., 1351-1400, 9000kHz, asiatic music and songs. No
IDs. 35443. After 1400 I didn't hear audio signal, only "hum" sound.
(D.Puzanov-KAZ Oct 9, 2003 in CDX-ML)

...............................................................

Logs - ETHIOPIA

Dejen R

12120 Dejen R. Oct 4 *1700-1710 35333 Tigrigna, 1700 s/on with local
music. 1704 ID and opening announce. Talk by man.
(Ko.Hashimoto-J Oct 4, 2003 in JAP 285)

...............................................................

Logs - INDIA

Radio Sedaye Kashmir

Radio Sadaye Kashmir : Tried at 1430 here in Wyoming. Malaysia is there
and an UNID station, but wasn't able to hear this one yet.
(H.Johnson-USA Oct 3, 2003 in CDX-ML)

6100 (t) Radio Sadaye Kashmir good reception from India today (see below)
and got a bit closer on this one. 1425 steady tone. 1428 dead air, 1430
music and then talk by woman. Weak and under Malaysia. Other UNID station
noted yesterday not heard today. The steady tone and bit of dead air
sequence is in line with the sign on procedures I have heard before from
this one.
(H.Johnson-USA Oct 4, 2003 in CDX-ML)

...............................................................

Logs - IRAN

Radio Yaran

Anyone know where the Iranian "clandestine," R. Yaran, 15790, 1600-1800,
has gone? No sign of them on this fqy in several recent checks.
(J.Berg-USA Oct 10, 2003 in DXplorer-ML)

With reservations (subject to confirmation with ID): try 7460 around
0300, 7480 around 1830 and 13800 before 1700. This is what the IBB's RMS
system is indicating (unless my conclusion is totally wrong).
(B.Trutenau-LTU Oct 10, 2003 in DXplorer-ML)

When Radio Yaran started on SW, it was misinterpreted by many DX
correspondents and listed under different (wrong) names. DXLD 3037 of 3
April 2003 lists the schedule 0230-0330 7460, 1630-1730 13800, 1800-2100
7525, 1800-1900 7480 (all from NOR), but the correspondent attributes
these frequencies to Radio International. However, as mentioned in the
same bulletin, the 7525 transmission was clearly identified as Radio
Yaran by another correspondent:

Here on 2 Apr at 2000 on 7525, nice signal. Heard an ID "Radio Yaran -
AFN". http://www.bamey.com/voice1.html has the same audio but with couple
of seconds delay. 73 (Jari Savolainen Kuusankoski Finland, DX LISTENING
DIGEST)

The above schedule could still be valid, except that 7525 seems to be
cancelled. As for the background of Radio Yaran - I assume it is widely
known meanwhile that it's one of the channels of AFN Farsi Link, a U.S.
satellite radio station based in Los Angeles.

NB. These are my conclusions from online surces, subject to confirmation
through onair checks.
(B.Trutenau-LTU Oct 10, 2003 in DXplorer-ML)

Before it is getting too confusing, "DXLD 3037 of 3 April 2003 lists the
schedule 0230-0330 7460, 1630-1730 13800, 1800-2100 7525, 1800-1900 7480
(all from NOR)": HFCC registrations for A03 suggest 7460 & 7480 from
Moldova (Grigoriopol), 13800 from Norway (Kvitsoy), 7525 not listed.
(B.Trutenau-LTU Oct 10, 2003 in DXplorer-ML)

Hi Jerry and all, the more I am studying this matter, the more I feel
that my conclusion might not have been what it first seemed to me. So,
please better disregard my assumptions, I might have been on a wrong
track after all. I will stop here, rather than to confuse you even more
:) My apologies.
(B.Trutenau-LTU Oct 10, 2003 in DXplorer-ML)

I checked these tonight and 13800 carries R Anternacional probably from
Grigoriopol, 7480 was probably R Payam-e-Doosd with very bad hum and 7525
was empty.
(M.Ritola-FIN Oct 11, 2003 in HCDX)

That's right, I should have known better. I was mislead by the wrong
assumption in an early source that suggested a single station on these
frequencies.
(B.Trutenau-LTU Oct 11, 2003 in DXplorer-ML)

Dear friends, Please allow me to describe the situation as I see it,
mostly through my own monitoring:

R Yaran was using 7525 from Kvitsoy, brokered by Merlin, in April 2003,
then moved to 15740 in May. In July-Sep it was heard on 15790 from
Samara, but the last logging was on Sep 12. Early Sep. I notoced an
unstable transmitter. It was off when checked on Sep 20 and has been
since then, so R Yaran may have left SW.

The IBB RMS loggings in Farsi, mentioned by Bernd Trutenau, are also
regularly heard here with clear ID's:

7460 Daily 0230-0315 Payam-e Doost - heard Sep 23 and 29.
7480 Daily 1800-1845 Payam-e Doost - heard e.g. today Oct 12.
13800 Mo-Sa 1630-1700 (Summer), 1730-1800 (Winter) R International - last
checked and heard Sep 02.
All these three seem to be via Maiac, Moldova.
(A.Petersen-DNK Oct 12, 2003 in DXplorer-ML)

13800 is a traditional Kvitsøy (Norway) frequency. This frequency would
be too high for reaching Iran from Moldova, but perfect if used from
Kvitsøy.
(B.Trutenau-LTU Oct 13, 2003 in DXplorer-ML)



Voice of Southern Azerbaijan

9375 Voice of Southern Azerbaijan 1529 very short tone, then sign on with
man mentioning Azerbaijan a number of times. 1533 what sounded
like news read by woman, mentioning the CIA, Iran. 1537 end of news and
talk by man. Short talks by a couple of different men, short fanfares.
1554 return of same woman who read the news. 1600 another fanfare with
man, and off. No sign of any jamming so I guess this one doesn't bother
the Iranian government. Via Javoradio Europe. (H.Johnson-USA Oct 1, 2003
in CDX-ML)

9375 Voice of Southern Azerbaijan 1525 tune in to open carrier, no test
tones were heard. 1530 sign on with ID, fanfare, and talk by man. 1533
what sounded like news read by woman. Program continued to repeated
yesterday's format. Once again, no sign of any jamming. Via Javoradio
Europe.
(H.Johnson-USA Oct 2, 2003 in CDX-ML)

9000 kHz : Sorry, I meant to send this in three weeks ago, but it slipped
my mind! The station on 9000 kHz, formerly Information Radio, was
observed on 17th September identifying as "Peace Radio" [Radyo-e Soleh in
Dari].
(D.Kernick-G Oct 3, 2003 in CDX-ML)

9000 kHz : Thanks Jari's and David's tips, tuned in via Javoradio at 1455
and could hear music underneath the UTE. A real pain as the UTE is
constant and in sidebands. I kept losing the signal off and on. Was best
as I tuned in and I gave up by 1520, the UTE was driving me crazy.
(H.Johnson-USA Oct 3, 2003 in CDX-ML)

...............................................................

Logs - KURDISTAN

Voice of Komala

I heard (again) Voice of Komala, 4615 kHz, 1850-1857 UT on Sept 29. The
hurring and beeping QRM was terrible and I am not sure if the
transmission ended at 1857 or not; I could not get any signal after that.
I have not been able to find any information on the whereabouts of the
transmitter site; does anyone know the QTH? The signals coming from east
of Finland were at the moment kinda good, for example I could hear Tajik
Radio on 4635 and All India Radio on 60 metres pretty well that night, so
I suppose V.of Komala is coming from the East or South-East Asia. Also my
antenna (20 metres of wire) pics signals best from those directions on 60
metres
(M.Ponkamo-FIN Sep 29, 2003 in DXLD 3-173)

Those 4 MHz band Kurdish clandestines are likely to be close to
Kurdistan, adjacent countries, if not within it. According to old info at
http://www.schoechi.de/crw/crw-kurd.html for 4600 the transmitter
location is IRAQ (i.e. KURDISTAN)
(G.Hauser-USA in DXLD 3-173)



Voice of Mesopotamia

11530 V.O.Mesopotamia Oct 5 1300-1306 35333 Kurdish, 1300 theme music and
ID.
(Ko.Hashimoto-J Oct 4, 2003 in JAP 285)

15675 V.O.Mesopotamia Oct 6 0726-0740 35433 Kurdish, Music and talk. ID
at 0728.
(Ko.Hashimoto-J Oct 4, 2003 in JAP 285)



?

4026.8 V Iraqi People of Kurdistan 1602, news talks by OM in arabic with
refrences to Iraq and Baghdad , doctor Mohd Al Hoshni, Benzin 1606 with
posible ID after a short music bridge with news to continue: abt Iraqis.
Kofi Annan more news after ID at 1620 with : "... shaab Iraqi" with
reference to Jordan , Signal: S7 mod level, 32343 QRM from dirty carrier.
(Z.Liangas-GRC Oct 3, 2003 in HCDX-ML)

...............................................................

Logs - MOLDOVA

Radio DMR

R. Pridnestrovoje aus der Moldau auf 5960 kHz hat sein Programmangebot
erweitert, von vorher nur Mittwoch in Englisch 1600-1630 UTC jetzt schon
gehört Mittwoch, Donnerstag und Freitag von 1600-1640 am Mittwoch die
erste Hälfte (vermutlich) in Englisch dann in Deutsch (gerade noch die
Absage mitbekommen), am Donnerstag erste Hälfte in Englisch, dann in
Französisch, heute Freitag die gesammte Sendezeit in Englisch. Bei der
Absage in Französisch wurde der Dienstag als nächste Sendung angegeben,
bei Englisch heute wurde Montag als Nächstes angesagt.
Ein wenig chaotisch das Ganze aber scheinbar läuft das Programm von
Montag bis Freitag. Man muss noch verfolgen was für Sprachen benutzt
werden vor allem Montag, und ob die anderen Tage auch so laufen wie bis
jetzt.
(E.Bergmann-D Oct 10, 2003 in A-DX)

Hallo, danke an Erich für den Hinweis. Die Station war auch heute wieder
von 1600-1620 UTC in Englisch und von 1620-1640 UTC in Deutsch zu hören.
Hat zufällig jemand die komplette Adresse oder Emailadresse (irgendwas
mit radiopsr@ ... .com oder so) am Schluss mitbekommen? Bei Google hab
ich nichts gefunden. Gibt es nähere Infos zu dieser Station?
(R.Bessler-D Oct 13, 2003 in A-DX)

16:12- 5960- MOLDOVA- Radio DMR, in English (Oct 14-03), news and
comments about current events, good signal, some noise. Speaker had a
'good' accent. ID 'Radio DMR' at 16:18. At 16:19 announcement of
snail-mail address and e-mail. Snail mail address was the same that has
been announced already in the past : Radio DMR - Radio Pridnestrovia, ul.
Rozy Luksemburg 10, 3300 Tiraspol, Republic of Moldavia. (They really use
the name 'Rep. of Moldavia' all the time.) At 16:20 beginning of a
transmission in French. BC was full of news, no muisc. Same 'end of
program' announcements at 16:40 (in French). Carrier off at 16:42. Thank
you to Erich and Ralf in the A-DX mailing list for the tip.
(M.Schöch-D Oct 14, 2003 for CRW)

...............................................................

Logs - SUDAN

Voice of Sudan

7999.35 V of Sudan, local music then talks in Arabic? ID 1553 with
'Idaatu Sawt Sudan' by OM then talks with background music. Signal S4 max
, 22432 Off 1559 Thanks to Savolainen's log in BCDX 640
(Z.Liangas-GRC Oct 3, 2003 in HCDX-ML)

...............................................................

Logs - SYRIA

The Arabic Radio

12120 Arab R. Oct 4 1511-1518 34332 Arabic, Arabic music and talk. ID at
1513.
(Ko.Hashimoto-J Oct 4, 2003 in JAP 285)

...............................................................

Logs - UGANDA

Radio Rhino Int Africa

This October 1, Rhino Radio International came booming in even when the
ole antenna clip-on disengaged itself. Has been usually hard to hear even
when one squints one's ears. 17555 'round about 1515, lengthy ID in
English, playing songs like "One World, One Heart" (the tune one hears
during a Jamaica TV ad) and similar peace-evoking music; deep-voiced OM
jock, tho a female ID was also given in there somewhere. OM gave address
in Germany, website particulars, and standard ID at s/off, at 1530.
(C.Listensprechen-USA Oct 1, 2003 in ASWLC-ML)

17555, GERMANY, R.Rhino Int'l via DTK, 1545-1559*, Oct.4, EG, YL w/ intvw
of OM, presumed station owner (tho never got his name) re reasons for
starting broadcasts to Uganda; i.e. "bringing people together, platform
for truth, open forum, etc", mentioned hearing from listeners around the
world, slammed BBC for implying station is affiliated with UPC and
Ugandan rebel groups. Nice EG ballad, "I've seen (Bonanga?)" before s/off
anmt. Fair w/ f/in and out.
(S.R.Barbour Jr-NH-USA Oct 4, 2003 in HCDX-ML)

15435 R.Africa Int. via DTK Oct 5 0750-0800* 33443 French, Talk. ID at
0752. 0759 ID and frequency. 0800 s/off.
(Ko.Hashimoto-J Oct 4, 2003 in JAP 285)

R. Rhino International Africa, 17555 via Germany, fairly good again from
*1500 Sat Oct 4. Seems their opening theme is Trini López` version of "If
I Had a Hammer...", also heard on several other occasions. Faded down a
lot before the hour was over
(G.Hauser-OK-USA Oct 4, 2003 in DXLD 3-175)

17555, Radio Rhino International-Africa via Juelich, 1520-1559* Oct 11,
English language talks by man about massacres in Uganda. ID at 1527: "You
are listening to Radio Rhino International, Africa." Encouraged e-mails
although didn't give e-mail address. Asked for phone calls to Germany at
049 162 885 4486. Encouraged listeners to go to web page at
www.radiorhino.org . More talks about difficulties in Uganda and vocal
selection "Stand Up for Your Rights." Final announcement provided another
phone number 0049 (for Germany), 221 (for Koln) followed by 9545378. Fair
signal.
(R.D'Angelo-PA-USA Oct 11, 2003 in DXplorer-ML)

...............................................................

Logs - VIETNAM

Chan Troi Moi

15775 Chan Troi Moi 1340 with talks in Viet and many refs to Vietnam
After 1345 signal has long but strong fadeouts. 1355 after a 20 sec
off-carrier with mentions to Hanoi then classic music. YL with news,
referring to Bush, Osama Bin Lad'n Taliban and Putin. Again classic muisc
bridge on 1406 then OM with spellings 'Radio Fema' . 1409 with song.
Signal Abt S6
(Z.Liangas-GRC Oct 3, 2003 in HCDX-ML)

...............................................................

Logs - WESTERN SAHARA

National Radio of the Arab-Saharan Democratic Republic

1550 kHz Polisario Front, Tindouf, noticed today Oct 6th 0650- 0758* \\
to 7460 kHz, airing Arabic progr with talks, nx 0700 & tunes; both ch's
s/off w/o any annt, and the Rabuni tx for 7460 kHz had its carrier still
on at around 0930! 55444 for the MW channel, 35343 for the SW channel. I
was trying 7460 this morning before moving to their NEW MW´[evening, ed.]
off-ch outlet (on the "opposite side" of the band, on ?00 kHz) I
discovered on Oct 3rd 2229-2300* at 54444, but today they were back on
1550 kHz, possibly a freq for mornings only, I don't know.

On Oct 3rd, the former freq had its Moroccan jammer stn active though...
meaning they probably didn't discover Tindouf's new freq yet, which is
equal to the freq of stn WDHP American Virgin Isl. stn Frederiksted-VIR,
minus 920 kHz. I'm sry for being rather devious about this, but I'd like
to observe the situation and see for how long the new channel remains
without jamming.
(C.Goncalves-POR Oct 6, 2003 in BCDX 641)

(later) Polisario Front's MW fq mornings seems to the old one only, 1550
kHz, \\ to 7460, but today 7 Oct they're \\ on 3 freqs:
the new one (??? kHz),
the old one (1550 kHz)
and at least on 7460 kHz too.

No jamming heard mornings, and no jamming detected this evening either
(this applies to all 3 freqs).

In view of this, maybe ??? is even via some other (RTA too?) site. At any
rate, I can receive them both at equal QSA levels via the K9AY aerial.
RTA Djelfa (that's nearly 250 km south of Algiers) is listed with 50/25
kW, but it's too far from the intended target area.
(C.Goncalves-POR Oct 7, 2003 in BCDX 641)

The RASD station on 1550 kHz noted back on tonight October 6 for the
first time in months. Heard with an Arabic man talking, parallel 7460 at
2205 UT
(S.Whitt, MWC E-Mail News via NRC IDXD Oct 10, 2003 via DXLD 3-179)

...............................................................

Logs - ZIMBABWE

SW Radio Africa

4880 SW Radio Africa 1613 man with talks of African names (kachanga etc)
mixed with local languages. S9 max 32333 mixed with New Delhi of lower
level signal
(Z.Liangas-GRC Oct 3, 2003 in HCDX-ML)

------------xxxxxxxxxx QSL Verifications xxxxxxxxxx------------

Qsl's - ERITREA

Voice of Democratic Eritrea

5925 kHz, VOICE OF DEMOCRATIC ERITREA (Dimtsi Dimocrasyawit Eritrea),
(Clandestine via DTK Jülich), full data A5 qsl-letter with personal
remark, v/s Neguse Tseggou, In 24 days for a report with 1 EUR in stamps
to : Voice of Democratic Eritrea, Postfach 1946, 65409 Rüsselsheim,
Deutschland.
(M.Schöch-D Sep 25, 2003 for CRW)

...............................................................

Qsl's - ETHIOPIA

Dejen Radio

12120 Dejen Radio, via TDP, P.O. Box 1, 2310 Rijkevorsel, Belgium. QSL
card full data. V/S: incomprehensible. I received the verification card
in 13 months.
(A.L.Slaen-ARG Oct 1, 2003 for CRW)

...............................................................

Qsl's - KURDISTAN

Denge Mesopotamya

11530 Denge Mesopotamya, via TDP, P.O. Box 1, 2310 Rijkevorsel, Belgium.
QSL card full data in 13 months. V/S: incomprehensible.
(A.L.Slaen-ARG Oct 1, 2003 for CRW)

...............................................................

Qsl's - VIETNAM

Chan Troi Moi

Chan Troi Moi : det. QSL-Karte, Laufzeit 166 Tage, heute angekommen.
Adresse: Chan Troi Moi Correspondence Section | R CTM | P. O. Box 48 |
Nishi Yodogawa | Osaka 555 | Japan
(J.Thiel-D Oct 6, 2003 in A-DX)

------------xxxxxxxxxx Miscellaneous xxxxxxxxxx----------------

Misc - AFGHANISTAN

Radio station brings truth to Afghanistan

http://www4.army.mil/ocpa/read.php?story_id_key=5278 
(A.Sennit-HOL Oct 2, 2003 for CRW)

...............................................................

Misc - CUBA

RADIO EQUIPMENT MEANT TO JAM U. S. BROADCAST SIGNALS TO CUBA

NUEVA GERONA, September 30 ( http://www.cubanet.org ) - The Cuban
government agency Radio Cuba has installed a third television channel and
a radio transmitter to jam U. S. radio and TV broadcasts. The
transmitters have been installed in the Isle of Youth, south of Havana,
and were bought with a credit granted by China.

Cuban government officials have said that the investment was made to
improve the signal of the local station, Radio Caribe, but others say the
operation is part of the "battle of ideas" decreed by Fidel Castro.

In Nueva Gerona, the capital of the Isle of Youth, U. S. broadcasts from
several Miami radio stations, as well as the TV signal from Telemundo,
can often be received
(CubaNet Oct 2, 2003 via A.Bigley in DXLD 3-175)



POLITICA: INSTALAN EQUIPOS PARA INTERFERIR RADIO, TV DE ESTADOS UNIDOS

NUEVA GERONA, 30 de septiembre ( http://www.cubanet.org ) - La empresa
gubernamental cubana Radio Cuba instaló en el municipio especial Isla de
la Juventud un tercer canal de televisión y un transmisor de radio para
interferir las señales de emisoras y canales de televisión de los Estados
Unidos de América.

El transmisor fue adquirido por Radio Cuba mediante un crédito otorgado
por la República Popular China y fue instalado en el centro transmisor de
la emisora Radio Progreso, ubicada en la carretera del sur de la región.

Aunque los funcionarios gubernamentales han dicho que la inversión se
realizó para un mejoramiento de la calidad de la señal de la emisora
local Radio Caribe, otras son las causas. El inicio de las transmisiones
del canal de televisión y el transmisor de Isla de la Juventud se inserta
en la llamada batalla de ideas, convocada por el gobernante Fidel Castro.
Se empeñan en que la verdad de lo que acontece dentro y fuera de Cuba no
sea conocida por la población.

En Nueva Gerona, capital de Isla de la Juventud, así como en el
asentamiento La Demajagua, se captan las transmisiones de Radio Martí, La
Poderosa y WQBA, 1140, así como las señales de televisión de Telemundo.
cnet/08
(CubaNet Oct 1 via DXLD 3-175)



US TO TIGHTEN CUBA SANCTIONS

US President George Bush announces new measures designed to help end
communist rule in Cuba...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/americas/3181048.stm 
(via M.Kehoe-USA in swprograms-ML via DXLD 3-179)

Includes beefing up broadcasts to Cuba; already in the pipeline, like DBS
(G.Hauser-USA Oct 10, 2003 in DXLD 3-179)

This is a load of BULL from Washington --- I certainly don't want my tax
dollars to be used for broadcasts to "bombard Cuba about safer
routes to the United States"!!!!!
(M.Kehoe-USA in swprograms-ML via DXLD 3-179)

...............................................................

Misc - GERMANY

LAWYER IN ZUNDEL DETENTION REVIEW LINKS HIM WITH OTHER HOLOCAUST-DENIERS
[by] MARLENE HABIB

TORONTO (CP) - Holocaust-denier Ernst Zundel testified Tuesday he put
$10,000 towards the court costs of a fellow German who believed "Europe
should cleanse itself racially."

Federal government lawyer Donald MacIntosh asked Zundel during his
detention review hearing if he was a close associate of Ewald Althans,
another Holocaust-denier who was convicted in a German court in 1995 of
charges that included insulting the memory of the dead and insulting the
state. Zundel is seeking freedom pending a review of a federal security
certificate issued earlier this year that says he's a security risk. The
certificate could send him back to Germany to face charges of suspicion
of incitement of hatred.

Zundel, a publisher whose books include titles on Adolf Hitler, told
MacIntosh that Althans was simply "a man who did things for me,"
including helping him sell his books and videos.

But Zundel also admitted he helped underwrite the cost of Althans'
defence at his German trial. Zundel added that he had several "observers"
report back to him in Toronto, where he was living at the time, about the
goings-on in the court case.

MacIntosh pointed out that court documents quoted Althans as saying
multiculturalism is "filthy" and "stinks" and that "Europe should cleanse
itself racially."

Zundel also said he stopped associating with Althans after Althans agreed
to act as a German government informant.

Zundel's first detention review was held in the spring after he was
arrested in February in Canada and deemed a security risk. Now 64, the
German native and former Toronto resident had been booted out of
Tennessee because of U.S. immigration violations.

His review before Federal Court Judge Pierre Blais has been underway
since May, and government lawyers at the hearings have repeatedly linked
Zundel with other Holocaust-deniers.

MacIntosh questioned Zundel about what he knew about other members of
far-right groups and individuals, including Aryan Nations leader Richard
Butler, neo-Nazi Christian Worch and former Canadian Aryan Nations leader
Terry Long.

Zundel admitted he interviewed Butler in 1983 or 1984, but could recall
little of the interview other than that "it became boring" after a point.
He also said he communicated with Worch several times between 1989 and
1994.

"He helped me with legal papers" because he had some legal experience,
Zundel said of Worch, who spent two years in prison for violating a ban
on promoting Nazism.

At one point in the testimony, Zundel grew impatient with MacIntosh, who
referred to descriptions of the men's activities in an Anti-Defamation
League article.

"Sometimes I feel like a black man being convicted on Ku Klux Klan news
clippings," Zundel said, describing the league, which documents and
campaigns against anti-Semitism, as "a Jewish hate group."

MacIntosh said he was attempting to establish Zundel's relationship with
the men and was "entitled to probe what those contacts are" to examine
his credibility and potential as a flight risk.

One legal observer said the government is trying to convince Blais that
Zundel shouldn't be released, pending a review of his status as a
security risk, because he's maintaining ties with convicted and
well-known white supremacists.

Outside the courtroom Tuesday, Anita Bromberg, in-house counsel for B'nai
Brith Canada, accused Zundel's lawyer, Doug Christie, of stalling the
hearings, and said Jewish people insulted by Zundel's beliefs that the
Holocaust never happened are "tired of his games."

At the start of the review Tuesday, Blais refused to remove himself from
the case despite allegations by Christie that he's biased against Zundel.

Blais denied the request Christie made in July, when the defence lawyer
accused him of "badgering and accusing the witness of lying" and
exhibiting "open hostility" towards Zundel.

Blais wouldn't elaborate on his ruling, saying he would later give
written reasons to both Christie and federal lawyers.

Blais and Christie also butted heads over Christie's attempts to have a
surprise witness testify at the hearing.

Despite Blais's annoyance that Christie wasn't following proper procedure
for entering a new witness, he allowed Dr. Lorraine Day to take the
stand.

Day, a California doctor who practises alternative cancer treatments,
testified that Zundel's tumour in his chest - first reported at a review
session weeks ago - was at risk of growing and his health was further
being threatened by being locked up at Toronto's Metro West Detention
Centre.

Day testified that Zundel also needed medication to control his high
blood pressure, and that the drug was giving him side-effects like a slow
heart rate and memory loss.

"He needs exercise, fresh air, and freedom from stress," said Day. "The
whole point is we need to have his high blood pressure controlled without
the drug."

Under cross-examination, Day admitted that while examining Zundel on
Monday, she didn't take his blood pressure herself and that she had to
rely on charts by doctors at the detention centre to make her diagnosis.

Zundel's website was at the centre of a Canadian Human Rights Commission
ruling in 2000 that ordered anti-Semitic material removed.

He fled to the United States shortly before the ruling came down. His
detention review was told his wife, Ingrid, still lives in Tennessee and
operates a website under Zundel's name.

The hearing was to continue Wednesday.

The Canadian Press Sep 23, 2003 (AOL Canada News via F.Waterer-ON-CAN in
DXLD 3-171)



JUDGE REFUSES TO REMOVE HIMSELF FROM ZUNDEL HEARING; DOCTOR TO TAKE STAND

By MARLENE HABIB

TORONTO (CP) - The federal court judge overseeing Ernst Zundel's
detention review hearing refused Tuesday to dismiss himself from the case
despite allegations by the Holocaust-denier's lawyer that he's biased
against his client.

Judge Pierre Blais denied the request Doug Christie made in July, when
the defence lawyer accused him of "badgering and accusing the witness of
lying" and exhibiting "open hostility" towards Zundel.

Blais wouldn't elaborate on his ruling, saying he would later give
written reason to both Christie and federal government lawyers.

Also during the hearing Tuesday, Blais and Christie butt heads over
Christie's attempts have a surprise witness testify at the hearing.

Despite Blais's annoyance that Christie wasn't following proper procedure
for entering a new witness, he allowed Dr. Lorraine Day to take the
stand.

Day, a California doctor who practises alternative cancer treatments, was
expected to give a health report on Zundel, who remains in isolation at
the city's Metro West Detention Centre.

Christie has argued that Zundel's continued detention is harming his
health.

Earlier this year, the hearing to determine whether Zundel should be out
on bail while the government determines if he's a security risk was told
the German citizen had a tumour on his chest.

Zundel is seeking freedom pending a review of a federal security
certificate issued earlier this year that says he's a security risk. The
certificate could send him back to Germany to face charges of suspicion
of incitement of hatred.

Zundel's Web site was at the centre of a Canadian Human Rights Commission
ruling in 2000 that ordered anti-Semitic material removed.

Zundel fled to the United States shortly before the ruling came down. Now
in his mid-60s, he has been in detention since February after being
booted out of Tennessee because of U.S. immigration violations.

The Canadian Press, Sep 23, 2003 (via F.Waterer-ON-CAN in DXLD 3-171)

...............................................................

Misc - IRAQ

Analysis: Iraqis plan independent domestic broadcaster; BBC training on
hold

Text of editorial analysis by BBC Monitoring Media Services on 1 October

In an initiative to launch a domestic broadcasting service independent of
Coalition influence, the Iraqi Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) was set up
in September 2003 by a number of Iraqi businessmen and media figures with
an initial investment of 10m US dollars to produce TV and radio
broadcasts. The IBC has stated its intention to operate independently
from any government or authority.

However, for the time being the Iraqi Media Network (IMN), operated by
the Coalition Provisional Authority, continues to dominate domestic
broadcasting.

At present IMN TV and radio programmes are produced and prerecorded in
facilities in the Convention Centre near the headquarters of the
Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA). They are physically taken to the
TV and FM radio transmitter site some two km away to be broadcast. With
10 reporters and a staff of 50 in Baghdad only, the TV station broadcasts
for up to 12 hours per day. The same reporters also work for radio.

The role of the IMN in shaping post-war national broadcasting in Iraq,
and the extent of its powers, came under the international spotlight at
the beginning of August, when senior IMN official Ahmad al-Rikabi, head
of US-backed Iraqi TV, resigned. Rikabi complained that inadequate
funding prevented the station from competing with rival channels from
Iran and the Gulf states.

Later in August the US authorities appointed Simon Haselock as media
commissioner to govern broadcasters and the press in Iraq, establish
training programmes for journalists and plan for the establishment of a
state-run radio and TV network. Haselock's last appointment was as
spokesman and media supervisor for UN authorities overseeing Kosovo.

A joint UN and World Bank needs assessment mission to Iraq in August
concluded that the country needed a genuine public service oriented
broadcaster that could provide the population with credible news about
developments in their country. Decisions on following up this assessment
will be taken at a donors' meeting in Madrid in late October.

In the light of the deteriorating security situation, the BBC World
Service Trust decided at the end of September to put its journalists'
training programme in Iraq on hold temporarily.

Iraq's US-backed Governing Council in September imposed a partial ban on
two pan-Arab satellite TV channels, Al-Jazeera based in Qatar and
Al-Arabiya based in Dubai, accusing them of encouraging terrorism and
working against a new Iraqi democracy. The measure, which banned the
channels from covering any Governing Council business for a fortnight,
resulted in condemnation from media freedom groups around the world.

US spokesmen have said Al-Jazeera provides a platform for terrorists and
incites attacks against Coalition soldiers in Iraq. To compete with
Al-Jazeera and other pan-Arab news channels, the Bush administration
plans to start its own 24-hour Arabic-language satellite TV network by
the end of this year.

Iraqi Satellite TV, meanwhile, is due to resume broadcasting in October
2003, once 80m dollars worth of equipment arrives from the US and the UK.

The US communications equipment manufacturer Harris Corporation announced
on 29 September that it had been awarded a contract by the US
Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) to supply FM radio transmitters and
other equipment to help rebuild Iraq's communications infrastructure.
Harris said it had recently created "an Iraq Initiatives Office that
pools the products and resources of its five communications businesses to
address the business opportunities related to the rebuilding of Iraq".

New publications continue to appear in Iraq since the fall of Saddam
Husayn's regime in April 2003. At the time of writing, more than 200
newspapers and other publications are available.

International broadcasters such as the BBC, Radio Monte Carlo-Middle East
and the US-run Radio Sawa are all available on FM in Baghdad and some
other Iraqi cities. Internet services are on offer in the capital, and
the state internet service provider, Uruklink, is back in operation after
several months offline.

Source: BBC Monitoring research 1 Oct 03 (BBCM Oct 1, 2003)

...............................................................

Misc - LIBERIA

Ex-President Taylor's "propaganda radio station" closed down

Text of report in English by French news agency AFP

Monrovia, 8 October: Exiled former Liberian President Charles Taylor's
propaganda radio station, Kiss FM, has been closed down, former employees
told AFP Wednesday [8 October]. The owner of the premises housing the
station had given the station's management an eviction notice because
they owed him 80,000 dollars in back rent, they said.

"The station's equipment was over the weekend [4-5 October] taken to
former President Taylor's White Flower residence in Congo Town which is
currently being occupied by his sister," a former Kiss FM employee who
asked to remain anonymous told AFP.

Kiss FM was run as part of Taylor's public relations outfit, the Liberia
Communications Network (LCN), which in addition to the FM station in
Monrovia also ran a shortwave radio station [Radio Liberia International]
in Totota, about 90 km (56 miles) north of the capital, a newspaper and
television station.

LCN employed more than 200 people, who were paid in US dollars. The
minimum wage at Taylor's former media network was 60 dollars, against a
minimum salary for public sector employees under Taylor of about 10
dollars.

Taylor owed LCN workers around five months' wages when he stood down and
went into exile in August. Public sectors were owed nearly two years'
back pay by the disgraced former leader of Liberia.

Taylor's departure paved the way for peace talks between rebels and a
caretaker government, led by former Vice-President Moses Blah. A pact was
signed on 18 August between the two sides, ending 14 years of almost
continuous war in Liberia.

Source: AFP news agency, Paris, in English 1517 gmt 8 Oct 03 (BBCM Oct 8,
2003)

...............................................................

Misc - MIDDLE EAST

BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS (BBG) STATEMENT ON "CHANGING MINDS,
WINNING PEACE"

A Report Released by The U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy

The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) released the following
statement on October 8, 2003 in response to the "Changing Minds, Winning
Peace," report by the commission's Advisory Group on Public Diplomacy for
the Arab and Muslim World.

1. The report demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of U.S.
international broadcasting's mission, which is "to promote and sustain
freedom and democracy by broadcasting accurate and objective news and
information about the United States and the world to overseas audiences."
The BBG, which oversees all U.S. nonmilitary international broadcasting,
is an arm of public diplomacy with a distinct role: to broadcast
accurate, fact-based news and information, and to serve as an example of
the highest quality of American journalism.

2. The report's recommendation that U.S. international broadcasting --
with the exception of news -- be placed under a new Office of the Special
Counselor to the President is unwise and unworkable. It's unwise because
it would tear the firewall that separates broadcasters from partisan
politics, leading to charges the BBG's news and information is tainted
and not trustworthy. Credibility is the BBG's stock-in-trade.

3. The report fails to credit Radio Sawa as one of the most innovative
public diplomacy initiatives in a generation, reflecting the kind of
dramatic new thinking the Advisory Group says is needed to transform
America's image in the Middle East and elsewhere. Radio Sawa, the
Arabic-language station, launched in March 2002, has been an unqualified
success, attracting millions of listeners. A recent ACNielsen study
showed Radio Sawa is the leading international broadcaster in five Middle
Eastern countries with 31 percent listenership among the general
population, and 42 percent in the all-important 15-29 year group.
Moreover, Radio Sawa listeners view the United States more favorably than
do non-listeners, Nielsen said.

4. The report ignores Radio Sawa's news content, which is broadcast for
at least five hours daily. The station engages its audience with features
and interactive programs and provides U.S. officials a means of
connecting with people in the region. During the Iraq War, the station
provided wall-to-wall coverage of breaking events, including the fall of
Baghdad. By controlling transmission, Sawa staff can --- and does ---
increase its daily information content for big stories and breaking news.
Without large audiences, America's voice would be virtually silent. News
is delivered in a non-inflammatory fashion, carefully using words and
terminology that are not emotional but are fair. According to Nielsen,
Radio Sawa is viewed a "reliable" news source by 75 percent of its
listeners.

5. The report's recommendation that the BBG hold off creating an Arabic
television network -- and consider placing American programs on Arab
networks such as Al-Jazeera -- is misinformed. Existing, state-owned
networks, which frequently broadcast biased, anti-American propaganda,
are the problem, not the solution. We must start broadcasting the U.S.
viewpoint on American, 24/7 Arabic-language satellite TV.

6. The report calls for a "new culture of measurement" for public
diplomacy yet its conclusions and recommendations are based on anecdotes.
The report fails to take notice of the fact that Radio Sawa is the most
measured program in the history of international broadcasting.

The BBG is an independent federal agency which supervises all U.S.
government-supported nonmilitary international broadcasting, including
the Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL);
Radio Free Asia (RFA); Radio and TV Martí, Radio Sawa and Radio Farda.
The services broadcast in 65 languages to over 100 million people around
the world in 125 markets.

Nine members comprise the BBG, a presidentially appointed body. Current
governors are Chairman Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, Joaquin Blaya, Blanquita W.
Cullum, D. Jeffrey Hirschberg, Edward E. Kaufman, Robert M. Ledbetter,
Jr., Norman J. Pattiz and Steven Simmons. Secretary of State Colin L.
Powell serves as an ex officio member.

For more information, contact Joan Mower at (202) 401-3736, or E-Mail
jmower@ibb.gov (BBG press Oct 9, 2003 via DXLD 3-179)

...............................................................

Misc - TURKMENISTAN

ABDUCTION, THREATS AGAINST RFE/RL TURKMEN SERVICE CORRESPONDENT
CONDEMNED...

On 22 September, RFE/RL President Thomas A. Dine strongly condemned the
violent abduction of Saparmurat Ovezberdiyev, Ashgabat correspondent for
RFE/RL's Turkmen Service by Turkmen National Security Ministry (MNB)
officials in Ashgabat on 11 September. While in detention, Ovezberdiyev
was threatened with 15 years in prison, plus five years for "perjury," if
he continues reporting for RFE/RL. Ovezberdiyev told RFE/RL that MNB
officials forcibly removed him from a taxi on 11 September. The officials
put a black hood over his head before driving him to an undisclosed
location. Later, at an MNB office, he was injected several times with an
unknown substance. During his detention he was not allowed any contact
with friends, family, or co-workers. MNB officials, when asked by family
members, denied that they were holding Ovezberdiyev. Ovezberdiyev was
released from MNB custody on 13 September in Ashgabat. Prior to his
release, MNB officials said to Ovezberdiyev, "You are a traitor to the
homeland." A law adopted in August by Turkmenistan's legislature would,
were Ovezberdiyev to be convicted of being a "traitor," make him subject
to a life sentence in prison with no chance for parole. After
Ovezberdiyev's abduction, his home telephone was cut off. His wife has
said this was done intentionally by the MNB, as agents from the
organization have followed Ovezberdiyev for years and have threatened
him, tapped his telephone, and monitored his e-mail. The 63-year-old
Ovezberdiyev, who suffered a stroke last month, was denied medical
treatment at hospitals in Ashgabat after officials told doctors treating
him that he is a reporter of "the enemy radio."

...AS CAMPAIGN AGAINST RFE/RL CONTINUES. RFE/RL

President Dine said that "Ovezberdiyev's abduction is only the latest
example of a two-decade long series of threats and harassment against
RFE/RL correspondents by the tyrannical government of Turkmen leader
Saparmurat Niyazov." RFE/RL Turkmen Service Director Naz Nazar says these
"aggressive acts" against correspondents of RFE/RL's Turkmen Service are
becoming more frequent and severe when compared to previous years.
Ovezberdiyev's abduction was the third attack against Turkmen Service
correspondents in the last two months. In July, Muhammad Berdiev suffered
serious injuries when he was attacked and beaten by two people on a
street in Moscow. Berdiev's son, Shanazar, suffered a concussion when he
was beaten about the head by an unknown assailant wearing a police
uniform in front of his Moscow apartment on 2 September. A 20-year
chronicle of harassment carried out against RFE/RL Turkmen Service
correspondents by Turkmen authorities can be viewed at:
http://www.rferl.org/bd/tu/info/harass2.html 
(RFE/RL Media Matters 3-39 Oct 10, 2003)

------------xxxxxxxxxx Feedback xxxxxxxxxx----------------------

R Free Cascadia Int

This is a follow-up to the discussion last month about whether R. Free
Cascadia International should be considered clandestine, and the
different ways the news was handled (or not) by different DX and media
news services.

My original remark merely raised the question whether `hidden political
agendas` were involved when it was not covered by a number of outlets. It
did not accuse any of them specifically of doing that. However, by
offering only that and one other alternative, that `they were not paying
attention`, I realize that I was being provocative and unnecessarily
polarizing. As Nick Grace, who took great offense at this suggestion,
pointed out, there were other alternatives, such as that the matter was
considered and declared off-topic, as in the case of Clandestine Radio
Watch. So I offer my apologies for the misunderstandings this may have
caused.

One reason I thought the news should be more widely disseminated quickly
was that the operation was planned for a limited 4 or 5 day period only,
publicized in advance, and this was indeed the case. DX listeners only
had that window to hear it, if they wanted to.

Interestingly, the last issue of CRW did publish as `feedback` the
previous discussion about this, but still not the info about RFCI itself,
tho the Sept 12 Guardian story mentioning a **pirate** radio station at
Cancún, with no details, did appear
(G.Hauser-USA Oct 11, 2003 in DXLD 3-180)

Thank you, Glenn. Regarding the 'question' in the last paragraph of your
article above I want to answer with a line from 'Lament' of Webbers
musical 'Evita' :
"The choice was mine, and mine completely." (M.Schöch-D Oct 14, 2003 for
CRW)

------------xxxxxxxxxx Sources xxxxxxxxxx----------------------

Thanks to the following contributors : Andy Sennit, Arnaldo Slaen, Jari
Savolainen

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
QIP    : QSL Information Pages-Germany
RMO    : Radio Marti Observer-USA
TDP    : Transmitter Documentation Project

BBCM items are Copyright BBCM 2003.
______________________________________________________