--------------xxxxxxxxxx CRW 209 xxxxxxxxxx-------------- CLANDESTINE RADIO WATCH 209 Jun 30, 2006 CRW is the biweekly online magazine for ClandestineRadio.com (CRC), the Web's only portal on clandestine broadcasting and subversive media. CRW : http://www.schoechi.de/crw.html http://www.ClandestineRadio.com/crw/ CRC : http://www.ClandestineRadio.com GCW : http://www.globalcrisiswatch.com Martin Schoech, Editor in Chief, Eisenach, East Germany Nick Grace, CRW Washington & CRC, Washington, DC, USA Richard Lafayette, CRW Midwest, Stillwater, MN, USA Marwan Soliman, CRW Middle East Takuya Hirayama, CRW Japan ------------xxxxxxxxxx Breaking News xxxxxxxxxx---------------- ETHIOPIA : New station: Voice of Oromia Independence ............................................................... ETHIOPIA : New station: Voice of Oromia Independence Media Network has been advised that, starting today, a new radio station called the Voice of Oromia Independence is beaming a weekly programme to Ethiopia on Saturdays at 1500-1530 UTC on 15650 kHz. Broadcasts will be via a T-Systems facility in Germany. The group producing the programme says it is not affiliated with any of the existing Ethiopian/Oromo programmes on shortwave, but we don't have any more information yet. (A.Sennitt-HOL Jun 17, 2006 in Media Network & DXLD-ML) Ethiopia: Voice of Oromia Independence launches weekly broadcast Text of report in English by Radio Netherlands website on 17 June Media Network has been advised that, starting today, a new radio station called the Voice of Oromia Independence is beaming a weekly programme to Ethiopia on Saturdays at 1500-1530 UTC on 15650 kHz. Broadcasts, arranged through Radio Miami International, will be via a T-Systems facility in Germany. The group producing the programme says it is not affiliated with any of the existing Ethiopian/Oromo programmes on shortwave, but we don't have any more information yet. Update 1520 UTC: The broadcast is coming in quite well here in the Netherlands, and is also being heard weakly in the US. Announced as a test broadcast, the first programme consisted of just music and English IDs. Source: Radio Netherlands website, Hilversum, in English 17 Jun 06 (BBCM Jun 17, 2006) ------------xxxxxxxxxx Schedules xxxxxxxxxx-------------------- Schedules - KOREA (NORTH) Freedom North Korea Broadcast Some changes of VT Communications Relays from June 12/19 --- Freedom North Korea Broadcast 1000-1030 on 11750 TAI 100 kW / 002 deg to KRE Korean 1030-1100 on 9855 TAI 100 kW / 002 deg to KRE Korean, new additional 1700-1730 on 9760 TAI 100 kW / 002 deg to KRE Korean 2030-2100 on 9785 TAI 100 kW / 002 deg to KRE Korean, new additional (DX Mix News, Bulgaria, Jun 21 2006 via DXLD 6-090) New schedule of "Shiokaze" broadcast Investigating Commission of Missing Japanese Probably Related to North Korea announced that they have changed the schedule of "Shiokaze" broadcast directed to North Korea since June 15. The new schedule is as follows: 1st broadcast 2000-2100 9785 kHz reading of the details of the kidnapped or missing Japanese, reading of the letters from the breaved families, direct recorded messages from the breaved families, all in Japanese 2nd broadcast 1030-1100 9855 kHz reading of the details of the kidnapped or missing Japanese in Korean, English, Chinese, news and commentary about the kidnapped Japanese by North Korea in Japanese, Korean, English. (T.Akabayashi-J Jun 18, 2006 via W.Büschel-D in A-DX-ML) Please note the following new schedule: 9785 2000-2100 UTC (0500-0600 AM local time) 9855 1030-1100 UTC (0730-0800 PM local time) Other sources say morning service at 2030-2100 UT only: Shiokaze in Japanese VT/Merlin changed 5890 [Irkutsk-RUS] to new site 9785 kHz at 2030-2100 UT. 5890 to 9855 1030-1100 UT on June 15th. Both now via Taiwan facility. (W.Büschel-D in BC-DX June 20, 2006 via DXLD 6-090) FNKB & Shiokaze Just a guess, but maybe Shiokaze is at 1030-1100 on 9855 and 2030-2100 on 9785, while FNKB is at 1000-1030 on 11750 and 1700-1730 on 9760. It could be that the originator of the "all FNKB" sked in the R. Bulgaria "DX Mix News" rpt in BC-DX was confused. The answer is probably on http://www.freenk.net/ but good luck there. (J.Berg-MA-USA Jun 27, 2006 in DXplorer-ML) E-mail from Toshi Ohtake, JSWC, confirms that Shiokaze is 1030-1100 on 9855 and 2030-2100 on 9785; FNKB is 1000-1030 on 11750 and 1700-1730 on 9760. I have very weak signals on 11750 at 1000 and 9855 at 1030, but nothing useable. In a separate cover E-mail transmitting the JSWC bltn, he says: Shiokaze started last Oct in order to collect info about the abducted Japanese in No. Korea and encourage them until their rescue operation is materialized. Prgm was being exposed to severe jamming, presumably from No.h Korea, since early May. So on Jun 15 the following changes were made; new sked is 1030-1100 on 9855, 2030-2100 on 9785. The 1030 prgm is either in KO, EG, CJ or JP, depending on the day of the week. Nx in KO, EG and JP and reading of the victims' names and personal data in KO, EG and CH are given. The 2030 prgm is a reading of the victims' names, and ltrs and voice calls by the victims' families, all in JP. As far as confirmed in Tokyo suburban area, the jamming has been kept on the old fqy of 5890 and the new fqys are not jammed yet as of Jun 27. (T.Ohtake-J JSWC Jun 27, 2006 via J.Berg-MA-USA in DXplorer-ML)) Japan/North Korea: Radio for Japanese abductees adopts new schedule A radio station aimed at missing Japanese citizens believed to have been abducted and held in North Korea has recently changed its shortwave schedule. Shiokaze [Sea Breeze] radio now broadcasts as follows: 1030-1100 gmt on 9855 kHz, in Korean (Sunday and Wednesday), English (Monday and Thursday), Japanese (Tuesday and Friday), Chinese (Saturday). 2030-2100 gmt on 9785 kHz, in Japanese (daily). Shiokaze broadcasts on a hired shortwave transmitter, currently believed to be located in Taiwan. Programmes are produced by the Investigation Commission on Missing Japanese Probably Related to North Korea [COMJAN], a Tokyo-based organization with a website at www.chosa-kai.jp. Source: BBC Monitoring research, in English 1350 gmt 27 Jun 06 (BBCM Jun 29, 2006) ............................................................... Schedules - LAOS Hmong Lao Radio Don`t you believe the DX Mix Bulgaria item recently that Hmong Lao Radio via WHRI has moved from 11785 to 11940. Confirmed still on 11785 during the Saturday 1300 UT hour June 17, and no doubt the same on Sunday. Where does DX Mix get its info? They never say. No sign of 11940 here: http://www.whr.org/index.cfm/fa/frequencies nor when searching Hmong under program title here: http://www.whr.org/index.cfm?fa=chooseSchedule#DETAILED_SCHEDULE_SEARCH (G.Hauser-OK-USA Jun 17, 2006 in DXLD-ML) Hmong Lao Radio is still on 11785 via WHRI, checked Sat June 24 at 1306, not 11940 as published by DX Mix News, Bulgaria (G.Hauser-OK-USA Jun 17, 2006 in DXLD 6-091) ------------xxxxxxxxxx Logs xxxxxxxxxx------------------------- Logs - CHINA Voice of Tibet I listened to Voice of Tibet( presumed. ) on 17550 KHz from 14:00(Sign on.) UTC to 14:26( Sign off. ) UTC on May 4, 2006. Talk in Tibetan? and music. SINPO-34433~33333. QRM: Unknown station and utility station on same frequency. (Y.Siozaki-J May 4, 2006 in JAP 429) ............................................................... Logs - CAMEROON Radio Free Southern Cameroon I listened to Radio Free Southern Cameroon on 15695 KHz from 18:00( Sign on. ) UTC to 18:30 UTC on June 11. Mainly talk in English and songs. ID at 18:00. SINPO-35333. (Y.Siozaki-J Jun 11, 2006 in JAP 429) ............................................................... Logs - CUBA Radio Martí R Martí 7405 at 0427 in Spanish, nearly inaudible jamming. Good Cuban mx. (L.Cameron-USA Jun 24, 2006 in DXLD-ML) USA 6030, Radio Marti - Delano, *0900-0914 Jun 26, opening with "Aqui Radio Marti, Spanish announcements and news. Excellent signal with no jamming noted. (R.D'Angelo-PA-USA Jun 26, 2006 in DXplorer-ML) Radio República 22.30 - 6.135 kHz- R.Repubblica -Cuba - talks- ID-32333 -Ing. (A.Gallerati-I Jun 17, 2006 in HCDX-ML) Germany (pres), 5910, Radio Republica, 0130-0200 Noted a program of Spanish comments and features. At about 0155 ID given as "Esta es Radio Republica ... Voz de ... Cubanos ..." Also heard the name "Radio Miami International ..." mention during an ID. I assumed they meant that the programs were originated at WRMI's facilities? Or maybe RR is being broadcasted from WRMI in Miami? The signal sounded as if it were coming from Europe based on it's strenght at my QTH. I based my ID's country on what is mentioned in the WRTH (C,Bolland-FL Jun 22, 2006 in CDX-ML) ............................................................... Logs - ERITREA Voice of Delina 15650 V.of Delina Jun 24 *1500-1518 33433 Tigrigna, 1500 sign on with ID, Eritrea pops and talk, This was transmitted by mistake???, This schedule is not TDP schedule. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Jun 24, 2006 in JAP 427) Voice of Democratic Eritrea 13830 V.of Dem.Eritrea via DTK Jun 22 *1700-1710 34332 Tigrigna, 1700 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Jun 22, 2006 in JAP 427) ............................................................... Logs - ETHIOPIA Radio Xoriyo / Radio Freedom / Ogadenia National Liberation Front 11865 R.Freedom via DTK Jun 20 *1630-1658* 32332-33332 Somali, 1630 sign on with opening music, Opening announce, Koran, Talk and somali pops music. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Jun 20, 2006 in JAP 426) Tensae Ethiopia Voice of Unity 15660 Tensae Ethiopian V.O.Unity Jun 17 *1500-1514 45444 Amharic, 1500 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce,Talk. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Jun 17, 2006 in JAP 426) Voice of Oromia Independence Saludos cordiales, hoy 17 de Junio se a producido la inauguración de ésta nueva emisora clandestina para Etiopía, se trata de Radio Voice of Oromia Independence, transmitiendo via Alemania en Amharico, con un programa semanal los Sábados de 15:00-15:30 por la frecuencia de 15650. Se puede escuchar el audio completo de ésta emisión en: http://valenciadx.multiply.com/music/item/142 (J.Miguel Romero-E Jun 17, 2006 in CDX-ML) Desde Burjasot en Valencia, 17 Junio, 15650 Voice of Oromia Indepence, ID en inglés, "Radio Miami...", "Radio Voice of Oromia Independence", ID en Amharico, segmento musical. 15:00, SINPO 45444. (J.Miguel Romero-E Jun 17, 2006 in DXLD-ML) Heard here at 1500 sign on on 15650 with English announcements at the beginning. Weak, and some local QRM here. (S.Lare-MI-USA Jun 17, 2006 in DXLD-ML) 15650 V.of Oromia Independence via DTK Jun 24 *1500-1518 33432-22432 English and Oromo?, 1500 sign on with R.Miami Int's ID, 1500 ID of V.of Oromia Independence successively, Opening announce, Talk, QRM from V.of Delina on c/c. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Jun 24, 2006 in JAP 427) Saludos cordiales, hoy 24 de Junio estoy escuchando en la frecuencia de 15650 kHz, desde las 15:45-16:17, una emisión sin identificar, ¿Oromo?, comentarios y segmentos musicales de música folklórica, se publicó un servicio para ésta frecuencia, Voice of Oromo Independence, pero el horario era de 15:00-15:30, sin embargo no encuentro para ésta frecuencia otro servicio, ¿de que emisora puede tratarse?. (J.Miguel Romero-E Jun 24, 2006 in DXLD-ML) Voice of the Democratic Path to Ethiopian Unity Voice of Democratic Path of Ethiopian Unity, 15565-Jülich suddenly on a few seconds past 1900 on 6/21. Severe spill from RDP-15560. Slow instl. music, occ. woman talking with music segments. Presumed this was in listed Amarhic. Off at 1959 after a few words by a man. (G.Dexter-WI-USA Jun 21, 2006 in DXplorer-ML) ............................................................... Logs - IRAN Radio Farda 7190, 2000+ UTC, Radio Farda, american and arabic pop music, in Farsi, announcements, ID, good in New Zealand. (via New Zealand Radio Tuner) (I.Lebedevsky-RUS Jun 16, 2006 in CDX-ML) Germany, 7295, Radio Farda, Lampertheim, 0030-0158 Noted a program of news, features, and a mixture of local and USA pop music. Comments from a woman were in Persian. At 0158, 7295 kHz goes down as scheduled and 9775 starts at 0200. Also caught parallel transmissions on 9805 and 9865 kHz. 7295 kHz was worst signal quality with only a poor signal. The others were very good. The WRTH says this is a USA Government station. (C.Bolland-FL-USA Jun 20, 2006 in CDX-ML) Radio Payam-e Doost 7480 R.Payam-e Doost Jun 24 *1800-1815 35443 Farsi, 1800 sign on with opening music, ID, Talk. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Jun 24, 2006 in JAP 427) ............................................................... Logs - KASHMIR Voice of Jammu Kashmir Freedom 5102 V.O.Jammu Kashmir Freedom Jun 18 1322-1335 33333 Kashmiri, Talk and local music, ID at 1330. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Jun 18, 2006 in JAP 426) ............................................................... Logs - KOREA (NORTH) presumed Freedom North Korea Bc 11750, "KOREA(DPR)", presumed Freedom North Korea B/C via Taiwan, 1003-1027, June 26, Korean-?, 2 OM at t/in, announcer over music at 1006, OM at 1007; YL joins in around 1019. Gone at 1027, carrier still on. Poor/weak. (S.R.Barbour-NH-USA Jun 26, 2006 in HCDX-ML) Shiokaze / Sea Breeze 9855, Shiokaze, June 19 (Mon.), *1030-1057*, on with slow tempo piano music, program entirely in English; ID, schedule (local times given: 5-6 AM & 7:30-8 PM), e-mail & postal address, mentions "Investigating Commission of Missing Japanese Probably Related to North Korea"; news about North Korea, human rights, the U.N., etc., music between items; several IDs "This is Shiokaze, from Tokyo, Japan", gives names of several persons abducted, asking for information about them; editorial; profile of a person adapting to life in Japan after escaping through China, from North Korea, in 2003; off in mid-sentence; fair. (R.Howard-CA-USA Jun 19, 2006 in DXLD-ML) 9855, Shiokaze (Sea Breeze), June 22 (Thurs.), 1035-1057*, entirely in English; program of news stories from different sources (Reuters-Japan, AP-US, New York Times-US, etc.), mostly dealing with North Korea proposed missile test-launching, music between items; IDs "This is Shiokaze, from Tokyo, Japan"; sign-off announcement over piano music, "This is Shiokaze, Sea Breeze, from Tokyo, Japan", mentions "COMJAN acronym", gives frequencies and times; poor-fair. Tue. & Wed. heard in assume Japanese and Korean. (R.Howard-CA-USA Jun 19, 2006 in DXLD-ML) 9855 Shiokaze Radio (p), Angarsk, Russia, 1038-1058, June 21, Japanese, long talk by male in japanese; at 1050 UTC announcement by male and other talk, announcement, short music and other announcement & s/off. 44433 This is a service produced by the Investigation Comission of Missing Japanese and the transmission is for North Korea. (A.Slaen-ARG Jun 21, 2006 in CDX-ML) 9855, Shiokaze (Sea Breeze) via TAIWAN (presumed), June 25, *1030-1057*, in English; reading names and birth years of Japanese abducted by N. Korea (read along with piano music). Fair. All the programs heard in English this week (Mon., Thurs. & Sun.) had different formats. Nice to hear so many English programs. (R.Howard-CA-USA Jun 25, 2006 in DXLD-ML) Jerry Berg and I both question what is happening with the Shiokaze (Sea Breeze) and FNK schedules, broadcasting via TAIWAN. I cannot figure it out. When I listened to 9855 kHz. (*1030-1057*), last Mon., Thurs. & Sun., I clearly heard English and had positive IDs for Shiokaze (Sea Breeze). Listened Tue., Wed., Fri. & Sat. and heard usual *1030 (suddenly comes on within a few seconds of BoH), with what sounded like the usual Shiokaze (Sea Breeze) type of slow tempo piano music and was in either Japanese or Korean, but I was unable to ID the program. What is the FNK introduction music (IS) like? What days are they supposed to be on and has the new FNK schedule actually started yet? Does anyone have any insight into this? Thanks for your help! (R.Howard-CA-USA Jun 25, 2006 in DXLD-ML) Japan, 9855, Radio Sea Breeze 1030-1056 Noted a man in news and comments. He seems to be speaking English, but it's very poor and difficult to follow. Can hear him mention "North Korea" almost in every sentence. At 1045 heard an ID as "This ... Sea Breeze, from Tokyo Japan". Someone reported this was coming from Russia, but ID stated from Japan. Signal was fair. Off the air at 1056. (C.Bolland-FL-USA Jun 26, 2006 in CDX-ML) 9855, "KOREA(DPR)", presumed Shiokaze prg. via Taiwan, *1030-1057*, June 26, unid/English-?, Announcer over piano music at s/on, talks of various lengths in unid. language, from 1033-1050, each seperated by a pop-like instrumental bit. Presumed English at 1050 by YL w/ positive mentions of "North Korea" and the years, "1998" and "1999". Same repeated by OM. S/off announcement over piano music at 1056, cut off at 1057. Poor/weak and noisy. Unsure if entire b/c in English or just latter part. Ron Howard tip says he's heard an all English b/c on a Monday. (S.R.Barbour-NH-USA Jun 26, 2006 in HCDX-ML) 9855, Shiokaze (Sea Breeze), via TAIWAN (presumed site), Jun 26 (Mon.), *1030-1057*, repeat of June 22 (Thurs.) program in English; “News Flash” segment with news stories from different sources, music between items; editorial; off in mid-sentence. Many IDs: "This is Shiokaze, Sea Breeze, from Tokyo, Japan". Good: best reception so far. June 27 also good in JP or KO, similar format as the Sun. English program, with long list of names. Still no sign of the mysterious Freedom North Korea Broadcast. (R.Howard-CA-USA Jun 26, 2006 in DXLD-ML) 9855, Shiokaze (Sea Breeze) via TAIWAN (presumed site), June 29 (Thurs.), *1030-1057*, entirely in English; gives schedule as: “7:30 AM to 8 AM, Japanese Time” (think this should have been PM) “on 9.855 kilohertz” (yes, they had a “point” in the frequency) and “5:30 AM to 6 AM Japanese Time on 9.785 kilohertz”, address as P.O. Box 1022, Tokyo Central, program consists entirely of reading names and birth year of Japanese abducted by N. Korea (“The following number is a birth year.”) Fair, no jamming so far! (R.Howard-CA-USA Jun 29, 2006 in DXLD-ML) TAIWAN 9855, 1029-, Shiokaze Jun 30 Carrier on just before 10:28. Opening signature tune at 10:30 and ID (?) presumably in Japanese with piano in background. Strong S9 to S9 + 10 signal strength. Mentions of Tokyo and Shiokaze and tampa a number of times. Into current program at 10:34. I'm not 100% certain that this is not Korean. In any case it's not in English on UTC Friday. Darn! Up to 10:42 they were not reading any lists of names. Same brief sign-off announcement as at sign-on, with carrier off at 10:56:55. (W.Salmaniw-BC-CAN Jun 30, 2006 in DXLD-ML) TAIWAN 9855 Shiokaze (p), 1040-1046, June 30, Japanese, long talk by male, 34433. (A.Slaen-ARG Jun 30, 2006 in CDX-ML) ............................................................... Logs - KURDISTAN Voice of Free Kurdistan 4675.4 Thanks to Jari Savolainen's tip from 6/7 V. of Free Kurdistan hrd 6/21 via DX Tuner Rommele from 1802 tune to 1830 abrupt s/off. Steady S3 w/ Iranian jammer present but not that bothersome. Woman ann in language (presumed Kurdish) 1802-1803, man ann 1803-06.5, another man ann after inst mx IS from 1807-1811 and then into interesting pgm of Kurdish vocal/inst mx. Somewhat similar to Arabic mx but o/w noticeably unique. S/off was abrupt during a male vocal/inst piece w/ no anmts. (B.W.Churchill-CA-USA Jun 21, 2006 in DXplorer-ML) New stations on short wave. On June 17 between 1650 and 1755 hours on 4680 kHz a new station was monitored in Sofia, being jammed by Iranian jammers. To escape jamming, the station used to change its frequency from 4660 to 4690 kHz. Not listed in the International Reference Books. (R.Pankov, R. Bulgaria DX June 23 2006 via J.Norfolkin DXLD-ML via DXLD 6-091) If he had access to DXLD --- can one use a computer freely in Bulgarian public libraries? --- he would have seen reports of V. of Free Kurdistan, e.g. 6-087, 6-085, on 4675v during this hour (G.Hauser-OK-USA in DXLD 6-091) Voice of Iranian Kurdistan 15720 V.of Iranian Kurdistan via Russia Jun 17 1256-1259* 45444 Kurdish, Kurdish music, ID at 1259, 1259 sign off, As it is the same carrier, V.O.Joy just began to 1300. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Jun 17, 2006 in JAP 426) 15720 V.of Iranian Kurdistan via Russia Jun 24 *1257-1259* 45444 Farsi, Talk, ID at 1258 and 1259, This was transmitted by mistake, A carrier same as V.of Joy. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Jun 24, 2006 in JAP 427) ............................................................... Logs - LIBYA Sawt Alamel / Libya's Voice of Hope LIBIA//FRANCIA. Si quedaba alguna duda de la implicación de Francia en las actividades de interferir a Sawt Al-amal, creo que se pueden disipar: lo ocurrido hoy 17 de junio es significativo. A Sawt Al-amal no se la escuchó ni el 16 ni el 17 de Junio; por otra parte La Voz de África tampoco transmitió en 17660 ni en 17670 en sus emisiones en árabe, tan sólo transmitió su emisión musical en 17665. Sin embargo hoy 17 de Junio, a las 1200 se inicia en 17665 la emisión musical, RFI en francés por 17620 y en paralelo por 17610; ¿qué pasó con la emisión de La Voz de África en Hausa en ésta frecuencia? Su emisión en paralelo por 17725 en portadora, mi pregunta, ¿qué hace RFI en 17610? (J.Miguel Romero-E Jun 17, 2006 in DXLD-ML) Today the jamming situation around Sawt Al Amal was unusually chaotic. At 1200 Amal opened on 17620 interfering with RFI. The Libyan relays as usual opened on 17610 / 17660 / 17665 / 17670 / 17725. Due to feed problems all Libyan frequencies via France at first had long periods of silence. After some time the RFI feed was put on 17610 and 17660, parallel to but a couple of tenths of a second in advance of 17850 / 17620 / 15300. 17670 and 17725 remained silent. At 1214 17660 went off and a silent carrier appeared on 17620. At 1221 RFI audio was switched on, creating an echo with the normal RFI signal. At 1216 17670 went off and a silent carrier appeared on 17625. At 1300 Amal went to 17630 (a 10 kHz shift instead of the usual 5 kHz step), interfering with ANO. At 1310 the Afropop station went on and the jammer that had been on 17625 also piled up on 17630. At 1313 Swahili from Libya was on 17610 and 17620 while Arabic was 17630 and 17725. At 1327 this had been corrected with Arabic on 17620 and Swahili on 17725. Just before 1400 I noted Amal back on 17620. At that time RFI had already left. The Libyan relay left at 1400 sharp and Amal at about 25 seconds after the hour. (O.Alm-S Jun 17, 2006 in DXLD 6-087) 21 Junio En el día de hoy a las 12:00 comienzan las emisiones de La Voz de África en 17665 con la emisión musical y en 17670 una emisión en árabe, a Sawt Al-amal se la escucha en 17635, a las 12:04 cesa emisión en 17670 y aparece en 17635, sin embargo se aprecia en 17660 una portadora sin señal, un minuto después inicia emisión RFI en francés y en paralelo por 17620, a las 12:06 conmutan la señal de RFI en 17660 y aparece La Voz de África en árabe y en paralelo por 17635, en 17660 RFI estuvo dos minutos hablando una locutora sobre Israel, cuando se identificó, cortaron y colocaron la emisión Libia. A las 13:00 las emisiones de 17635 y 17660 se quedan en portadora sin emisión durante un minuto, pero a las 13:03 cesan en 17660 y comienza emisión en 17625 en paralelo con 17635. Las emisiones de La Voz de África en Swahili en 17610 y 17725 sin problemas, la emisión fue normal. A las 13:24 se inicia emisión jammer musical en 17635, la señal es débil, a veces ni se escucha. Tan sólo a partir de las 14:00 cuando cesan las emisiones de La Voz de África se la escucha sin problemas. (J.Miguel Romero-E Jun 21, 2006 in DXLD-ML) 22 Junio En el día de hoy la situación a sido de la siguiente manera, a las 12:00 comienza emisión musical de La Voz de África en 17665, por otra parte La Voz de África comienza hoy con un boletín en inglés de tres minutos y en francés de unos cinco minutos aproximadamente en las frecuencias de 17670 y 17685, luego en árabe hasta las 13:00. Las emisiones en Swahili por 17610 y 17725. A las 13:00 cesa emisión en 17670 y pasa a 17695 en paralelo por 17685, Sawt Al-amal se la escucha en 17690 aproximadamente a las 13:25 y la emisión jammer musical comienza en la misma frecuencia a las 13:33. Hoy la propagación no es buena y hay mucho ruido por medio. (J.Miguel Romero-E Jun 22, 2006 in DXLD-ML) LIBIA 17690 Sawt Al-amal, via Moldavia, 13:00-13:15, escuchada el 22 de Junio en árabe con sintonía, cuña de identificación, canto del Coran y locutor con comentarios, SINPO 34343 (J.Miguel Romero-E Jun 22, 2006 in DXLD-ML) 23 Junio Novedades en el día de hoy, chequeo a las 11:58 y escucho en 17695 fin de emisión de La Voz de África en árabe, se identifica y tras tonos horarios comienza otra vez la emisión, entonces en paralelo por 17670 y la emisión musical en 17665, todas hasta las 13:00 en que cesan emisiones en árabe de 17670 y 17695 y las emisiones en Swahili de 17610 y 17725, entonces se escucha a Sawt Al-amal en 17690 sin problemas hasta las 13:16 en que comienza emisión musical jammer, realizo un chequeo por las demás frecuencias a las 13:22, sigue sin emisión La Voz de África en Swahili ni en árabe, tan sólo las emisiones musicales en 17665 y 17690 tapando a Sawt Al-amal. También cesó la emisión de RFI en 17620 en francés. Durante la primera hora, RFI saturaba incluso en 17630 tapando a África Nº 1 de Gabón. (J.Miguel Romero-E Jun 23, 2006 in DXLD-ML) I listened to Sawt al-Amal( presumed. ) on 17690 kHz from 14:55 UTC to 15:30( Carrier off. ) UTC on June 23, 2006. Songs. SINPO-35333. Not confirmed. (Y.Siozaki-J Jun 23, 2006 in JAP 429) 24 Junio A las 1200 comienzan transmisiones de La Voz de África en 17665 con emisión musical y en paralelo por 17660 y 17670 La Voz de África con un segmento de noticias en francés y árabe, las emisiones en Swahili por 17610 y 17725. A las 1206 cesa emisión en 17660 y pasa a 17675; ésta situación se mantiene hasta las 1310 que cesan emisiones en 17670 y 17675 y cambian simultáneamente a 17680 y 17685 en portadora sin emisión y entra la señal a las 1311. (J.Miguel Romero-E Jun 24, 2006 in DXLD-ML) 25 Junio A las 1200 comienza emisión musical de La Voz de África en 17665 y portadoras sin señal en 17660 y 17670; un minuto después entra emisión en árabe de La Voz de África. Sawt Al-amal se la escucha en 17695 fuertemente interferida por Radio Solh [17700]; a las 1210 cesa emisión en 17660 y pasa a 17695. Más tarde la otra emisión pasa a 17690; sin embargo a las 1255 cesan las emisiones de 17690 y 17695. A las 1300 se escucha a Sawt Al-amal en 17690, pero a las 1307 inicia emisión en esa frecuencia emisión en árabe de la Voz de África y a las 1317 la emisión musical en afro-pop. (J.Miguel Romero-E Jun 25, 2006 in DXLD-ML) 26 Junio A las 1200 se inicia emisión en paralelo por 17660 y 17670 de La Voz de África en árabe, la frecuencia de 17665 sin emisión musical hasta las 1233. Antes a las 1218 cesa emisión en 17670 y pasa de 17635; a las 1258 cesa la emisión de 17660 y pasa a 17640. (J.Miguel Romero-E Jun 26, 2006 in DXLD-ML) 27 Junio Desconcertante lo ocurrido hoy: a las 1200 inicia emisión musical en 17665 La Voz de África; chequé el resto de frecuencias y no encuentro ninguna emisión de La Voz de África en árabe, tampoco las emisiones en Swahili en 17610 y 17725, tampoco a RFI en 17620. Pienso que puede ser por culpa de la mala propagación; sin embargo escucho a África Nº 1 en 17630, y escucho sin problemas las emisiones en 17635, 17640, etc. No capto señal se Sawt Al-amal; a las 1337 escucho la emisión musical afro-pop en 17675. (J.Miguel Romero-E Jun 27, 2006 in DXLD-ML) 17690 Sowt Alamel Jun 29 1205-1215 34433 Arabic, Arabic music and talk, ID at 1207 and 1214. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Jun 29, 2006 in JAP 428) ............................................................... Logs - MALDIVES Minivan Radio 13620 Minivan R. via DTK Jun 24 1629-1641 34333-33333 Vernacular, Talk, ID at 1633. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Jun 24, 2006 in JAP 427) ............................................................... Logs - VIETNAM Little Saigon Radio I listened to Little Saigon Radio on 7380 KHz from 15:00( Sign on. ) UTC to 15:30( Sign off. ) UTC on June 2, 2006. Talk in Vietnamese and music. ID at 15:00. SINPO-32432. QRM: Unknown station on 7375 kHz. (Y.Siozaki-J Jun 2, 2006 in JAP 429) ............................................................... Logs - WESTERN SAHARA National Radio of the Arab-Saharan Democratic Republic 1550 kHz, Tindouf (?), Algeria, Polisario Front observed on 16 Jun 0845-0900*, Arabic, traditional songs; 554454 [sic]; the 0900 s/off time is presumed as they were off just a few minutes after 0900 when I rechecked the signal. (C.Gonçalves-POR Jun 16, 2006 in DXLD 6-089) Heard every day loud and fair signal on Mallorca Isl-Spain two weeks ago. TX at Tindouf-Rabuni is supposedly in the 50 ... 100 kW range. (W.Büschel-D Jun 20, 2006 in BCDX 763) ------------xxxxxxxxxx QSL Verifications xxxxxxxxxx------------ Qsl's - AFGHANISTAN Radio Free Afghanistan Radio Free Afghanistan via Kuwait on 12,140. Full-data [including site and language] card in 6 weeks. Card shows building reflections in glass façade of RFE/RL building, now displaying the new RFE/RL logo. My first card of this new design. (W.Craighead-KS-USA Jun 26, 2006 for CRW) ............................................................... Qsl's - ASIA Radio Free Asia RFA Khonkhor 7460 kHz (Mongolia), Cartolina QSL in 89 giorni. E-rpt spedito a: qsl@rfa.org V/s: A.J. Janitschek. (L.Botto Fiora-I Jun 23, 2006 in CoRad-NL-ML) ............................................................... Qsl's - CHINA Voice of Tibet Voice of Tibet presumed via Tajikistan on 17,525. Full-data [except site] card showing 2 photos from their website [reporter at demonstration, & monk? in studio] & soldiers on wall, in 2 months for a report to Narthang Building, Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamsala-17625, H.P., India. Editor in Chief signature not legible. No response for report to Oslo. Pleased with this one. Over the past few years I`ve sent a number of reports for loggings from Kansas with no response. But this was for a logging much nearer the VoT target: Bao Loc, Vietnam. (W.Craighead-KS-USA Jun 26, 2006 for CRW) ............................................................... Qsl's - ETHIOPIA Voice of Oromo Independence QSL Karte (v/s Jeff White) von WRMI für eine Testsendung der Voice of Oromo Independence samstags um 15 UTC über Jülich. Näheres zur Voice of Oromo Independence ist nicht zu finden. (K.Spielvogel Jun 30, 2006 in A-DX-ML) ............................................................... Qsl's - MYANMAR Democratic Vo Burma Über eine Sendung der Voice of Democratic Burma auf 15480 kHz erhielt ich einen det. QSL-Brief über die Adresse in Oslo(ein neues Logo wurde auf dem Briefkopf verwendet). Laufzeit 14 Tage. (D.Kraus-D Jun 18, 2006 in A-DX-ML) ------------xxxxxxxxxx Miscellaneous xxxxxxxxxx----------------- Misc - EASTERN EUROPE Czech Republic: RFE/RL HQ to be built in Prague's Hagibor district Text of report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague, 29 June 29 (CTK) - The new seat for Radio Free Europe/Radio (RFE/RL) will be built in Prague 10-Hagibor neighbourhood, according to the changes in the zoning plan that were approved by Prague councillors today [29 June]. The new house for the station that will move from the former Czechoslovak parliament building in Wenceslas Square will be built by the Orco Property Group company. The relocation of the U.S-funded radio station from Prague started to be discussed after the terrorist attacks on New York Washington in September 2001. Since then the RFE/RL seat has been and its area has been protected by concrete barriers. Czech and US officials agreed to move the radio to a outside the centre in order to raise the safety of the station and its surroundings. The RFE/RL's relocation is planned for the end of 2007. In about two years it is to start broadcasting from the new premises. Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1032 gmt 29 Jun 06 (BBCM Jun 30, 2006) ............................................................... Misc - KOREA (NORTH) NORTH KOREANS TURNED ON BUT TUNED OUT --- By Andrei Lankov One might expect North Korea to be the target of many outside Korean-language stations. After all, it is one of the few despotic regimes whose survival still largely depends on myths about the country's situation and its place in the world. However, almost no outside broadcasting targets North Korea. Until the mid-1990s, it didn't make sense to broadcast to North Korea. Authorities since the 1960s had dealt with the "foreign broadcast problem", which created so much trouble for other communist regimes, by outlawing all radios with free tuning. Radios sold in North Korea had fixed tuning and thus could receive only three or four official channels. . . http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/HF28Dg04.html (atimes.com via J.Dybka-USA in DXLD 6-094) Almost none --- except for R. Free Asia, Free North Korea, and VOA, he goes on to concede. Apparently unaware of Shiokaze, Echo of Hope, Voice of the People from Japan or South Korea. The following non-clandestines also have broadcasts in Korean according tohttp://www.addx.de/cgi-bin/hfp.cgi --- CRI, NHK, Bible Voice Broadcasting, AWR, TWR (G.Hauser-OK-USA Jun 28, 2006 in DXLD 6-094) ............................................................... Misc - MALDIVES One Quarter of Maldivians Listen to Minivan Radio By Minivan News June 29, 2006 Almost a quarter of Maldivians regularly listen to Minivan Radio, an audience survey has shown. The survey was commissioned in May to assess the popularity of the radio and garner the opinions of listeners. It is the first time the opposition-leaning radio station has assessed how many people regularly tuned in to its daily one hour bulletins. Six hundred people from across the country were asked about Minivan Radio. Twenty-four percent of those asked said that they currently listen to the station. Sixty three percent of those who listen to Minivan Radio said they tune in either daily or at least three times per week. Editor Fathimath Shaheeda said she was pleasantly surprised by the survey¹s findings: ³I know the radio is popular from the feedback I receive when I call different islands. However, I didn¹t realize that around a quarter of the population listens regularly. That¹s great news.² Minivan Radio was founded in August 2003. The station broadcasts over short wave radio and can also be accessed via the Minivan News website. Minivan Radio is the only alternative to the state run Voice of Maldives. The popularity of Minivan Radio has not been lost on the President Gayoom, who is labeled a ³predator of press freedom² by Reporters Without Borders. Gayoom¹s government regularly jams Minivan Radio in Male¹ and Shaheeda was briefly detained by the police in May. http://www.minivannews.com/news/news.php?id=2225 (Minivan News Jun 29, 2006 via K.Gilbert-AZ-USA in ABDX-ML) ............................................................... Misc - SOMALIA SOMALI GOVT RESTRICTS SHABELLE RADIO OVER ETHIOPIA CLAIMS http://www.sudantribune.com/article.php3?id_article=16252 June 18, 2006 (MOGADISHU) — Somali transitional government on Sunday restricted transmission of a radio station and arrested two journalists after it broadcast a report claiming Ethiopian troops had entered the country, officials said. Gunmen loyal to President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed stopped transmission of the Shabelle radio station, the only Mogadishu-based channel that broadcasts in the temporary seat of government in Baidoa, about 250 kilometres (155 miles) from the capital, at about 10:00 am (0700 GMT) on Sunday, they said. The channel continued broadcasting to others parts of Somalia. Sources said the gunmen carried out the orders given by Agriculture Minister Mohamed Hassan Nur Shatigudud after the radio station aired the claims about Ethiopian troops. "We are demanding that the government allows our transmission in Baidoa and immediately and unconditionally releases our journalists," said Shabelle Media Network Chairman Abdulmalik Yusuf Muhamoud. "This is gross violation of human rights and it is an exercise that undermines freedom of expression in Somalia," he added. The government has taken measure to beef up its security amid fears that the increasingly powerful Islamic alliance, which has seized swathes of of southern Mogadishu, may target Baidoa. Joint Islamic Courts chief Sheikh Shariff Sheikh Ahmed has claimed that 300 Ethiopian troops crossed into southwestern Somalia early on Saturday to protect the government and counter his increasingly powerful group. But Addis Ababa denied the charge, saying it had instead boosted troops along the border because of the Islamists’ provocation. (Sudan Tribune (is in Paris, acc. to BBCM) Jun 18, 2006 via Z.Liangas-GRC for WOR 1319 via DXLD 6-089) Somalia: Journalists condemn radio station closure Text of report by VOA News.com website on 29 June A reporters' advocacy group has condemned the shutdown of a Somali radio station and the detention of two of its reporters. The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists says it is alarmed by the closure of Radio Shabelle in the city of Baidoa on Sunday. Somalia's transitional government shut down the station after it broadcast a report saying 300 Ethiopian soldiers had crossed into Somalia. Ethiopia has denied the report. The advocacy group quotes Radio Shabelle's deputy director Mohamed Amiin as saying militiamen entered its premises and detained the two journalists, Mohamed Adawe and Ali Mohamed Saed, for about eight hours. It says the government gave no explanation for its action. The station remained off the air on Monday. Deputy Director Amiin says the station stands by its report that Ethiopian troops took up positions at Baidoa's airport on Saturday. Source: VOA News.com website, Washington D.C., in English 29 (rather 19? -CRW) Jun 06 (BBCM Jun 21, 2006) ............................................................... Misc - USA Radio Free Europe Editorial This is an editorial from today's Washington Times - Radio Free Europe misstep TODAY'S COLUMNIST By Joel Mowbray June 30, 2006 In a stunning move, President Bush's right-hand woman from his 2000 campaign sided with the Democratic members of the Broadcasting Board of Governors earlier this month in shooting down the Republicans' preferred candidate to head up U.S. radio services across Europe, Central Asia and much of the Middle East. Karen Hughes' actions have left some perplexed, and many fear that it is part of a troubling direction she has taken in her role heading up public diplomacy at the State Department. Since April, the Broadcasting Board of Governors has had two votes on hiring a new president of the broadcasting unit that plays a vital role in the war on terror, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. RFE/RL was a key weapon in bringing down the Evil Empire, and it is supposed to aid burgeoning democracy movements today in places like Iran. At issue is a fundamental question of how to achieve President Bush's vision of promoting freedom and democracy, particularly throughout RFE/RL's broadcasting region that includes a Muslim population of some 300 million. Like the Democratic members of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, some believe that the U.S. should appeal to Muslim youth with popular music, only occasionally slipping in news and information. But others, like the Republican members of the board, would like to return to the principles that proved so effective during the Cold War, namely targeting key decisionmakers with serious programming laced with the values and ideals inherent to free societies. Following an extensive, nationwide search lead by a high-priced headhunting firm, this spring the board was presented with two candidates deemed equally qualified by the outside consultants: Enders Wimbush and Fred Kempe. Having served as the director of Radio Liberty from 1987-1993, Mr. Wimbush was an obvious choice for the three Republican members of the board. Not only is he seen as a traditional conservative with a vast knowledge of the culture and spread of radical Islam, but he was a leader in successful efforts to foment freedom inside the Soviet bloc. While considered by most observers to be smart and talented, Mr. Kempe lacked Mr. Wimbush's depth of experience. Though a working (and award-winning) journalist at the Wall Street Journal, he has no background in radio broadcasting. Nonetheless, the three Democratic members of the board selected him this April. Since the board is evenly split by design, tie votes are decided by the secretary of state. In this instance, Mrs. Hughes was appointed to cast the deciding vote — and in two separate cases, she sided with the Democrats. Shortly after Mr. Kempe was offered the position, he decided he would no longer be able to fulfill it. This left Mr. Wimbush, who declined comment for this story, as the only candidate for the post who had received the strong backing of the headhunting firm. Meeting in Prague earlier this month, the board's directors held a straight up-or-down vote on Mr. Wimbush. The result was the same. The kicker is that the consultants will now have to go headhunting again — costing taxpayers a mint in the process. This is not typical Democrat-Republican squabbling. The Democrats on the board sincerely believe in marketing American popular culture to the Muslim world, even though several recent studies suggest that the pervasiveness of American pop culture is the problem. This approach ignores the historical and successful mission of RFE/RL: to offer the kind of radio broadcasts on history, culture, politics, religion and economics that local audiences would get if they lived in free societies. By definition, disseminating such information is despised by despots. And that is precisely the approach Mr. Wimbush has long endorsed. Mrs. Hughes' refusal to support Mr. Wimbush appears to confirm fears that she shares the worldview of her new institution, which also happens to be home to President Bush's most ardent critics within the administration. When the president laid out his broad vision for freedom across the Middle East, for example, the diplomatic corps scoffed — and then savaged him in the press, albeit anonymously. And in 2004, many of Sen. John Kerry's most fervent (secret) campaigners were stationed right at Foggy Bottom. Yet as unpopular as President Bush is with the career Foreign Service, Mrs. Hughes is becoming something of a rock star to them. Her groupies are giddy that she doesn't seem to embrace Mr. Bush's "simplistic" ideas of good and evil. Mrs. Hughes' nixing of a staunch advocate of moral clarity will no doubt only boost her already lofty standing at the agency. Mrs. Hughes declined to be interviewed for this column, and State Department Spokesman Adam Ereli's comment on her behalf avoided any discussion of the hiring process. Interestingly, though, Mr. Ereli said, "Under-Secretary Hughes believes Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is an important voice for truth and freedom." But does she believe that? If she genuinely does, why did she ax the one candidate who clearly stood for both? Why did she cast her lot with people whose worldview is clouded by gray matter and moral ambiguity, who would just as soon appease a tyrant as challenge him? Was that for the cause of "truth and freedom"? (Washington Times Jun 30, 2006 via H.Johnson-FL-USA in CDX-ML) ............................................................... Misc - ZIMBABWE Zimbabwe: Voice of the People trial delayed again Text of report in English by Radio Netherlands website on 15 June The government of Zimbabwe has once again postponed the trial of Radio Voice of the People (VOP) journalists, trustees and board members nine months after their arrest and confiscation of their equipment. The government failed once again to produce witnesses. The trial of the VOP staffers and board members, accused of operating a radio station without a licence in terms of the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA), was set to start today at the Harare Magistrates Courts but failed to kick off as the State failed to produce witnesses in support of its case. Executive director John Masuku and fellow VOP board members, David Masunda, Nhlanhla Ngwenya, Lawrence Chibwe, Millie Phiri, Arnold Tsunga and Isabella Matambanadzo are all supposed to go on trial accused of contravening section 7(1) of the BSA which prohibits broadcasting without a licence. All of them are out on bail and are expected back in court on the 25th of September. Zimbabwean prosecutors say the VOP bosses established an office in Harare, which they equipped with computers and other broadcasting equipment so they could produce news programmes. The news programmes are packaged in Zimbabwe and transmitted on shortwave via the Radio Netherlands Madagascar relay station. VOP chairman, David Masunda, told zimbabwejournalists.com it was disheartening that the government was buying time and wasting tax payers resources by dragging them to court and continually postponing the case. This, he said, was hampering the VOP's efforts to start producing news programmes again since the State confiscated their equipment and is holding it to use as exhibits in the trial. "We are very disappointed that the State has once again failed to produce witnesses when it had indicated that it was ready for the trial," said Masunda. "We know that the government of Zimbabwe knows it has no case against us and so they are trying to buy time so they can also continue to hold onto our computers and recorders for they know without them we cannot resume operations. They should just drop the charges because they know we have no case to answer. The government is just wasting everyone's resources, including the taxpayers' money." He said the case is also meant to weigh down heavily on the journalists and the board members so that they give in to the government and give up, but this is not going to happen as they are resolved to start broadcasting again in the near future. Masunda said many Zimbabweans, including their listeners have been very supportive and have been keenly following the case. The independent radio station which has been hounded by the government over the years under the country's oppressive media laws, surviving bomb attacks, experiencing police raids and arrests, frequency jams and related issues, last week won an international media award formerly held by the BBC World Service. Association of Zimbabwe Journalists in the UK chairman, Forward Maisokwadzo, said journalists from Zimbabwe should unite and continue to pressurise the Zimbabwean government to stop harassing the media and to give back the VOP equipment. He said it is grossly unfair for the government to stretch the case to September knowing fully well the lives of many people and their extended families hinge on the survival of the radio station. Maisokwadzo said this proves the government is failing to piece its case together against the VOP hence the continued postponements. The VOP operates as a communications trust and broadcasts a daily programme into Zimbabwe, providing a lifeline for up to half a million listeners hungry for a free media. It was established in June 2000 to give ordinary Zimbabweans a voice on issues that affect them on a daily basis and is run by Zimbabwean-based trustees who include journalists and lawyers. Its day-to-day affairs are managed by Masuku, a BBC-trained veteran broadcaster. Source: Radio Netherlands website, Hilversum, in English 2359 gmt 15 Jun 06 (BBCM JUn 16, 2006) Key witness delays trial of Zim radio bosses June 15 2006 at 02:27PM Harare - The trial of seven directors of an independent radio station charged with violating Zimbabwe's tough media laws was postponed on Thursday after a key witness for the prosecution failed to turn up at the court. Prosecutor Justin Uladi said an expert from the government broadcasting authority who was due to give evidence at the start of the trial was in Switzerland on business. Lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa protested at the delay questioning why the witness had travelled overseas when he knew he was expected to attend the trial. "This is unacceptable," Mtetwa told the court. "Since January the prosecution has been telling us and even yesterday (Wednesday) they said they are ready for trial and we keep getting these postponements." (Source ? Jun 15, 2006 via Z.Liangas-GRC for CRW) The seven directors of the Voice of the People (VOP) radio station were arrested in December and January and briefly detained at Harare's main police station, accused of possession and operation of transmission equipment without a licence. The seven - Arnold Tsunga, Millie Phiri, Isabella Matambanadzo, David Masunda and Nhlanhla Ngwenya, Lawrence Chibwe and John Masuku - are now due to stand trial beginning on September 25. The shortwave radio station is one of only two independent broadcasters which have managed to circumvent Zimbabwe's repressive media laws by using transmitters outside the country to carry their programmes on shortwave. Most of VOP's programming is in the two main languages - Shona and Ndebele - placing it among the few independent media able to reach the large rural population who have no access to newspapers. Zimbabwe has four radio stations and one television station all controlled by the government. Plainclothes police in December ransacked the radio station's offices in central Harare, arresting staffers Maria Nyanyiwa, Takunda Chigwanda and Nyasha Bosha and held them in cells for four days. The three employees are also to face trial alongside the seven directors. Under the strict broadcasting laws passed in 2001, radio stations are required to register with a government-appointed board. A breach of the laws attracts a ZIM$5-million (about R333) penalty or a jail term of up two years. VOP broadcasts into Zimbabwe on shortwave from its transmitter in Madagascar. Its offices were firebombed in August 2002 (Source ? via Z.Liangas-GRC Jun 21, 2006 for CRW) Zimbabwe’s Voice of the People (VOP) radio station http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=275015&area=/insight/insight__africa/ The offices of Zimbabwe’s Voice of the People (VOP) radio station have been destroyed by a fire bomb, its reporters have been beaten and jailed, its broadcasts jammed and now its directors face government charges that could see them jailed. Yet all involved in this plucky shortwave station remain committed to continuing their broadcasts of independent reports into Zimbabwe. The station’s perseverance against the media repression of President Robert Mugabe’s government has won VOP the One World Media special award. "This is a great recognition of our determination to give a voice to the voiceless people of Zimbabwe," said the station’s executive director John Masuku, on receiving the award in London last week. It is a dangerous and difficult task, as Zimbabwe’s government has used repressive media laws to close four newspapers, expel foreign correspondents and ban all private radio and television broadcasts. The VOP team operates openly in Zimbabwe with six full-time journalists and 15 freelancers. It gets around the draconian media regulations by not broadcasting from Zimbabwe. Instead it sends its reports to Radio Netherlands where they are broadcast back into Zimbabwe via a relay transmitter in Madagascar. "We use digital technology to send our reports to Holland via e-mail," explains journalist Shorayi Kuriwa who has worked for the station for five years. In August 2002, Kuriwa narrowly missed being killed. He left VOP’s Harare offices after midnight, as he had been preparing material to be sent to The Netherlands. "About 10 minutes after I left work, a huge bomb blast blew the roof off the building and destroyed it. Thankfully, no one was injured but the force of the fire melted all our equipment," he says. "It was frightening but we decided this is a mission and not just a job, and we must carry on." Two years later, Kuriwa was beaten by government supporters and suffered a broken nose and an injured leg. He has been arrested so many times that he refers to the Harare police station as his "second home". Established in 2000, as Zimbabwe’s political, economic and humanitarian crisis took hold, VOP broadcasts an hour-long programme of news, opinion and debate in Zimbabwe’s three main languages: English, Shona and Ndebele. It receives funding from the Dutch group, Hivos, the Soros Foundation’s Open Society Initiative and the Heinrich Böll Foundation. The station often has interviews with government officials. "That is some of our most dangerous work," says reporter Davison Mudzingwa. "During the parliamentary elections in 2005, we tried to interview candidates from Zanu-PF. Some of them were very hostile and threatened to arrest us." However, such broadcasts are important because the state-owned Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation has become such an instrument of government propaganda. Against the odds, VOP has won a listenership that it estimates at about 500 000 people, based on the letters it receives. In Zimbabwe, people must tune into the station secretly because of possible retribution by the government, such as the withdrawal of food aid. "In the rural areas, people have ‘listeners’ clubs’ where they listen to our programmes. It’s encouraging to know that we have devoted listeners," says Mudzingwa. Two other shortwave stations broadcast into Zimbabwe, SW Radio Africa from London and Studio 7 from the Voice of America in Washington. Unlike VOP, they operate from their foreign studios and interview Zimbabweans over the telephone. The VOP, though, will not have long to celebrate its award. The directors of the station, including human rights lawyer Arnold Tsunga, appeared in a Zimbabwean court this week on charges of operating a radio station without a licence. "We have a passion for radio, for getting real news, balanced news on to the airwaves," says Masuku. -- © Guardian Newspapers 2006 (via R.Wilkner-USA Jun 21, 2006 in DXplorer-ML) HARARE PARTIALLY JAMS US-BASED RADIO STATION Zim Online Mon 26 June 2006 HARARE - The Zimbabwe government using technology acquired from China has been able to partially jam signal from the Voice of America (VOA)'s Studio 7 radio station that broadcasts into the crisis-hit southern African country, ZimOnline has learnt. Studio 7 is one of three radio stations operated by exiled Zimbabweans and broadcasting into the country from outside its borders after President Robert Mugabe in the last six years shut down all independent broadcasting stations. Harare labels the private radios enemy stations bent on inciting Zimbabweans to revolt against Mugabe, in power since Zimbabwe's 1980 independence from Britain. An official in the Ministry of State Security, who spoke on condition he was not named, said the state's spy Central Intelligence Organisation and engineers from the Ministry of Information were now working flat out to try and completely jam Studio 7 broadcasts into Zimbabwe. "There has been marked improvement on trying to block the US propaganda (Studio 7 broadcasts) from reaching us since the beginning of this month. The team is now aiming to look for ways to completely block the signal coming via a transmitter in Botswana," said the official. According to the official, equipment to block Studio 7 broadcasts was imported from China last year. The government has been quick to use the same equipment to jam broadcasts from another foreign-based radio station that targets Zimbabwe, the London-based SW Radio. ZimOnline was unable to immediately confirm with Studio 7 whether its broadcasts were being interfered with. But the spokesman of the United States embassy in Harare, Timothy Smith, said the mission was aware of problems listeners were having receiving Studio 7 signal, adding that Washington had been alerted to probe the matter. Smith said: "We have heard of the problem of the Studio 7 signal and we sent it to Washington so that we are 100 percent sure of the source of the problem. AM signals can have a number of interferences which are not specific. So the investigations will tell us what the real problem is before we speculate. By Monday (today) we should be having a definite answer." However, ZimOnline understands that the American government is aware of the Chinese technology imported by Harare to disrupt Studio 7 broadcasts and VOA technicians are said to be in the process of working out measures to counter the jamming. Zimbabwe's Ministry of Information refused to comment on the matter saying in the first place it did not recognise Studio 7 because the radio station was not registered in terms of the country's laws. Studio 7 is a US government sponsored project to try and provide an alternative platform for a variety of views and opinions that are otherwise unable to get heard on Zimbabwe state-owned radio because they are perceived as contrary to the views of Mugabe and his government. It broadcasts on AM and on shortwave but for more than a week now, listeners have been unable to receive clear signal from the station because of the jamming by Harare. Studio 7 broadcasts in English as well as in the two main vernacular languages, Shona and Ndebele, enabling it to reach out to remoter parts of the country, inaccessible to Zimbabwe's few remaining independent newspapers. Zimbabwe has four radio stations and one television station all owned and controlled by the government. The southern African country, which has laws providing for the imprisonment of journalists for up to 20 years for publishing falsehoods, was last year ranked by the World Association of Newspapers as one of the three most dangerous places in the world for journalists. The other two countries are the former Soviet Republic of Uzbekistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran. - ZimOnline (Zim Online Jun 26, 2006 via DXLD 6-092) Studio 7 is on 909 kHz at 1700-1830 UT only (gh, DXLD 6-092) Zimbabwe government jams radio stations http://www.zimbabwejournalists.com/story.php?art_id=587&cat=1 By Violet Gonda LONDON - THE Zimbabwe government is at it again. This time interfering with SW Radioafrica's medium wave broadcasts and Voice of America's Zimbabwe flagship programme, Studio 7 Station. Media reports yesterday said Studio 7 was being jammed to stop listeners in the country accessing the station that operates from Washington D.C. SWRA has no official confirmation yet but reports on the ground clearly indicate the jamming of its medium wave signal. One report from a listener said: "I checked for your programming this morning Monday 27 June at 5am local time and exactly on the frequency of 1197 kHz there is an extremely strong 'buzzing' signal, which is intentional jamming." Additional reports say the signal is very strong, indicating that the jamming station is nearby or within Harare. Zimonline reported Monday that the Zimbabwe government is using technology acquired from China to partially jam the signal from the VOA Studio 7 radio station. VOA has not officially confirmed this.China is well known for jamming radio signals into its own country and also into a country it claims to own, Tibet. The Zimbabwe government is no stranger to jamming. Last year they acquired Chinese equipment and expertise and used this to completely jam off the airwaves the SWRA shortwave signal. Over the last six years the Zimbabwe government has rapidly destroyed or taken over control of virtually all news outlets. There is only one broadcaster and it is wholly-owned and controlled by the State. That is the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings formerly known as the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC). As for the print media, the only independent daily newspaper the Daily News was bombed and forced to shut down in 2003. After that there only four other independent weeklies are operating in the country and of these, it's alleged that two are now under the control of the state. Foreign media like the BBC are banned from reporting from and within the territory of Zimbabwe. As a result of the continued and sustained assault on press freedoms, nearly all Zimbabwe's free media now operates outside the country's borders. Some of these include the Zimbabwean newspaper and SW Radio Africa. There are also various internet based Zimbabwean news sites in the UK and South Africa. Voice of America's Studio 7 station employs Zimbabweans for its broadcasts. SWRA says these latest jamming attempts are not all bad news. "It does show that the government is feeling seriously pressured. Good news for those trying to create a democratic society in Zimbabwe. We encourage our listeners to keep trying to find us on the radio dial. In various parts of the country we can still be clearly heard and we will obviously be doing our best to counteract the jamming." (SW Radioafrica Jun 28, 2006 via Z.Liangas-GRC for CRW) ------------xxxxxxxxxx Sources xxxxxxxxxx---------------------- Contributors: Anker Petersen, Wendel Craighead, Wolfgang Büschel, Zacharias Liangas In order to unsubscribe please login to www.clandestineradio.com or to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/crwatch/ and change your user settings.