--------------xxxxxxxxxx CRW 216 xxxxxxxxxx-------------- CLANDESTINE RADIO WATCH 216 Oct 15, 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 ------------xxxxxxxxxx Breaking News xxxxxxxxxx---------------- CUBA : New program "La Nueva Nación" via WRMI ............................................................... CUBA : New program "La Nueva Nación" via WRMI Checking WRMI, 9955, Saturday Oct 7, did not tune in until 1245 and found the new exile show "La Nueva Nación" was just ending, so it`s only a quarter-hour, not a half-hour as assumed. But there was NO jamming, as previously this time period had been occupied by English, World of Radio, in fact. [..] (G.Hauser-OK-USA Oct 07, 2006 in DXLD 6-150) Glenn: La Nueva Nación is actually supposed to be 30 minutes, but they ran short on the first program. Next week's is about 22 minutes, and after that they should be up to about a half-hour. We filled the other 15 minutes today with Monitor DX, but that was a one-time (J.White-FL-USA Oct 07, 2006 in DXLD 6-150) ------------xxxxxxxxxx Schedules xxxxxxxxxx-------------------- Schedules - ETHIOPIA Voice of Oromo Liberation Voice of Oromo Liberation (Sagalee Bilisummaa Oromoo) from Oct. 2: 1700-1800 on 13830 JUL 100 kW / 160 deg Daily to EaAf in Oromo, xTue-Sun. (R BULGARIA DX MIX News 436 Oct 03, 2006 via W.Büschel-D for CRW) ............................................................... Schedules - IRAN Radio Zamaneh UKRAINE Updated A-06 schedule of Radio Zamaneh in Persian: 1700-2100 on 6245 SMF 300 kW 134 deg to WeAs, from Sep.11 0200-0400 on 7590 SMF 300 kW 134 deg to WeAs, from Oct.15 (R BULGARIA DX MIX News 437 Oct 12, 2006 via W.Büschel-D for CRW) ------------xxxxxxxxxx Logs xxxxxxxxxx------------------------- Logs - ASIA Radio Free Asia Radio Free Asia, 7105 via Tinian at 2151 on 10/11 with man talking. Fair with flutter, then off at 2200. (G.Dexter-WI-USA Oct 11, 2006 in DXplorer-ML) 11520 RFA (p) prg in Kyrgyz, short talks by Eng people then translated into Kyrgyz S7 33333 (Z.Liangas-GRC Oct 14, 2006 in CDX-ML) ............................................................... Logs - CHINA Sound of Hope TAIWAN - Sound of Hope (p), 9635 at 2209 on 10/2 - woman with CC vocals and woman anncr in CC. Fluttery but not bad. (G.Dexter-WI-USA Oct 2, 2006 in DXplorer-ML) 10400 Sonido de la Esperanza, 20:04-20:06, escuchada el 6 de Octubre a locutora probablemente en mandarín con comentarios, irrumpe con fuerza emisión de música china "Firedrake Jamming", tema de la Opera China emitiendo en paralelo por 13625 con un SINPO 45444. 100400 Sonido de la Esperanza, 19:04-19:07, escuchada el 7 de Octubre a locutora con comentarios en idioma Mandarín, a las 19:05 se inicia emisión musical de interferencia, "Firedarke Jamming", con un SINPO 44444. El 8 de Octubre ésta misma emisión musical fue escuchada a las 17:10 en las frecuencias de 9525 en paralelo por 13626. El 9 de Octubre la misma música china fue escuchada en la frecuencia de 21705 a las 08:17, interfiriendo a VOA en Mandarín. (J.Miguel Romero-E Oct 6-9, 2006 for CRW) Sound of Hope revised freqs on Oct 10: 10450, 13970, 14700, 17310. At 1200 \\ SOH audio on 10450, 14700 until 1202 s/off. No SOH audio heard on 13970, 17310. No jamming on 17310 from 1205 and no jamming on 14700 and 13970 from 1305. No SOH audio on 14700 at 1300, while 10450 was again active. After 1405 SOH 10450 was in the clear with no jamming. SOH txion times seem to be somewhat variable from day to day. BTW, jamming was back on SOH 10450 later in the afternoon (after 1505). I guess the Chinese monitors had a propagation problem and had not heard SOH for a few hours when they ordered the jammer off after 1405 UT. (O.Alm-S Oct 10, 2006 in BC-DX 777) 15320, Sound of Hope, Taiwan, 0300-0500, Oct 15, monitored on some new frequencies not mentioned on DSWCI clandestine List. Chinese instrumental music which is usually noted for jamming Voice of Tibet broadcasts. (T.R.Rajeesh-IND Oct 15, 2006 in DW Window 309) 15490, Sound of Hope, Taiwan, 0500, Oct 15, on another new frequency with chinese music jammer. It seems that SOH had left 14 MHz amateur bands as a result of protest from Ham Radio Community. Apart from 15320 and 15490 SOH were also noted on the usual 17350 out of band frequency.One interesting aspect is noted that 15320 is registred by R Taiwan International and by 0500 Chinese music jammer quit the frequency indicating a return of RTI broadcast. Need more monitoring to confirm that. (T.R.Rajeesh-IND Oct 15, 2006 in DW Window 309) Re: T.R.Rajeesh: Have you actually heard and identified SOH on these frequencies? Firedrake jamming is used against all kinds of targets, not just SOH and VOT, so hearing Firedrake on various frequencies is not enough to conclude SOH is the target. (G.Hauser-OK-USA Oct 19, 2006 in DXLD 6-155) Voice of Tibet 17560, Voice of Tibet, via Uzbekistan, 1100-1130, Oct 13, Tibetan broadcast, Chinese music jammer also followed but reception of the broadcast became intelligable by 1112 when the musical jammer reduced its sound and enjoyed the broadcast to a certain extend. Jamming became severe soon after the ann at 1130. (T.R.Rajeesh-IND Oct 13, 2006 in DW Window 309) ............................................................... Logs - CUBA Radio Martí 4/10 0600 6030.0 R. Marti,USA,SS,nxs OM+jamming cubano. SF/BN. (L.Botto Fiora-I Oct 1, 2006 in CoRad Newsletter-ML) 13820 Radio Martí, 19:35-19:46, escuchada el 14 de Octubre es español a locutor con reportaje sobre la corrupción en Cuba con un repaso histórico, SINPO 34433. (J.Miguel Romero-E Oct 14, 2006 for CRW) ............................................................... Log - EASTERN EUROPE Radio Liberty 11550 Azadi Radio (R Liberty )with ID at 1333 with short intl news S9 44434 (Z.Liangas-GRC Oct 14, 2006 in CDX-ML) ............................................................... Logs - ETHIOPIA Tensae Ethiopia Voice of Unity 15660 Tensae Ethiopia V.of Unity Oct 15 *1500-1504 25432 Amharic, 1500 sign on with opening music, Opening announce, Theme song, Talk. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Oct 15, 2006 in JAP 443) Voice of Democratic Path of Ethiopian Unity 15565, Voice of Democratic Path of Ethiopian Unity via Juelich, *1900-1959* Oct 13, open carrier noted followed by opening Horn of Africa instrumental music with a man giving ID and frequency announcements over the music. News followed by some music before talk features. Closed with ID, frequency announcement and Los Angeles mailing before carrier was cut. Fair. (R.D'Angelo-PA-USA Oct 13, 2006 in DXplorer-ML) ............................................................... Logs - IRAN Radio Payam-e Doost 7460 Radio Payam-e Doost, Grigoriopol, 0240-0246, October 15, Farsi, long talk by female, 24432. (A.Slaen-ARG Oct 15, 2006 in HCDX-ML) Radio Voice of Revolution Radio Voice of Revolution has terminated its broadcasts on 3880 and 6425 kHz and now can be heard only on 4380 from 1725 to 1850. (R.Pankov, R. Bulgaria DX Oct 20, 2006 via J.Norfolk in DXLD-ML via DXLD 6-156) Radio Zamaneh 1/10 2035 6245.0 R. Zamaneh,Farsi, tk YL. BN/MB. (L.Botto Fiora-I Oct 1, 2006 in CoRad Newsletter-ML) 6245, "IRAN", R. Zalmaneh, 2016-2033, Oct.2, Vernacular, Pop-like music and OM w/ ID's; brief talks b/w selections. Fair. (S.R.Barbour-NH-USA Oct 2, 2006 in CDX-ML) 6245 Radio Zamaneh, 19:30-19:35, escuchada el 5 de Octubre en farsi a locutora con comentarios y música de piano de fondo, ID "Radio Zamaneh", dirección web, SINPO 45454. (J.Miguel Romero-E Oct 5, 2006 for CRW) 6245 Radio Zamaneh, Armavir, Russia [no, via UKRAINE], 2045-2100, October 14, Farsi, very nice songs, announcement by male at 2054 UTC, news or short talk by male, s/off at 21 UTC, 24222. (A.Slaen-ARG Oct 14, 2006 in HCDX-ML) ............................................................... Logs - KASHMIR Radio Voice of of Kashmir Radio Sadayee Kashmir transmissions from Delhi was heard well on 6100 at 0230-0330 & 1430-1530 and on 9890 at 0730-0830 UTC. (J.Jacob-IND Oct 07, 2006 for CRW) Voice of Jammu Kashmir Freedom Voice of Jammu & Kashmir Freedom was noted on 5990.5 at 0245-0415 which is 15 minutes later than before. They were also noted at 7230 at 0745-0848 and on 5102.23, 5101.94 etc. at 1300-1430 with very rough audio. (J.Jacob-IND Oct 07, 2006 for CRW) 5102 V.O.Jammu Kashmir Freedom Oct 15 *1300-1306 45342 Kashmiri, 1300 sign on with opening music, Opnening annnounce, Koran, Talk. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Oct 15, 2006 in JAP 443) ............................................................... Logs - KOREA (NORTH) Shiokaze / Sea Breeze Shiokaze, 9485 via Taiwan, Wed Oct 4 at 1311 unseemed English at first due to poor reception and heavy accent, but finally decided it was English, with news items rather than roster listing. (G.Hauser-OK-USA Oct 04, 2006 in DXLD-ML) Also heard Oct 4 (Wed.), from 1320-1330*, in English, with names of abductees and details of abduction (age of the person taken, the date and location of abduction, etc.); brief musical selection between items (not piano music); ID "This is Shiokaze, Sea Breeze, from Tokyo, Japan", sign-off announcement over the usual piano music. Poor-fair. (R.Howard-CA-USA Oct 04, 2006 in DXLD-ML) Shiokaze, 9485 via Taiwan, Wed Oct 11 at 1307 was in English telling an abduction story, with music; fair. (G.Hauser-OK-USA Oct 11, 2006 in DXLD-ML) ............................................................... Logs - KURDISTAN Voice of Iranian Kurdistan 4840.0, Voice of Iranian Kurdistan, via Al-Sulaymaniyah, No. Iraq, 0245-0255, Oct 02, political talks in Kurdish mentioning Ramadan, 35343. The Iranian jammer was on 4870, but on recheck at 0303 it had jumped to 4840! Also heard under a jammer on 3970, but not synchronized with 4840. (A.Petersen-DNK Oct 02, 2006 in DX Window 308) 4890.0, Voice of Iranian Kurdistan, via Al-Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, *0230-0240, Oct 07, Kurdish ID: "Aira dangi Kurdistani Irana", Kurdish songs, talk. Back on winterschedule! The Iranian jammers were active on 4860/4870 (in vain) and // 3970. 25333. (A.Petersen-DNK Oct 07, 2006 in DX Window 309) Voice of Iraqui Kurdistan 6335 Voice of Iraqui Kurdistan, Salah al Din, 0345-0350, October 08, Kurdish, local songs, announcement by male, announcement by female at 0350, 24332 Very low jamming (A.Slaen-ARG Oct 08, 2006 in DXplorer-ML) 6335 V.of Iraqi Kurdistan Oct 15 1326-1332 35433 Kurdish, Kurdish music and talk, ID at 1330. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Oct 15, 2006 in JAP 443) Voice of Mesopotamia V. of Mesopotamia is starting to be heard well again, 11530 via Moldova with Kurdish talk about democracy, Oct 11 at 1437; also with music earlier in the hour. (G.Hauser-OK-USA Oct 11, 2006 in DXLD-ML) 11530 V.of Mesopotamia Oct 15 1316-1326 35343 Kurdish, Talk and kurdish music, ID at 1323. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Oct 15, 2006 in JAP 443) ............................................................... Logs - LAOS Hmong Lao Radio 11785 Hmong Lao R. via WHRI 1314-1359* Oct 8. Talks in presumed Hmong with occasional music bridges on quaint woodwind instrument; mentions of "St. Paul" and "Minnesota"; mostly vocal music after 1330; ended at 1359, followed by WHRI ID. (J.Wilkins-CO-USA Oct 08, 2006 in CDX-ML) Moj Them Radio 15260 Moj Them R. via Taiwan Oct 03 *0100-0106 35433-43433 Hmong, 0100 sign on with opening music, Opening announce, Talk, Tue and Thu only. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Oct 03, 2006 in JAP 441) ............................................................... Logs - LIBYA Sawt Alamel / Libya's Voice of Hope 4 Octubre: En el día de hoy comienzo a chequear a Sawt Al-amal a las 12:15 y la encuentro en la frecuencia de 17675, estaba con buena señal y sin interferencias, a las 13:05 estaba en la frecuencia de 17685 y a las 13:11 cambia a 17680, desde Valencia no se aprecia ninguna emisora, ni señal de interferencia hacia Sawt Al-amal. (J.Miguel Romero-E Oct 4, 2006 for CRW) 5 Octubre: Hoy comienzo a chequear a las 12:07 y encuentro a Sawt Al-amal en 17615, excelente señal pero ligeramente interferida por una señal de burbuja que al poco desaparece y reaparece otra en forma de sirena y luego otra vez la señal de burbuja, Sawt Al-amal está emitiendo un fragmento del canto del Corán, luego cuña de identificación y un locutor con comentarios, SINPO 54454. Sin embargo a las 12:17 está señal tipo sirena coge fuerza y consigue atorar a Sawt Al-amal, SINPO 42442. Un chequeo posterior, a las 13:06 me lleva a encontrar a Sawt Al-amal en 17605, en esos momentos con un SINPO 45444. A las 13:21 cambia a 17600. Hasta esos momentos no se apreciaba señal de interferencia alguna. Dejo chequear a las 13:30, Sawt Al-amal continua en 17600. (J.Miguel Romero-E Oct 5, 2006 for CRW) 6 Octubre: Comienzo el chequeo a las 12:18 y encuentro a Sawt Al-amal en la frecuencia de 17635 con una sorprendente señal, SINPO 54444, me llama la atención una linda canción que se viene repitiendo en los últimos días, me dispongo a grabarla. A las 13:01 cambia de frecuencia a 17625, tengo dificultad para escucharla, colisiona con China Radio Int en su servicio en inglés. Poco después desaparece y encuentro en 17645 una tremenda señal en forma de sierra y otra en 17650 en forma de sirena que hacen imposible escuchar nada en esas frecuencias. A Sawt Al-amal la encuentro en 17655, muy buena señal y libre de interferencias. A las 13:20 escucho otra vez esa bonita canción, parece acompañarla últimamente en todas sus programaciones a la misma hora. Como curiosidad se puede escuchar casi al final de la grabación una extraña música que dura unos segundos y que en los últimos días se la escucha a las 12:30 y a las 13:30, en principio creía que se trataba de un nuevo elemento de interferencia, pero descartada esa posibilidad, creo pueda tratarse de un elemento decorativo a la transmisión, aunque muy mal colocado ya que ese adorno no está bien insertado e interfiere un poco. http://valenciadx.multiply.com/music/item/200 (J.Miguel Romero-E Oct 5, 2006 for CRW) 7 Octubre Empiezo a chequear a Sawt Al-amal a las 12:44 y la encuentro en 17620 con sintonía y cuña de ID, excelente señal, SINPO 44554. A las 12:54 cambia a 17615 manteniendo excelente señal, SINPO 44544 y a las 13:00 vuelve a cambiar a 17620, me mantengo a la escucha hasta las 13:48, emisión libre de interferencias con excelente señal, SINPO 45544. (J.Miguel Romero-E Oct 7, 2006 for CRW) 8 Octubre En el día de hoy encuentro a Sawt Al-amal a las 12:01 en la frecuencia de 17670 con SINPO 55444, a las 12:55 la chequeo nuevamente encontrándola en 17660 y las 13:29 estaba en la frecuencia de 17665. (J.Miguel Romero-E Oct 8, 2006 for CRW) 10 Octubre A las 12:05 encuentro a Sawt Al-amal en 17630 con canto del Corán, ID y sintonía con un SINPO 45353 a las 12:54 se aprecia una débil señal tipo burbuja que apenas consigue interferirla. A las 13:00 cambia a 17640 con fuerte confrontación con la BBC en inglés y se mantiene hasta las 13:20 que cambia a 17645. (J.Miguel Romero-E Oct 10, 2006 for CRW) 11 Octubre A las 12:00 otra vez Sawt Al-amal en 17630 hasta las 12:28, fuerte confrontación con África Nº 1, de vez en cuando se escucha a una y otra emisora, a las 12:54 se aprecia una fuerte señal de sirena en ésta frecuencia y a las 12:57 Sawt Al-amal cambia a 17620, manteniéndose en esa frecuencia hasta las 13:04 que regresa a 17630. Aún presente a las 13:15 en ésa frecuncia. (J.Miguel Romero-E Oct 11, 2006 for CRW) 14 Octubre: En el día de hoy no pude chequear convenientemente a Sawt Al-amal, las 13:55 pude observar en 17600 a Sawt Al-amal acompañada de una señal de burbuja y la una emisión musical con estilo afro-pop y algún tema de música cubana. La Voz de África emitiendo en árabe por 17610 en paralelo por 17615. Se observó que África Nº 1 en 17630 no se escuchaba y sí a CNR en su servicio en inglés. (J.Miguel Romero-E Oct 14, 2006 for CRW) 15 Octubre: A las 12:05 se capta a Sawt Al-amal en la frecuencia de 17625 con un tremendo SINPO 55555, a la Voz de África emitiendo en árabe por las frecuencias de 17660 y 17670, también con una buena señal, SINPO 55555. Por otra parte en 17610 la emisión en Swahili de la Voz de África acompañada de un molesto zumbido con un SINPO 45454. En el día de hoy se escucha a África Nº 1 en 17630 con un SINPO 34443. La actividad de interferencia de los libios en el día de hoy fue frenética, a las 12:28 se inicia una fuerte señal de interferencia tipo sierra en 17625, a las 12:48 cierra emisión en 17660, a las 13:00 Sawt Al-amal cambia a 17635, se mantiene la excelente señal, SINPO 55555 variando a 54554. La Voz de África en árabe emitiendo en paralelo por 17635 y 17670, a las 13:18 Sawt Al-amal cambia a 17630 atorando a África Nº 1, a las 13:20 una tercera emisión de La Voz de África se hace presente, emitiendo en las frecuencias de 17625, 17635 y 17670. A las 13:26 cesa en 17625 y pasa a 17630 pero regresando a las 13.29. A las 13:41 la emisión de 17635 pasa a 17630 en paralelo por 17625 y 17670. La extraña emisión musical que dura unos segundos aparece a las 13:32 y luego 13:45, desconozco cual es su cometido, en el día de hoy no transmitió la emisora musical. (J.Miguel Romero-E Oct 15, 2006 for CRW) ............................................................... Logs - MÉXICO Radio Insurgente Radio Insurgente a colocado un nuevo programa en su web http://www.radioinsurgente.org/index.php?name=archivo con fecha del 6 de Octubre, lo anuncian cómo último programa emitido en Onda Corta, el anterior es del 28 de Abril, ¿Quizás regresó a la Onda Corta?. (J.Miguel Romero-E Oct 13, 2006 for CRW) ............................................................... Logs - SOMALIA Radio Baidoa Baidoa Somalia 6798 kHz --- Thu Oct 12, 2006 10:08 am (PST) [timestamp on message, so 1808 UT?]. Fair Audio, Not a bad signal, but lots of Hets on either side. (T.Bucknall-G Oct 12, 2006 BDXC-UK via DXLD 6-152) Re 6-152: Baidoa on 6798: it was 1544 UT; I wanted to tip people off quickly. It had gone by the time the message got through. Talk in Somali language, surprisingly good audio but lots of hets either side, intentional jamming? Call it a presumed log, as I didn't get an ID. (T.Bucknall-G BDXC-UK and DXLD 6-153) ............................................................... Logs - WESTERN AFRICA West Africa Democracy Radio 17875 WADR West Africa Democracy Radio, 0940-1000, October 03, English, very long talk by male about Nigeria and the communications development in Senegal and region, identification by same male as: "You are listening to....WADR", 35343 (A.Slaen-ARG Oct 03, 2006 in DXLD-ML) 17875 West Africa Democracy R. via Woofferton Oct 07 *0802-0814 35433 French, 0802 sign on with ID, Talk. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Oct 07, 2006 in JAP 443) 17875 West Africa Democracy R. via Woofferton Oct 08 0956-1012 45444 English and French, Local music and talk, ID at 0959 and 1001. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Oct 08, 2006 in JAP 443) ............................................................... Logs - WESTERN SAHARA National Radio of the Arab-Saharan Democratic Republic 2/10 0642 7425.0 RN Saharawi,Algeria,AA,tk YL. BN. (L.Botto Fiora-I Oct 01, 2006 in CoRad Newsletter-ML) Sep 28-Oct 02 only audible on 1550 MW mornings and evenings, but not on 41 mb. (A.Petersen-DNK Sep 28-Oct 2, 2006 in DX Window 308) 7425, Radio Nacional de la Republica Arabe Saharaui Democratic, 2115 October 3. Alternating Arabic tlk and flute mx. S3 in the clear. Kept in background while working. Arabic ID at 0001 and off at 0002 Much better here than 7460 ever was (J.Strawman-IA-USA Oct 03, 2006 in CDX-ML) 7425, Radio Nacional de la Republica Arabe Saharaui Democratica, 2330-0002* Oct 3, instrumental music followed by nice Spanish ID followed by news headlines and detailed news. Program appeared to alternate from Arabic to Spanish during this 30 minute window. Music/vocals from 2345. Nice complete ID at 2357: "Radio Nacional de la Republica Arabe Saharaui Democratica." Talk and alternating music segments until Arabic ID at 0001. Fair. (R.D'Angelo-PA-USA Oct 3, 2006 in DXplorer-ML) 7425 R N Saharaui, 19:25-19:30, escuchada el 5 de Octubre a locutora en árabe con titulares y referencias al ramadán acompañadas de música, SINPO 45444. (J.Miguel Romero-E Oct 5, 2006 for CRW) 7425 Radio Nacional Republic Arab Saharaui, 2135-2145, October 05, Arabic, short bulletin news and local songs, very clear signal with announcements and many identifications by female, 24432. (A.Slaen-ARG Oct 5, 2006 in HCDX-ML) 7425, ALGERIA/W.SAHARA, RSAD, 2332-0001*, Oct 10, Spanish/Arabic, OM w/ SP talks and various AR musical bits. Full ID at 2359 followed by NA until s/off. Fair. (S.R.Barbour-NH-USA Oct 10, 2006 in DXplorer-ML) 7425 R Nacional Republica Arabe Saharaui, Rabouni, Algeria. RASD heard recently (Oct 7/8) with only poor S=1-2 signal level, compared to previous signal level of the stn, or other stations on 41 mb from various directions. (W.Büschel-D Oct 10, 2006 in BC-DX 777) Oct 12 checking Radio Nacional De La R.A.S.D around 1830 UTC on 7425 kHz. A religious program in Arabic with a long talk by OM about the Month of Ramadan, followed by a folk song, then a YL with ID .then a series about prophet Mohammed (PBUH) followed by another folk song. 1900 UTC nx in brief by the same YL mentioning some names and Algerian cities. Followed by another program called "the rest of fasting", talking about how important it is to fast in the month of Ramadan. 1920 UTC another folk song. Good reception on that frequency. (T.Zeidan-EGY Oct 12, 2006 in BC-DX 777) 7425 RASD 1813 man with ID, instrumental arab kind music, man with quranic psalms . ON 1830 ith acapellas songs YL with ID at 1837. (Z.Liangas-GRC Oct 13, 2006 in CDX-ML) 1550 MW, Polisario Front, Tindouf, Algeria, *0700-0912, Oct 13, national anthem, Arabic, ID and frequencies, music, talks, 55444 // 7425. (C.Gonçalves-POR Oct 13, 2006 in DX Window 309) 7425 R.N.Saharaui, 17:45-17:50, escuchada el 14 de Octubre en árabe a locutor con comentarios y música de fondo, referencias al ramadán, lectura de un poema, SINPO 35443. (J.Miguel Romero-E Oct 14, 2006 for CRW) ............................................................... Logs - ZIMBABWE SW Radio África 4880, SW Radio Africa, via Meyerton, 1805-1840*, Oct 06, Vernacular talk, much noise, 34333. (A.Petersen-DNK Oct 06, 2006 in DX Window 309) 4880 SW Radio África, 17:50-17:55, escuchada el 14 de Octubre en inglés a locutor y locutora con comentarios, entrevista a invitado, SINPO 24332. (J.Miguel Romero-E Oct 14, 2006 for CRW) ------------xxxxxxxxxx QSL Verifications xxxxxxxxxx------------ Qsl's - ASIA Radio Free Asia 7260 kHz - R. Free Asia - ??. Recebido cartão QSL full data. 386 dias. V/S: A. J. Janitscheck. Obs: IR enviado para o seguinte e-mail: aj@rfa.org. O QSL mostra uma foto de Richard Richter, primeiro presidente da Rádio Free Asia (1996 - 2005). QTH: Radio Free Asia, 2025 M Street NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20036 USA (R.Ferraz Pedroso-PR-B Oct 02, 2006 in ConDig 387) ............................................................... Qsl's - CUBA Radio República Radio República, 6.135 kHz, transmisiones en español a Cuba. Enviados dos informes de recepción. Reponden con carta donde dan las "gracias por reportarnos su audición a nuestra emisora de onda corta, Radio República", sin mayores datos. ¿Vale como confirmación? También envían esquema de programación. Carta enviada por el Directorio Democrático Cubano. Informes enviados a: P.O. Box 110235, Hialeah, Florida 33011, Estados Unidos. Respuesta recibida en 55 días. (E.Peñailillo-CHL Oct 15, 2006 for CRW) ............................................................... Qsl's - ETHIOPIA Voice of Oromiya Independence 15650, Voice of Oromiya Independence via T-Systems in Juelich replied in 14 days from v/s Walter Brodowsky, Account Manager for Shortwave broadcast at T-Systems ("You did listen to a transmission of Radio Miami International which was broadcasted towards EAF by using a 100 kW transmitter from Short-wave Radio Station Juelich. Your reception report is highly appreciated and we forwarded it to our Customer, too."). The report and reply were both electronic. (R.D'Angelo-PA-USA Oct 15, 2006 in DXplorer-ML) ............................................................... Qsl's - KOREA (NORTH) Shiokaze / Sea Breeze 9485, Shiokaze, blue/black card in 9 days for an email report and audio clip. This is the same card as Ron Howard's [..]. (J.Herkimer-NY-USA Oct 01, 2006 in DXplorer-ML) ------------xxxxxxxxxx Miscellaneous xxxxxxxxxx----------------- Misc - AFGHANISTAN ARMY RADIO DJS IN AFGHANISTAN MIX NEWS, MUSIC SANS 'PSY OPS' --- By Scott Peterson. The Christian Science Monitor Tucson, Arizona | Published: 10.08.2006 http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/150174 NARAY, AFGHANISTAN — The first words 1st Lt. Daniel Hampton learned in Pashto were ones he had heard time and time again in the remote reaches of eastern Afghanistan: "Mana raka radio," or "Give me one radio." Hampton's Afghanistan "combat" has turned him into something of a disc jockey, running a small radio station that broadcasts from this American firebase into the Kamdesh district of Nuristan, along thePakistan border — the target of a U.S. counterinsurgency effort to defeat Taliban-led militants. Hampton has handed out about 4,000 small radios, sometimes distributing them while his Afghan journalists report at events such as the openings of a new school, mosque, or women's clinic. It's a rare distinction for a combat arms officer in the U.S. Army's 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry, who has been trained more to win battles than wars of ideas. Once part of what the miliary called psychological operations, or "psy ops," such propaganda exercises are now called "information operations." Senior officers say that distinction matters in this remote area, where they recognize the risk of being seen purely as a mouthpiece of U.S. forces. They — and the Afghan journalists working for the station and a new regional magazine — are trying to gain credibility with their audience by presenting more balanced news content. "People like the music. Everybody has a radio, and they can listen," says Mohamed Iqbal, the 19-year-old translator who launched the station in early June and helped expand it with other journalists. "People walk around like this, holding their radios in their hand, listening," says Iqbal, gesturing with his hands. "They love news." The aim of the radio station is to help win support by publicizing the Army's local development projects. The programming is diverse: Daily progress reports on U.S.-funded projects; the death tolls of insurgents and U.S. soldiers alike; and a mix of popular music that brings in 40request letters a day from local villages. "I want the 'car bomb effect,' " says Lt. Col. Michael Howard, describing his first rule for the radio. "As when a car bomb goes off in Iraq, and everyone knows about it, I want everyone in Nuristan to know that we really are building a road, a water pipeline." Howard says his second rule is: "Just facts. No psy ops," referring to the units that the military has traditionally deployed to spin information aimed at a local population. At ground level, U.S. soldiers and Afghans alike say that "no psy-ops" is the only way they have a chance to be heard in these villages. "It's not just the good stuff," says Hampton of the news decisions. "If we lose a U.S. soldier, we broadcast it. We let them know we are human and are here to help them. What's helping us up here is not the bad guys we're killing, but the facts of what we're doing, coming from these Afghan voices." Even the Taliban are frequent listeners, Hampton says. "The Taliban like it and the music, but they just don't like us," he says Afghans tell him. "We're providing entertainment for both sides." On StarNet: Search a database of U.S. and coalition forces killed or wounded in action at http://go.azstarnet.com/casualties (azstarnet.com via Z.Liangas-GRC Oct 9, 2006 in DXLD 6-151) ............................................................... Misc - AZERBAIJAN Azerbaijan suspends rebroadcast of BBC, VOA for licence problems Azerbaijan has stopped the relay of BBC, VOA and Radio Liberty rebroadcasts on Azerbaijani TV and radio channels, APA news agency reported on 13 October. The National TV and Radio Council decided on 13 October to suspend till 1 January 2007 rebroadcast of Radio Liberty, BBC and Voice of America by the state-run radio channel Azarbaycan as well as private ANS TV, ANS CM and Antenn radio stations, APA said. The council advised Radio Liberty, BBC and Voice of America to bring their broadcasts on frequencies in Azerbaijan in line with international and Azerbaijani laws. Source: Azerbaijani news agency APA, Baku, in Azeri 0600 gmt 14 Oct 06 (BBC Monitoring Oct 14, 2006 via M.Terry-G in DXLD-ML) ............................................................... Misc - CUBA Oyendo Radio Martí (I) Juan González Febles, SOCIEDAD LA HABANA, Cuba - Octubre, http://www.cubanet.org - No caben dudas de que Radio Martí (RM) disfruta de una radio audiencia masiva en Cuba. No obstante, hay algo que debe ser aclarado. No se oye siempre ni a todas horas. A RM se la escucha cuando hay algo de mucho interés ciudadano. Es la referencia necesaria para el momento oportuno. Como la emisora oficial Radio Reloj. . . http://www.cubanet.org/CNews/y06/oct06/10a6.htm (Cubanet.org Oct 06, 2006 via O.de Céspedes-FL.USA in Condig-ML via DXLD 6-151) [Continued from link in 6-151, a critique of Radio Martí] Oyendo Radio Martí (II y final) Juan González Febles COPIADO DE _SOCIEDAD / CubaNet News -Noticias de Cuba / Cuba News_ http://www.cubanet.org/CNews/y06/oct06/13a5.htm LA HABANA, Cuba - Octubre http://www.cubanet.org - Escuchar la programación de Radio Martí (RM) en la actualidad produce agobio. Se trata de un ejercicio de tolerancia constante, frente a un grupo de aficionados llenos de buenas intenciones. Los informativos, pretenden autenticidad a partir de la trascripción literal del testimonio de protagonistas desde la Isla y la forma en que esto se repite hasta el cansancio. Hay muchas fallas que pueden evitarse con un trabajo inteligente de edición. Las técnicas radiales modernas, preservan la autenticidad del testimonio. La participación de opositores, disidentes o familiares denunciando abusos en largas parrafadas puede resultar tediosa y contraproducente. Esa participación condicionada a una eficiente edición, mantiene la frescura del testigo, comunica el carácter popular de la lucha, elimina el tedio y da un sentido de profesionalidad que a la larga será apreciado en todo su valor. El otro punto de importancia sería el conocimiento de lo que verdaderamente interesa dentro de la Isla. Los programas consagrados a promover cierta ayuda humanitaria, aburren. Esta función se cumpliría con mayor eficiencia si sólo se les dedicara cortos espacios promocionales o "fillers". Se requiere de pocos minutos para informar que la generosidad de alguien facilitó una silla de ruedas o un aparato de asma a quien lo necesita. Hace años en RM se daba información sobre la vida en rosa de la élite de gobierno castrista. Hoy que la ciudadanía rechaza a esta élite y a sus privilegios, el tema parece ser tabú. No se habla sobre los equipos de aire acondicionado centrales puestos a disposición de los personeros civiles y militares de la dictadura. No se exponen las prebendas que éstos disfrutan. Un acierto de RM ha sido la trasmisión de la pelota profesional de Grandes Ligas de los Estados Unidos. También lo son sus elementos de identificación auditiva. Los programas de contenido histórico, adolecen de falta de elaboración. Aunque muy positivos, carecen de oficio y artesanía radial. De poco sirve contar con estudiosos conocedores de un tema si éstos (o los realizadores) no saben imprimir agilidad a su entrega. Las presentadoras y los presentadores televisivos están obligados a tener un aspecto personal agradable; Quien hace radio no puede ser tartamudo. Parece cruel, pero lamentablemente funciona así, cuando se hace un trabajo profesional riguroso. La prensa independiente cuenta con reporteros muy ágiles distribuidos a lo largo del país. La Agencia de Prensa Libre Oriental, Cubanacán Press, Jóvenes sin Censura, Upeci y Cuba Verdad, entre otros, ofrecen testimonios de mayor coherencia que los que aportan opositores y disidentes, surgidos en bruto de la entraña popular. Las ediciones atinadas y el trabajo de estos reporteros serían una combinación muy exitosa. El programa "Contacto Cuba" que conduce Jorge Jáuregui, se vería muy beneficiado si en un futuro tomara en cuenta estas apreciaciones. Le vendría bien algunos "fillers" de buen diseño, esto refresca y ameniza cualquier audición. Máxime que la entrega de Jáuregui es de lo mejorcito como programa. Las radionovelas y los programas del corte de "Dos a las dos", fueron, en su momento, muy apreciados por la radio audiencia cubana. En el primer caso sólo quedaría radiarla, en el segundo, hacerlo luego de realizar ajustes para que la música ocupe menos espacio. El mayor margen debe consagrarse a la información y al comentario ágil y por que no, humorístico. Otro punto importante en mi opinión es el siguiente: El pueblo cubano necesita información, pero además necesita de forma terminal reír. En la medida que aprenda a reírse de sus opresores, el miedo ambiente quedará erosionado. Nadie respeta aquello que se constituye en hazmerreír de todos. Pongamos al régimen en ridículo, con todo el respeto a que un medio radial se hace acreedor y portador. Permitámosle al cubano de a pie que ría a mandíbula batiente a costa de los que se burlan de su credulidad. Si RM consigue informar, instruir y divertir, entonces sí estará dando cada día el santo y seña de la palabra democracia. Confiemos que así será. Esta información ha sido transmitida por teléfono, ya que el gobierno de Cuba controla el acceso a Internet. CubaNet no reclama exclusividad de sus colaboradores, y autoriza la reproducción de este material, siempre que se le reconozca como fuente. (Cubanet.org Oct 06, 2006 via O.de Céspedes-FL.USA in Condig-ML via DXLD 6-154) ............................................................... Misc - EASTERN EUROPE Czech Republic/USA: Work on Radio Free Europe's new building started Text of report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague, 13 October: The construction of a new building of the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty was launched today at Prague 10-Hagibor with representatives of the US Broadcasting Board of Governors, Foreign Minister Alexander Vondra and other Czech politicians attending. The new building is to be "a modern fortress" to protect the people working inside but also allow them to work in a pleasant environment, architect Jakub Cigler from the studio that worked out the construction plans told CTK. The construction is to be completed in 2008 and the overall costs, including the radio's move from its present seat, are estimated at 14m US dollars. The relocation of the US-funded radio station from Prague centre started to be discussed after the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington in September 2001. Since then the RFE/RL seat in the building of the former Czechoslovak parliament in Wenceslas Square has been guarded by the police and its area has been protected by concrete barriers. Czech and US officials agreed to move the radio to outside the centre in order to raise the safety of the station and its surroundings. Vondra said he does not consider the relocation any concession, but, on the contrary, a step forward. RFE/RL radio now broadcasts in 28 languages to 20 countries in eastern Europe, Caucasus, central and southwest Asia. The radio moved to Prague from Munich, Germany after the 1989 fall of communism in the Czech Republic. Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1504 gmt 13 Oct 06 (BBCM Oct 13, 2006) RADIO FREE EUROPE FOUNDATION STONE LAID IN PRAGUE The foundation stone of a new headquarters for Prague-based US-funded radio station, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, was laid in the Czech capital on Friday. The broadcaster's current headquarters is in the centre of Prague and the station together with the city authorities have been discussing its moving since the September 11 attacks on the US. The Congress-funded radio station broadcasts in 28 languages to some 20 countries in Eastern Europe, the Balkans, Caucasus and Central Asia. Founded in the 1950s at the height of the Cold War, the broadcaster moved to Prague from Munich, Germany, in 1995 to take advantage of an offer to house it in the former Czechoslovak parliament building in the city centre. (R. Prague news website Oct 14, 2006 via DXLD 6-153) ............................................................... Misc - HUNGARY FIFTY YEARS LATER, RADIO FREE EUROPE STILL LIVING DOWN ITS ADVICE TO HUNGARIANS. Toronto Star, 15 October 2006 "'The U.S. had a double-faced policy, a non-violent policy. They wanted to keep alive the desire for freedom in the communist bloc until the system failed, which it was bound to do. The message got sent by Radio Free Europe, but there was no promise of help. People didn't know it was just rhetoric. False hopes were created.' Radio Free Europe, staffed by right-wing émigré Hungarians, had slandered Nagy throughout the revolt, portraying him as just another communist -- which was how Washington saw him, unable to grasp that the communist world was not monolithic. ... After 1956, Radio Free Europe moderated its tone. 'Instead of liberation, they promoted liberalization.'" . . . [plus 5+ other linx] http://www.kimandrewelliott.com/index.php?id=520 (Toronto Star Oct 15, 2006 via KAE via DXLD 6-156) ............................................................... Misc - KOREA (NORTH) Meagre media for North Koreans By Ian Liston-Smith BBC Monitoring 10 October 2006 All the media in North Korea are controlled by the ruling Korean Workers' Party, led by its General-Secretary Kim Jong-il. Newspapers, radio and television are used to disseminate propaganda and flattering accounts of Kim Jong-il and his daily agenda. Negative news about the country - such as economic hardships or famine - is ignored. A report from the official news agency, KCNA, of the nuclear test was carried on radio and TV - initially in Korean and later in English - where it was described as "a historic event which greatly encouraged and pleased the Korean army and people". Radio and TV sets in North Korea are supplied pre-tuned to government stations and radios must be checked and registered with the police. Some North Koreans purchase a second radio set that is not registered, enabling them to listen to foreign broadcasts. Reports from refugees say that there are also those who take the risk of opening the preset radios in order to be able to tune into other frequencies. More and more radios are reaching the country, especially the capital Pyongyang, from China. North Korean authorities designated radios as "new enemies of the regime" in 2004. Refugees also report that the Workers Party launched a campaign to check radios at the end of 2003. The head of each party cell in neighbourhoods and villages received instructions to verify the seals on all radios. The authorities designated radios as "new enemies of the regime" on 13th June 2004. There are three television channels, all government-controlled. Two of them broadcast only at weekends, the other is on the air only in the evenings. Audiences are low, however. Latest UN data shows there are only 55 TV sets for every 1,000 people in North Korea. In the South there are 347 per 1,000 people. Internet access in North Korea is restricted to a small section of the elite who have received state approval and to 200 or so foreigners living in Pyongyang. The state blocks all foreign websites. Mobile phone use was banned in 2004. In the absence of the internet and satellite dishes, the only way for many North Koreans to sidestep the official propaganda is to tune into Korean-language broadcasts from foreign radio stations. However, North Koreans caught listening to these broadcasts risk harsh punishments, such as forced labour. The regime may well be facing a challenge however - from a minor technological revolution. Cheap second-hand video recorders smuggled from China can now be bought in North Korea for the equivalent of $30 to $40 as Chinese viewers upgrade to DVD players. This puts ownership of a video recorder within the reach of many households where they are largely used for copying and watching smuggled tapes of South Korean TV soap operas, which in recent years have become major hits in North Korea. These soap operas compete for audiences with typical government programming, such as "Great Workers Party of Korea, Shine all over the World!", "Leading the Final Attack Operation for the Fatherland's Liberation to Victory" and "Immortal Achievement of Brilliantly Embodying the Idea of Down-With-Imperialism Union Through Military-First Revolutionary Leadership". (BBC Monitoring selects and translates news from radio, television, press, news agencies and the internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It is based in Caversham, UK, and has several bureaux abroad.) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6037715.stm (via M.Terry-G Oct 12, 2006 in DXLD-ML) North Korea condemns US for funding anti-Pyongyang radio broadcaster The Associated Press October 12, 2006 Seoul South Korea North Korea on Thursday condemned a U.S. move to finance anti-Pyongyang broadcasters in South Korea as an "intolerable provocation" against the North, and called for an end to the transmissions. The announcement added to already heightened tensions between the international community and North Korea, after the communist country claimed to have carried out a nuclear weapons test on Monday. The alleged test has yet to be verified by international experts, but it has prompted the U.S. to call for tough sanctions against North Korea, which is already struggling economically. The North has said that the imposition of U.N.-mandated sanctions could prompt it to retaliate militarily. The United States has taken steps to set aside funds for three radio broadcasters in South Korea, according to the North's media. The broadcasters are mostly run by North Korean defectors in South Korea and transmit radio programs critical of the North's leader, Kim Jong Il. "The decision is one more intolerable provocation against (North Korea) and a vicious act of inciting confrontation between Koreans," a spokesman for the National Reconciliation Council said in comments carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. South Korea on Thursday reiterated the need for tight military preparedness in the wake of the reported nuclear test. The unidentified North Korean spokesman also said that the U.S. propaganda campaign won't help bring down North Korean-style socialism, saying "all the servicepersons and people are single-mindedly united." The communist regime says outside radio broadcasts are part of a U.S. psychological campaign aimed at toppling the communist regime - a charge Washington denies. U.S.-financed Radio Free Asia also broadcasts to North Korea. North Koreans are officially banned from listening to outside news, and radios are fixed so only state programs can be heard. Listening to radio broadcasts criticizing the regime is a severe offense which has landed people in the country's harsh political prison camps but the North has eased punishment in recent years, according to defectors. Some defectors in South Korea have said that outside radio programs prompted them to flee their homeland after learning that their country was not a paradise as claimed by the regime and that they could enjoy freedom in foreign countries. The two Koreas are still technically at war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a cease-fire, not a peace treaty. SEOUL, South Korea North Korea on Thursday condemned a U.S. move to finance anti-Pyongyang broadcasters in South Korea as an "intolerable provocation" against the North, and called for an end to the transmissions. The announcement added to already heightened tensions between the international community and North Korea, after the communist country claimed to have carried out a nuclear weapons test on Monday. The alleged test has yet to be verified by international experts, but it has prompted the U.S. to call for tough sanctions against North Korea, which is already struggling economically. The North has said that the imposition of U.N.-mandated sanctions could prompt it to retaliate militarily. The United States has taken steps to set aside funds for three radio broadcasters in South Korea, according to the North's media. The broadcasters are mostly run by North Korean defectors in South Korea and transmit radio programs critical of the North's leader, Kim Jong Il. "The decision is one more intolerable provocation against (North Korea) and a vicious act of inciting confrontation between Koreans," a spokesman for the National Reconciliation Council said in comments carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. South Korea on Thursday reiterated the need for tight military preparedness in the wake of the reported nuclear test. The unidentified North Korean spokesman also said that the U.S. propaganda campaign won't help bring down North Korean-style socialism, saying "all the servicepersons and people are single-mindedly united." The communist regime says outside radio broadcasts are part of a U.S. psychological campaign aimed at toppling the communist regime - a charge Washington denies. U.S.-financed Radio Free Asia also broadcasts to North Korea. North Koreans are officially banned from listening to outside news, and radios are fixed so only state programs can be heard. Listening to radio broadcasts criticizing the regime is a severe offense which has landed people in the country's harsh political prison camps but the North has eased punishment in recent years, according to defectors. Some defectors in South Korea have said that outside radio programs prompted them to flee their homeland after learning that their country was not a paradise as claimed by the regime and that they could enjoy freedom in foreign countries. The two Koreas are still technically at war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a cease-fire, not a peace treaty. http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/10/12/asia/AS_GEN_Koreas_US_Radio.php (via M.Terry-G Oct 12, 2006 in DXLD-ML) Ministry might order NHK to broadcast North Korea abduction program 10/13/2006. The Asahi Shimbun From http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200610130269.html In a rare and controversial move, the government is considering ordering Japan Broadcasting Corp. (NHK) to broadcast programs about the North Korean abduction issue on its international shortwave radio service. "(The government) can make NHK broadcast state-ordered programs," Yoshihide Suga, the internal affairs and communications minister, told reporters Friday. "As the new Cabinet has been installed, there is no mistake in saying that the abduction issue has become a top priority of the government." A citizens group since last year has been broadcasting a shortwave radio program to North Korea in the hopes that Japanese believed to have been abducted there can receive messages from their relatives. But the program has been disrupted by North Korean jamming. Under the current system based on the Broadcast Law, the communications minister has the authority to designate specific subject matter for international broadcasts. The international radio service run by NHK is the only service subject to such a ministerial order because part of the production funds for international programs are provided by the government. But it is unusual for the minister to ask the public broadcaster to deal with a specific subject. In fact, the ministry has refrained from giving orders to NHK concerning its programming contents because the government wants to respect NHK's independence. The government has only asked the public broadcaster to provide programs of public interest, such as "current events," "the government's important policies," and "the government's view on international affairs." That stance has allowed NHK to have more discretionary powers over its programs. But Suga, citing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's special office to deal with the abduction issue, indicated he would give specific orders to NHK for the program. The Investigation Commission on Missing Japanese Probably Related to North Korea has been airing a shortwave radio program called "Shiokaze" (sea breeze) to North Korea. The group commissioned a British broadcasting distribution company to air the program from a country close to North Korea. However, North Korea has jammed the signals, Abe said in May when he was chief Cabinet secretary. "If 'Shiokaze' says it wants a shortwave radio program (in a new frequency for international broadcasts), we'd like to formally apply to the International Telecommunication Union," Suga said. "We want to think positively to have NHK facilities used." Takaaki Hattori, a professor of broadcasting systems at Rikkyo University, said the government should be careful not to overstep the boundaries. "The government's involvement in the contents of broadcasting programs will go against the principles of Article 1 of the Broadcast Law, which stipulates political neutrality and freedom of expression," Hattori said. "The government should be careful when it comes to expanding the scope of state-ordered programs from the standpoint that NHK is basically operated on subscription fees."(IHT/Asahi: October 13, 2006) (? Oct 13, 2006 via W.Büschel-D in DXLD-ML) Japan/North Korea: Tokyo offers to broadcast on shortwave to North Korea via NHK Text of report in English by Radio Netherlands website on 14 October According to the Asahi Shimbun, The Japanese government is considering ordering the Japan Broadcasting Corp (NHK) to carry programmes about the North Korean abduction issue on its international shortwave radio service. A citizens group has since last year been broadcasting a shortwave radio programme to North Korea in the hopes that Japanese believed to have been abducted there can receive messages from their relatives. But the programme, known as "Shiokaze" (sea breeze), is jammed by North Korea. It's currently carried via a transmitter in Taiwan. Under the Broadcast Law, the Communications Minister has the authority to designate specific subject matter for international broadcasts. The international shortwave radio service run by NHK is the only service subject to such a ministerial order because part of the production funds for that service is provided by the government. This power is rarely used, as the government wants to respect NHK's independence. But in the current climate, Yoshihide Suga, the Internal Affairs and Communications Minister, told reporters yesterday that he wants to give specific orders to NHK to carry the programme. However, it appears that Suga is not suggesting that NHK carries the programme as part of its own output, but merely allows the group producing the programme to use NHK's shortwave transmitters if it wants to. NHK is cutting back on shortwave, so there is plenty of spare capacity available. According to Suga, "If 'Shiokaze' says it wants a shortwave radio programme on a new frequency, we'd like to formally apply to the International Telecommunication Union," Suga said. "We want to think positively to have NHK facilities used." In fact, applying for a frequency is not necessary, and Suga doesn't appear to understand how shortwave frequency planning works. Some observers in Japan are expressing concern about a threat to NHK's independence, but Media Network believes that the reporters covering the story didn't understand the distinction between broadcasting a programme within one's own service and allowing another organization to have airtime on a transmitter. Source: Radio Netherlands website, Hilversum, in English 14 Oct 06 (BBCM Oct 14, 2006) ............................................................... Misc - KURDISTAN TURKISH GOVERNMENT BLOCKS VIEWERS FROM WATCHING ROJ TV 10/14/2006 KurdishMedia.com - By Nezar Ahmet http://www.kurdmedia.com/news.asp?id=13432 Turkish authorities have entered a new stage in their long campaign against free Kurdish television and broadcasting in Northern Kurdistan (Turkey) by successfully blocking one of the main Kurdish television stations broadcasting from Denmark. According to a number of sources in Northern Kurdistan, the Turkish Government has successfully blocked viewers in Kurdistan from watching the Kurdish television station, ROJ TV. Unconfirmed reports have stated that the Turkish Government appears to have cut off access to the station by jamming satellite signals. The signal has been completely blocked off in several cities throughout Northern Kurdistan such as Elih (Batman), Riha (Sanli-Urfa), Culemerg (Hakkari), Veransher and Gever (Yusekova). Other cities in both Kurdistan and western Turkey, such as Istanbul and Izmir, have reportedly been experiencing very bad signals in the past week. Experts claim that jamming transponders on a commercial satellite is a relatively easy thing to do with the available modern technology. Such a method effectively blocks satellite signals and disallows viewers from watching satellite stations cut off. Some anonymous sources commented that the blocking of ROJ TV is very disturbing and appears to be a direct consequence of the constitutional and legal regulations that do not allow free Kurdish broadcasting in Turkey. Following recent pressures by the EU on Turkey to make democratic reform, the Turkish Government has granted limited rights for broadcasting in the Kurdish language by airing 45-minute programs on State Television every week. Recently, a representative of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) and mayor of Culemerg, Matin Tekche, met with an EU delegation and raised the issue that the beaming of ROJ TV in Kurdistan is constantly disrupted. Both the mayor and representatives of the Civil Society informed the delegation about the importance of ROJ TV for the Kurdish viewers in the area. The Turkish Government has responded by doing anything to try and shut down the satellite station and the recent developments in their satellite jamming are part of that campaign. The Turkish Government has repeatedly demanded that Denmark revoke the Kurdish station's broadcasting license and has claimed that ROJ TV has connections with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The Danish Government has refused to shut down ROJ TV but has agreed to investigate whether the content of its programs is in line with the Danish legislation of freedom of expression. Fifty-six mayors of the pro-Kurdish DTP have signed a letter asking the Danish Government to resist pressure from the Turkish Government on the issue of ROJ TV. The Turkish Government responded by charging all mayors with providing assistance to the PKK by signing the letter. If convicted in Turkish courts, the mayors could each face heavy fines and/or up to 15 years in prison. ROJ TV broadcasts in nine different languages and provides a range of programs from news and happenings in Kurdistan to Kurdish music and children’s shows. The station has denied having any links to the PKK and continues to maintain that their broadcasts are important for Kurdish viewers all over the world. In an official Danish statement, "In April 2006, the Danish Radio and TV Council made an official statement, responding on a complaint from the Embassy of Turkey in Copenhagen over Roj TV, that it did not find that Roj TV had broken Danish law, Roj TV's programming contained no incitement to hatred of Turkey, and as such it could see no reason whatsoever to stop Roj TV from broadcasting" (kurdmedia.com Oct 14, 2006 via Media Network in DXLD 6-153) ............................................................... Misc - SOMALIA ISLAMIC RADICALS CLOSE DOWN RADIO STATION http://www.irishexaminer.com/breaking/story.asp?j=84889180&p=8488948z&n=84889560 Somalia's Islamic radicals closed down a second radio station today, just days after introducing strict new laws for the media in the war ravaged country. Militia raided East Africa Radio in the capital, Mogadishu, saying the station belonging to Bashir Rageh, who was part of a secular alliance of US-backed warlords who were ousted from the capital in June by Islamic fighters after days of bloody fighting. "The station was closed because it is the property of Bashir Rageh who was a member of the evil alliance," said Abdirahim Ali Mudey, a spokesman for the Islamic group. The Islamic group plans to allow the radio station back on air once "we make a change of administration," he said. On Wednesday the group, which now controls much of southern Somalia, imposed new rules on journalists which effectively gag them, said Paris-based press watchdog, Reporters Without Borders. Journalists face arrest if they breach the rules, which include not releasing information that could create tension between the Islamic group and Somalia's 8 million people. "I and my staff were very stunned by how the militia can just switch off the station," said Mohamed Mohamud Mo'alin, the radio's director. "They did not give us any reason why." Islamic militants temporarily shut down a radio station on September 10 for airing "music and love songs." Earlier this month the Islamists closed HornAfrik Radio station sub-branch in Kismayo, accusing it of incitement against the Islamic authority. Somalia has not had an effective national government since 1991, when warlords overthrew dictator Mohammed Siad Barre and then turned on one another, throwing the country into anarchy. The US has accused Somalia's Islamic group of sheltering suspects in the 1998 al Qaida bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. Bin Laden has said Somalia is a battleground in his war on the West (Irish Examiner Oct 15, 2006 via Z.Liangas-GRC in DXLD 6-154) ............................................................... Misc - USA USA: New head of news for Middle East broadcasting services Text of press release by Middle East Broadcasting Networks of Springfield Virginia on 6 October Larry Register has been named vice-president of network news for the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc. (MBN) the MBN board announced today. Register will succeed Mouafac Harb, who is stepping down to pursue private media projects. MBN is the non-profit corporation that operates Al-Hurra Television and Radio Sawa. Register will direct and manage the editorial content, and will oversee all news and current affairs programmes on the Arabic-language television networks and Radio Sawa. His appointment is effective 6 November 2006. Register has more than 25 years of broadcast news experience, including nine years as CNN's vice-president of special projects, during which he covered the Middle East, opened CNN bureaus in Amman and Havana, and produced live reports from North Korea. Register served three years as the Jerusalem bureau chief for CNN and was responsible for guiding CNN's coverage in the Palestinian Territories, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon and Egypt. Most recently Register contributed reports to NBC "Nightly News" and "The Today Show". Last month, Register won an Emmy for outstanding coverage of a breaking news story in a regularly scheduled newscast for his work on the NBC "Nightly News" during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Harb leaves after nearly five years, during which he was instrumental in the creation and development of Radio Sawa and the Al-Hurra television networks. He joined Radio Sawa in 2002, as news director where he was responsible for all news and current affairs content. In 2003, Harb also became the news director of Al-Hurra, the 24-hour Arabic-language news and information satellite television network broadcasting to the Middle East. Harb was subsequently named executive vice-president of MBN and received the Broadcasting Board of Governors' Superior Accomplishment Award. In addition to recruiting the journalists for Al-Hurra, Harb was a key member of the team that developed the channel strategy, branding and identity. Harb will continue as a consultant to MBN as he pursues new media opportunities. "Mouafac played a pivotal role in establishing Al-Hurra and Radio Sawa as sources of objective and accurate news and information in the Middle East. Al-Hurra and Radio Sawa would not be where they are today if it were not for Mouafac's dedication and leadership," the MBN board said in its statement. Register will assume Harb's responsibilities as vice-president of network news. The MBN board's announcement said: "Larry will be a great asset to Al-Hurra and Radio Sawa's world class news operation. His extensive broadcasting experience and energy will benefit MBN as it continues to grow as an international news organization. His knowledge of the Middle East and his work at CNN and NBC makes him a perfect choice for MBN." Al-Hurra broadcasts to 22 countries in the Middle East via Arabsat and Nilesat and throughout Europe on the Hotbird satellite system. Radio Sawa broadcasts on FM in Morocco, Jordan, the Palestinian Territories, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Lebanon, Iraq and Djibouti. Radio Sawa broadcasts on mediumwave to Egypt, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Sudan. Al-Hurra television and Radio Sawa reach a total unduplicated audience of approximately 35 million adults (15 and over) per week according to surveys from research companies such as A.C. Nielsen. Surveys have also reported that approximately 70 per cent of the audience finds Al-Hurra and Radio Sawa's news to be reliable. MBN is financed by the US government through a grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), an independent federal agency. The BBG serves oversight and as a firewall to protect the professional independence and integrity of the broadcasters. Source: Middle East Broadcasting Networks press release, Virginia, in English 6 Oct 06 (BBCM Oct 06, 2006) ............................................................... Misc - USA - HISTORY Life and death on the air Date: October 6 2006 Was Tokyo Rose's controversial Australian collaborator a traitor or a war hero? Lachlan Colquhoun reports. IVA TOGURI, the Japanese-American woman best known to the world as Tokyo Rose, would never have had her controversial radio career without the intervention of an Australian, Major Charles Cousens. It was at Radio Tokyo in 1943 that Cousens plucked Toguri - who died last week at the age of 90 - from the typing pool and made her the presenter of the infamous Zero Hour program which was beamed across the Pacific aimed at Allied troops. At Toguri's treason trial in San Francisco in 1949, Cousens took the witness stand in her defence, confirming that he had written all her scripts and coached her delivery with the intention, he said, of subverting the broadcasts and making them useless as pro-Japanese propaganda. "Major Cousens was only interested in my loyalty to the Allied cause," Toguri wrote in 1986. At her voice test, she said, Cousens told her Zero Hour was to be a "straight entertainment program". "He said, 'I have written it and I know what I am doing. You will be doing nothing against your own people [the Allies]. I will guarantee that personally."' By the time of Toguri's trial, Cousens himself had been charged with treason, and his 1946 committal in Sydney was a sensation which divided the country. Many thought there was little difference between what Cousens had done under duress and the forced labour extracted from prisoners of war on the Burma railway. When the case was dropped because of the improbability of a conviction, the army - against the evidence - gave him a dishonourable discharge, denying him significant financial entitlements extended to other returning prisoners. The army also refused to pay his legal expenses. "He got off bloody lightly," the parliamentarian Thomas White wrote. An experienced broadcaster, Cousens was one of Sydney radio's biggest prewar personalities. English-born, his mellifluous voice and perfect diction made him a star on 2GB in the late 1930s where he read advertising scripts and presented programs, among them the Radio Newspaper of the Air - a current affairs program for children. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force after the outbreak of war and was captured at the fall of Singapore in 1942, when the Japanese learned of his profession. Instead of sending him to Burma with his colleagues to build the Thai-Burma railway, they sent him to Tokyo, where he was told to obey the orders of the Imperial Japanese Army or face execution. The chief order was to co-operate in the preparation and production of radio broadcasts which, the Japanese believed, could be used for propaganda purposes to sap the morale of Allied troops. Originally billeted at Tokyo's Dai-Ichi Hotel, along with navy officers, spies and Japanese-Americans broadcasting for nearby Radio Tokyo, Cousens's wartime experience took a bizarre turn. His life became a tightrope walk where he had to placate his captors to stay alive, but at the same time try to subvert the broadcasts and make them useless as propaganda while also inserting - where he could - information he believed could be useful to the Allies. He was also, with Japanese permission, sending messages from POWs to their families about their wellbeing. Later, as the highest-ranking officer at the Bunka prisoner of war camp in Tokyo, he had to intercede for the welfare of 25 Allied POWs interned there, and negotiate daily with his captors. Toguri was a regular visitor, bringing food and vitamins she had found on the black market. Under this pressure, Cousens's health collapsed and he had a heart attack in 1944, while still a captive. But Cousens's broadcasts had brought him to the attention of people in high places. After the war, his name was on a list of 39 people - mainly Japanese - the US general Douglas MacArthur wanted investigated as war criminals. MacArthur saw Cousens as a Pacific equivalent of Lord Haw-Haw, the Englishman William Joyce, who took German citizenship and broadcast for the Nazis. Joyce was tried as a traitor and executed in January 1946. Under pressure from MacArthur, Australian authorities explored potential avenues of prosecution. A court martial was considered but rejected because the main piece of evidence - one of Cousens's first broadcasts in August 1942 - was outside a three-year statute of limitations. Under the Commonwealth Crimes Act, a person could be indicted only for acts of treason committed within Australia or its territories. The alternative was to invoke a British treason law enacted by Edward III in 1351 to cover his military campaign in France, which the legal authorities claimed still applied in NSW. Reluctantly, the NSW government bowed to the pressure and charged Cousens with treason. The committal began in August 1946 at the Central Police Court, with two Japanese from Radio Tokyo brought to Sydney as star witnesses. Although the magistrate committed Cousens for trial, the NSW authorities believed there was very little probability of a conviction and decided not to proceed with the case. This decision enraged the army and the Commonwealth. Behind closed doors, an army committee decided to strip Cousens of his commission and give him a dishonourable discharge, a decision supported by the Chifley government. But Cousens had his supporters. 2GB kept the position of chief announcer open for him and he returned to the station in February 1947. As well as extending his radio career, Cousens was also one of the first faces on Australian television, fronting Channel 7's Sydney news from 1957 to 1959. He died of a heart attack in 1964, at the age of 60, but was still fondly remembered by the woman he had reluctantly brought to notoriety. Writing to the historian Ivan Chapman in 1986, Toguri described Cousens as "one of the world's top gentlemen". "The major was a most wonderful, intelligent, sensitive and understanding man," she wrote. Another Zero Hour broadcaster, Norman Reyes, also wrote to Chapman, penning what could be a fitting epitaph for Charles Cousens. "When I scan my life to see where I found the living example that helped me understand courage and integrity, I find it in this particular fellow prisoner of mine," Reyes wrote in 1987. "He might have been stripped of his commission but in my eyes there is nothing that can strip him of his personal honour, and I wish I could stack my words like rifles on his grave." Lachlan Colquhoun is producing Radio Treason, a radio documentary on the Cousens case to be broadcast on ABC Radio National next year. He is also working on a feature film script about the case. http://www.smh.com.au/text/articles/2006/10/05/1159641462849.html (Sydney Morning Herald via D.Say-BC-CAN, M.Cooper-GA-USA in DXLD 6-149) ............................................................... Misc - ZIMBABWE COLLEAGUES FROM SW RADIO AFRICA VISIT RADIO NETHERLANDS Today we welcomed two visitors from UK-based SW Radio Africa to Radio Netherlands - Station Manager Gerry Jackson and producer Violet Gonda. Although it was an informal visit, it was highly informative as we were able to learn a great deal about the day-to-day operations of the station, which manages to produce two hours of daily programming for Zimbabwe with a full-time staff of just nine people. The picture below http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/swradioafrica.jpg shows me standing in our Network Operations Center with Violet (left), Gerry, Astrid Schipper of the Netherlands Institute for Southern Africa, and Leo van der Woude of our Programme Distribution Department. (A.Sennit-HOL Oct 06, 2006 in Media Network blog via DXLD 6-150) Re Glenn's comment: "ZIMBABWE [non]. Does Anker Petersen know something we don`t about SW Radio Africa site?" Yesterday I had the pleasure of spending a few hours with Gerry Jackson, who is visiting the Netherlands to meet some donor organisations, and had time to visit us at Radio Netherlands. Gerry is convinced that the authorities in Harare are not sure where the transmitter site for 4880 is, and she would like to keep it that way. Therefore, discussions of such matters on websites by people who have no personal interest in the subject other than curiosity (i.e. Dxers) is a source of continuing anguish to her and her colleagues. There is no problem discussing the subject on closed mailing lists that cannot be accessed via search engines, but if lawyers in Zimbabwe are trying to collect evidence they can easily search the Web for references to it. Once again, I am going to ask you on behalf of SWRA to remember that the station is not on the air for the benefit of Dxers, and please be sensitive to the reasons why it's on the air. This is the only comment I will make on the subject. I don't intend to discuss the matter further. It's up to individuals to examine their own conscience. (A.Sennitt-HOL Oct 07, 2006 in DXLD-ML) Hi Andy, Glenn certainly has a very good record of controlling sensitive information regarding SWRA and only releasing it at the appropriate time. Ms Jackson is understandably concerned about discussions of her station and I think that DXers and DX editors have no desire to adversely influence the jamming activity directed at SWRA. (R.Howard-CA-USA Oct 07, 2006 in DXLD-ML) ------------xxxxxxxxxx Sources xxxxxxxxxx---------------------- Contributors: Anker Petersen, Eduardo Peñailillo, Gaku Iwata, Jose Jacob, José Miguel Romero, 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.