--------------xxxxxxxxxx CRW 222 xxxxxxxxxx-------------- CLANDESTINE RADIO WATCH 222 Jan 15, 2007 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---------------- ETHIOPIA : New target prgr for ETH: "Andenet Ledomcracy" KURDISTAN : Radio Voice of Kurdistan (Voice of the Kurdistan Democratic Party) ............................................................... ETHIOPIA : New target prgr for ETH: "Andenet Ledomcracy" A new target program for Ethiopia appeared on the TDP schedule website http://www.airtime.be/schedule.html : Andenet Ledemocracy 1700-1800 7280 .t.t..s Amharic The TDP site also provides the link to a website for the service: http://www.andenetledemocracy.org (not yet working correctly) (B.Trutenau-LTU Jan 13, 2007 in DXplorer-ML) ............................................................... KURDISTAN : Radio Voice of Kurdistan (Voice of the Kurdistan Democratic Party) A new Kurdish radio station identifying itself as the Voice of the Kurdistan Democratic Party was observed on 5 January. It was noted on-air for 30 minutes from 0400 to 0430. The broadcast consisted of 15 minutes continuous music and 15 minutes announcements. The station identified in Kurdish as "Erah Radyoy Dengi Kurdistana" and in Persian "Im Radyo Seda-ye Kordestan-e". The station, which broadcast on 3930 kHz, signed-off at 0429. The Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDP-I, or PDKI) already operates a radio station called the Voice of Iranian Kurdistan. This new station is possibly operated by a group which broke away from the KDP-I last month - an item on the Kurdish Media website explains, stating: "These former comrades have fabricated the PDKI's name for their new organization, this will cause confusion..." However, the article doesn't give the name of the breakaway organization. (BBC_M Jan 5, 2007 via BrDXC-UK via BCDX 790) 10 Jan at 1630 (sign-on) noted clandestine station Voice of the Kurdistan Democratic Party on 3925.1 in Kurdish. At 1726 a Farsi program started. S-off around 1800. Strong signal and no jammers at all. This was reported earlier (by BBC Monitoring 5 Jan via DX Listening Digest) to be on air 0400-0430 on 3930. (J.Savolainen-FIN Jan 10, 2007 in DXLD-ML) What is the "true" name of this station? The BBC Monitoring item said that "it identified itself as the Voice of the Kurdistan Democratic Party", and stated that the station identification in Kurdish was "Erah Radyoy Dengi Kurdistana" and in Farsi "Im Radyo Seda-ye Kordestan-e". This would be "Radio Voice of Kurdistan" rather than "Voice of the Kurdistan Democratic Party". Maybe what BBC Monitoring meant was that the station name is "Radio Voice of Kurdistan", and that the station presented itself as the moucepeace of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, without having this station name? Does the station use "Voice of the Kurdistan Democratic Party" in the announcements, as ID or as additional slogan? (B.Trutenau-LTU Jan 10, 2007 in DXLD-ML) Yes they had id's just like mentioned in the BBCM report, but after Kurdish id they added a lot of different "Dengi's" which I believe were ment to further explain what kind of "voice" this station is. (J.Savolainen-FIN Jan 10, 2007 in CDX-ML) So, the correct station name would then be "Radio Voice of Kurdistan", the rest (like "Voice of the Democratic Party of Kurdistan") would be slogans. (B.Trutenau-LTU Jan 10, 2007 in CDX-ML) I happened to be on 3930.07 on January 6, right after having read about the new Kurdish station reported by BBCMS, Jari, and around 1800z I was fortunate enough to get a closing announcement in what I presume is Farsi. You can listen to my clip on: www.radiopassioni.it/audio/nuovakurda.mp3 Being back in Milan and its terrible noise, I have now no chances to check if it's now on 3925, but I assume I've been listening to the same station reported by the BBC on 3930 and yourself 5 kHz below. (A.Lawendel-I Jan 11, 2007 in DXLD-ML) Andy, the same station. On your clip, just before ending the talk man briefly mentions "Radyo Sedaye Kordestan". (J.Savolainen-FIN Jan 10, 2007 in DXLD-ML) ------------xxxxxxxxxx Schedules xxxxxxxxxx-------------------- Schedules - IRAN Radio Democracy Shorayee / Radio Council Democracy Radio Democracy Shorayee in Persian via TDP from Dec. 28: 1700-1800 Tue/Thu/Fri/Sun NF 7470 (55555), x7435 to avoid WYFR in Russian (R BULGARIA DX MIX News 450 Jan 9, 2007 via W.Büschel-D for CRW) Radio International Very good reception in BUL for Radio International in Persian: 1730-1830 on 6225 SMF 500 kW / 129 deg (R BULGARIA DX MIX News 450 Jan 9, 2007 via W.Büschel-D for CRW) ............................................................... Schedules - KOREA (NORTH) Open Radio for North Korea 1400-1500 7390 NVS 200 kW / 110 deg to KRE Korean, additional txion 2100-2130 9795 TAI 100 kW / 002 deg to KRE Korean, cancelled (R BULGARIA DX MIX News 450 Jan 9, 2007 via W.Büschel-D for CRW) ............................................................... Schedules - TURKMENISTAN Radio Liberty Additional txion for Radio Liberty in Turkmen: 1800-2000 on 7425 KWT 250 kW / 070 deg (tent.) (R BULGARIA DX MIX News 450 Jan 9, 2007 via W.Büschel-D for CRW) ............................................................... Schedules - ZIMBABWE Voice of the People R VOP is now on 11695 at 1700-1800 as always from Madagascar. The language mostly vernacular (Shona?) with sufficient IDs in English. (A.Koutamanis-HOL Jan 14, 2007 for CRC) ------------xxxxxxxxxx Logs xxxxxxxxxx------------------------- Logs - ASIA Radio Free Asia PALAU 9905 R. Free Asia, noted Jan. 6 at 1520-1532 UT, with long talks in Chinese by YL+OM announcers. SINPO 34433. During the deepest fades it was heardable firedrake jamming almost on treshold level. First time I've logged this one!! (J.Turner-POR Jan 9, 2007 in BCDX 790) ............................................................... Logs - CAMEROON Radio Free Southern Cameroons 11840 RFSC - No Cameroon clandestine radio station anymore. 11840 Channel is empty at 1835 UT, not even a carrier whistle, when SSB reception mode on set. [IBB VOA Dari Lampertheim co-channel til 1830 UT only]. Also missed this RFSC registration entry in latest DTK T- systems Jülich schedule of Jan 3rd, 2007. (W.Büschel-D Jan 6, 2007 in BC-DX 790) ............................................................... Logs - CHINA Voice of Tibet 1116 UT 9 Jan, 17562, VOICE OF TIBET - Yangi Yul (Tagikistan), Tibetano, tk OM/YL. Segnale insufficiente -> buono. Il jamming di musica cinese era su 17565: evidentemente non si erano ancora accorti della fuga in basso di Vo Tibet oppure non possono andare oltre gli steps di +/- 5 kHz. (L.Botto Fiora-I Jan 9, 2007 in Playdx-ML via DXLD 7-006) ............................................................... Logs - CUBA Radio Martí Another new unscheduled frequency for R. Martí is 9825, where heard with heavy jamming Jan 1 at 0247. This evidently replaces 9725, where it was for a few weeks at 0000-0300, but now not heard there. Lighter "maracas" jamming was still on 9725 molesting Defunct Gene Scott via Costa Rica. This could be a permanent move once Cahuita complained, or it could be another here-and-there tactic against the jamming, like R. Martí does at 0700 on 5890 or 5980, forcing the DCJC to dilute its efforts. I found that RM on 9825 was about one second ahead of // 7365, so that makes 9825 Delano and 7365 Greenville, as previously explained. I am surprised no one has reported 9825 before, and wonder how long it has been in use. On 6030 nothing but jamming was audible, but surely RM is still there too --- except both sides should be taking their weekly rest period on all frequencies 0400-1000 UT Monday. (G.Hauser-OK Jan 1, 2007 in DXLD-ML) Re 6-188, R. Martí via "wacky" WAQI, 710, one hour a night at 0500 UT for six months --- in case the price RM is paying for this, $182,500 did not ring any bells, I now notice this works out to exactly $1000 an hour, assuming 6 months = 365/2 = 182.5 days! Is that the going rate for an hour at midnight on such a station, or are we the US taxpayers --- spelled u-s --- getting gouged for this like everything else in the RM budget? (G.Hauser-OK Jan 9, 2007 in DXLD 7-004) Radio República 5970, R Republica, via Wertachtal, Germany, 0205-0300, Jan 02, Spanish conversations about problems on Cuba, 0233 and 0257 canned IDs and more talking, 35444. (A.Petersen-DNK Jan 02, 2007 in DX-Window 315) 6185, R Republica, via Woofferton ??, 0140-0300, Jan 02, Spanish talks, 3 ID's at 0158, Cuban song, 35434. (A.Petersen-DNK Jan 02, 2007 in DX-Window 315) 5970 kHz, Radio República, Alemania, 06-01-07, 0002-0008 UTC. Comentarios sobre el día de acción de gracias y música, en español, SINPO 44433. (J.Robledillo Jaén-E Jan 6, 2007 in BclNews-ML) ALEMANIA 5970 Radio República, 23:09-23:20, escuchada el 15 de Enero en español a locutora con entrevista a invitado, ex preso político de Camaguey, canción "Soldado de la esperanza" de Laura Pausini, SINPO 35343. (J.Miguel Romero-E Jan 15, 2007 for CRW) ............................................................... Log - EASTERN EUROPE 9520 kHz, Radio Liberty, Hungará, 06-01-07, 0304-0308 UTC. Comentarios de locutores, id. emisora, referencias a Palestina de corresponsal en New York, en inglés, SINPO 55544. (J.Robledillo Jaén-E Jan 6, 2007 in BclNews-ML) en inglés ? - CRW ............................................................... Logs - ETHIOPIA Tensae Ethiopia Voice of Unity 1550z 11900 kHz Voice of Unity (Tensae Ethiopia) in presumed Amharique, speech. (P.Privat-F Jan 14, 2007 in HCDX-ML) ............................................................... Logs - IRAN Radio Democracy Shorayee / Radio Council Democracy 7470 R.Democracy Shorayee Jan 11 *1700-1725 34433-44433 Farsi, 1700 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk, Thanks for frequency changes information from Kenji Hashimoto. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Jan 11, 2007 in JAP 456) 7470 R.Democracy Shorayee Jan 12 *1700-1713 34433 Farsi, 1700 sign on with opening music, Opening announce, Talk. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Jan 12, 2007 in JAP 456) Voice of Communist Party 3880 0425 05/01 Voice of Communist Party, Iranian Clandestine, starting bc, Farsi, Good (G.Bernardini-I Jan 5, 2007 in HCDX-ML) Voice of Iranian Revolution 3880.65V V.of Iranian Revolution Jan 03 *1526-1535 25342-21341 Kurdish, 1526 sign on with IS, IS and ID repetition, Talk, 1531 jamming. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Jan 03, 2007 in JAP 455) ............................................................... Logs - KOREA (NORTH) Echo of Hope 3985 kHz 1450utc 3/1 CLA Echo of Hope Female talks K 44444. (M.Van Driessche-BEL Jan 3, 2007 in HCDX-ML) 3985 Echo of Hope 1356-1415 Jan 11. KR Talk to 1359 music bridge; then more talks by alternating M&W, news maybe; tuned out at 1415. Good signal // 6348 which was also good. Jamming, if it was there, was ineffective, at least in Colorado. (J.Wilkins-CO-USA Jan 11, 2007 in DXplorer-ML) Open R for North Korea 7390, Open R for North Korea, via Novosibirsk, *1400, Jan 13, ID in Korean, 33333. (F.Baste-F Jan 13, 2007 in DX-Window 316) Shiokaze / Sea Breeze 9950, Shiokaze (Sea Breeze), presumably still via Taiwan, *1300-1320, Jan 3 and 4, piano IS, programming in Japanese and/or Korean, poor-fair. Jan 3 the powerhouse on 9955 did not sign-on till 1302, so Shiokaze was briefly in the clear. When conditions are right, this recently has not been as poor as it was in the past. Want to see if they have English on Friday. (R.Howard-CA-USA Jan 4, 2007 in DXLD-ML) 9950, Shiokaze (Sea Breeze), via Taiwan, *1300, Jan 6, piano IS, programming in Japanese or Korean, fair, light QRM from 9955. (R.Howard-CA-USA Jan 6, 2007 in DXLD-ML) ............................................................... Logs - KURDISTAN Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan 6335 V.of Iraqi Kurdistan Jan 09 1349-1415* 25332-35433 Kurdish, Kurdish music, ID at 1415, 1415 sign off. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Jan 03, 2007 in JAP 455) Vo Kurdish Democratic Party (earlier logs: see NEWS) 3930 kHz Vo Kurdish Democratic Party um 0413 UTC in Kurdisch und Farsi mit ID und Berichten über Kurdistan. SINPO 45444 bis 0420 UTC, danach gejammt 43443 (P.Robic-AUT Jan 15, 2007 in A-DX-ML) Voice of Mesopotamia The clandestine, Denge Mezopotamia(p), 7590, heard here at 1500 s/on, in Kurdish to the middle east via Moldova. Transmission scheduled from 15-17. Very weak. Interesting flute music noted after 1600. (S.Lare-MI-USA Jan 7, 2007 in DXLD-ML) Having heard V. of Mesopotamia earlier on 11530, Jan 10 at 1538 I checked their 1500+ channel 7590. I could hear some broadcast there, but marred by much stronger RTTY centred around 7592-7593. (G.Hauser-OK-USA Jan 10, 2007 in DXLD-ML) The clandestine Denge Mezopotamia, 7590, putting in a pretty decent signal this morning at 1500. Test tones on the frequency indicative of a soviet transmitter starting at 1457, followed by a brief song and then 5 pips at the ToH. (S.Lare-MI-USA Jan 14, 2007 in DXLD-ML) ............................................................... Logs - LAOS ............................................................... Logs - LIBYA Sawt Alamel / Libya's Voice of Hope Just to note that Sawt al-Amal on 17660 heard with very good signals at sign-on at 1200 today (1 Jan). Initially there was no trace of the usual jammer, but the latter faded up slightly after a few minutes to be heard very faintly in the background. C.Greenway-G Jan 1, 2007 in DXLD-ML) MOLDAVIA 17650 Sawt al-Amal, 12:15-12:40, escuchada el 10 de Enero en árabe, ID y comentarios, se aprecia de fondo emisora con música afro-pop, SINPO 54544. (J.Miguel Romero-E Jan 10, 2007 for CRW) 17655 Sawt al-Amal, 12:55-13:10, escuchada el 10 de Enero en árabe a locutor con comentarios y música de flauta de fondo, quizás recitando un poema, cesa emisión a las 13:00 y reaparece un minuto después, sintonía, ID, canto del Corán, SINPO 54554. (J.Miguel Romero-E Jan 10, 2007 for CRW) 17665 Sawt al-Amal, 13:45-14:00, escuchada el 10 de Enero en árabe a locutor con comentarios, SINPO 44444. (J.Miguel Romero-E Jan 10, 2007 for CRW) 17650 Sowt Alamel Jan 10 1212-1228 35433 Arabic, Talk, ID at 1215 and 1217 and 1220. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Jan 10, 2007 in JAP 456) ............................................................... Logs - MALDIVES Minivan Radio Quite by chance I was tuning across 11800, Jan 6 at 1600 and heard Jeff White with Radio Miami International ID, the following program is in Dhivehi, introduced by some horn music; fair, via Germany, but which site now? (G.Hauser-OK-USA Jan 6, 2007 in DXLD-ML) Re 7-006: Glenn: T-Systems confirmed to me that the Minivan Radio transmission was broadcast today Saturday (J.White-RMI-USA Jan 13, 2007 in DXLD 7-007) Contrary to DXLD monitors; and did anyone hear it on Jan 14? 15? 16? 1600-1700 on 11800 via Germany. (G.Hauser-OK-USA Jan 16, 2007 in DXLD 7-007) ............................................................... Logs - MYANMAR Democratic Voice of Burma 5955 kHz, Dem. Voice of Burma, Alemania, 05-01-07, 2350-0000 UTC. Comentarios con referencias a Myanmar y Singapur, música y comentaros sobre democracia, en birmano, SINPO 55544. (A las 2358 el SINPO era 35333) (J.Robledillo Jaén-E Jan 5, 2007 in BclNews-ML) ............................................................... Logs - NIGERIA Voice of Biafra International V. of Biafra International, 7380 via South Africa, heard with ID immediately after tune-in Sat Jan 6 at 2136, saying it originates in Washington DC, and frequency, I thought he said "7 point 80 kHz", then commentary "What would you do now in 2007?", asserting that Nigeria is governed by a "mentally retarded dictator"; retune at 2152, wrapping up and familiar anthem; I think it was "God Bless Africa" in keeping with VOBI`s quasi-evangelical tone; 2155 frequency clearly stated as "7380 kHz", and sign-off. Is weekly, Saturdays at 21-22. (G.Hauser-OK-USA Jan 6, 2007 in DXLD-ML) ............................................................... Logs - WESTERN SAHARA National Radio of the Arab-Saharan Democratic Republic 6458 Radio Nacional Saharaui??, 19:48, escuchada el 4 de Janvier [no Diciembre] en árabe a locutor con comentarios y música folklórica, SINPO 35343 (J.Miguel Romero-E Jan 4, 2007 for CRW) Saludos cordiales, hoy 5 de Enero se aprecia en 6458 a Radio Nacional Saharaui, 18:50-18:55, en árabe, pobre señal y con mucho ruido, emisión de música árabe y sintonía de la emisora, SINPO 24232. (J.Miguel Romero-E Jan 5, 2007 for CRW) Radio Nacional de la RASD, 6458 with M/W in SS talk at 2220 on 1/5. We could start a pool guessing which frequency will be used next. (G.Dexter-WI-USA Jan 5, 2007 in DXplorer-ML) 6458 RADS Radiodifusion Saharaui Arab Republic, 2220-2240, January 05, Arabic, long talk by male in arabic, at 2230 news by male and other talk by male, 23432. (A.Slaen-ARG Jan 5, 2007 in DXLD-ML) If it`s a punch-up mistake, they keep on making it for a while longer. R. Nacional de la República Árabe Saharaui Democrática was still on 6458, Jan 6 at 2150 check with song and talk in Arabic, 2200 continuos talk, perhaps news. No ute QRM at the moment. (G.Hauser-OK-USA Jan 6, 2007 in DXLD-ML) 6458, R. Nacional Saharaui, 2245-0002* Jan 5-6 and 6-7, new frequency again, tune-in to Arabic talk, local music, IDs. 2301-2400 Spanish. Sign-off with NA. Good strength but co-channel QRM from RTTY station almost as strong as RASD. (B.Alexander-PA-USA Jan 7, 2007 in DXLD-ML) ARGELIA 6458 Radio Nacional Saharaui, 19:10-19:20, escuchada el 9 de Enero en árabe con emisión de música folklórica local, locutora con cuña de ID, locutor con comentarios, SINPO 35343. (J.Miguel Romero-E Jan 9, 2007 for CRW) RN de la RASD still on 6458, Jan 10 at 0706 check with solo singing, not Qur`an, which would have been nice to linger on, but poor mixed with ute. (G.Hauser-OK-USA Jan 10, 2007 in DXLD-ML) RN de la RASD, 6458, Jan 10 at 2237 with usual poor signal with digital ute QRM, but now also with some SSB QRM, I think in English, on 6459. (G.Hauser-OK-USA Jan 10, 2007 in DXLD-ML) 6458 RADS Radiodif. Saharaui, 2225-2235, January 11, Arabic, talk by male and after other talk by female, 24332. (A.Slaen-ARG Jan 11, 2007 in HCDX-ML) ALGERIA 6458 RASD 1710 +2047 S8 under very strong FDM carrier, is quite dificult to listen even in sdebands 32533. ON 2047 speaker reading a poem or with islamic inspirational talks. (Z.Liangas-GRC Jan 12, 2007 in CDX-ML) ARGELIA 6458 Radio Nacional Saharaui, 19:38-19:45, escuchada el 15 de Enero en árabe a locutor con comentarios y segmentos de música folklórica local, SINPO 24332. (J.Miguel Romero-E Jan 15, 2007 for CRW) ............................................................... Logs - ZIMBABWE SW Radio Africa Empfange gerade SW Radio Africa mit einem Programm für Simbabwe auf 4.880 kHz in Englisch wie einen Ortssender (SINPO 54434) auf meinem ICF-2001D mit der eingebauten Teleskopantenne - nachdem ich die Weihnachtsbeleuchtung ausgemacht habe (Schaltnetzteil!). Ich glaube, der Sender (100 kW) steht in Südafrika. (T.Kamp-D Jan 14, 2007 in A-DX-ML) 4880 kHz SW Radio Africa. Jan.15 at 1700(S/on)-1730. SINPO35333. S/on with African music, then ID in English. Talk by a man & a woman. Telephone interview at 1716. ID again at 1729. (I.Nagatani-J Jan 15, 2007 in JAP 456) Radio Voice of the People VOP 11695, Radio Voice of the People via Madagascar, 1740-1755* Jan 1, usual anti-Zimbabwe government talks and nice selections of tribal music. Off at 1755 without any announcements. Fair to good. (R.D'Angelo-PA-USA Jan 1, 2007 in DXplorer-ML) I can hear Radio Voice of the People VOP via Talata on 11695 almost every day from 1700 opening until closing which varies from 1757 to 1759. Although it is always weak, it’s easy to id because every 2 or 3 minutes "Radio Voice of the People VOP", "Radio VOP", or "Voice of the People", is mentioned. And the address and frequencies are given almost as often. The broadcast seems to consist mostly of interviews. Most of the program is in an African language, but there is usually at least one interview in English. I’ve never heard a music selection on VOP—just occasional brief music bridges. (W.Craighead-KS-USA Jan 2, 2007 for CRW) ------------xxxxxxxxxx QSL Verifications xxxxxxxxxx------------ Qsl's - ASIA Radio Free Asia RADIO FREE ASIA in Lao, 9355 (Saipan). Full-data DSWCI card for an e-mail report. (W.Craighead-KS-USA Jan 14, 2007 in DXplorer-ML) ............................................................... Qsl's - ERITREA Voice of Democratic Alliance of Eritrea Heute eingetroffen: PPC mit allen Daten, incl. Senderstandort Äthiopien von der "Voice of Democratic Alliance of Eritrea", gehört am 19.11.2006 von 1500 bis 1600 UTC via Radio Ethiopia auf 7.165 kHz. (ging übrigens auch heute wieder ganz gut) Mein Empfangsbericht ging an: Voice of Democratic Alliance c/o Eritrean Democratic Alliance P.O. Box 13043 Khartoum Sudan Die Antwort kam im Brief mit schönen Marken von M. Asmerom Box 123065 Addis Abeba Ethiopia handschriftlich ergänzt wurde: "Yes, you are right. That is the Radio of Eritrean Democracy Alliance" (R.Bessler-D Jan 15, 2007 in A-DX-ML) ............................................................... Qsl's - IRAN Radio Farda RADIO FARDA via WERTACHTAL, 9755. Full-data, including site, Prague RFE/RL building card in 7 months. (W.Craighead-KS-USA Jan 14, 2007 in DXplorer-ML) ............................................................... Qsl's - ZIMBABWE SW Radio Africa 3230, SW Radio Africa verified an electronic follow up report in 26 days with a full data postal letter reply from Gerry Jackson, Station Manager. (R.D'Angelo-PA-USA Jan 5, 2007 in DXplorer-ML) Radio Voice of the People VOP RADIO VOICE OF THE PEOPLE VOP via TALATA, 11695. No-data e-mail QSL from Davison Mudzingwa, Radio VOP Producer, in the UK in only 8 hours for an e-mail report to voxpopzim@yahoo.co.uk. And an e-mail QSL from John Masuku, Executive Director, in Zimbabwe in 3 days for an e-mail report to voxpop@ecoweb.co.zw. No data but included my report along with information about the station. Also from Zimbabwe, on New Years I received New Years greetings from VOP via e-mail. Postal address for this one is P.O. Box 5750, Harare, Zimbabwe. (W.Craighead-KS-USA Jan 2, 2007 for CRW) ------------xxxxxxxxxx Miscellaneous xxxxxxxxxx----------------- Misc - BELARUS POLAND BROADCASTS "TRUTH" TO BELARUS By Chris Johnson BIALYSTOK, Poland, Jan 15 (Reuters) - From simple back offices in a provincial Polish town, a radio station is broadcasting around the clock to Belarus, giving the ex-Soviet republic one of its few sources of independent news. Run by opponents of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, Radio Racja (Truth) is helping wage an information war against a regime branded by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as "Europe's last dictatorship". Supported by the the Polish Foreign Ministry and Budapest-based Open Society Institute founded by U.S. billionaire investor George Soros, Radio Racja is one of only two independent stations broadcasting freely into Belarus. The station uses Web technology to mix popular music and social commentary with uncensored news in both Belarussian and Russian, aiming to provide a platform for both opposition parties and Belarussian bands, some of which are banned at home. "I dream of a free and independent Belarus," says editor-in-chief Wiktor Stachwiuk, a 58-year-old exile. "I want to give Belarussians a taste of a free society. Official media do not let them hear what is really going on." Lukashenko, in power since 1994, keeps a tight rein on the eastern European country and its 10 million inhabitants, sandwiched between Poland and Russia. He rejects all criticism of his rule and has called for vigilance to keep Belarus safe from Western "lies and violence". Opposition politicians and journalists have disappeared and all media outlets face serious restrictions. Western countries accuse Lukashenko of systematic crackdowns on the opposition and dismiss all Belarus elections over the last decade as unfair. They say the president blatantly rigged elections last year to engineer a landslide win for himself. "I could not simply stand by and watch what was happening in my country without doing anything," Stachwiuk said. He first set up Radio Racja in 1999 and it broadcast from the Polish capital of Warsaw until 2002. INTIMIDATION His Warsaw station eventually ran into financial problems and it took Stachwiuk and his associates three more years to raise enough money to launch the station in Bialystok, closer to Belarus and able to broadcast deeper into the country. It now has a budget of $1 million a year, half of which is spent on transmitters: two in Poland and two in Lithuania. Almost a year after its relaunch, Stachwiuk estimates Radio Racja, with a staff of just 32, has an audience of up to 400,000 mostly in western Belarus, plus tens of thousands of exiles, and says it is building up rapidly on short and medium wave and on a newly launched FM band: "The station can be heard well on medium wave all the way to (Belarus capital) Minsk and can even be picked up in Finland." The station has a small network of reporters, mostly working under pseudonyms, across Belarus who record programmes using MP3 technology and send them via the Internet to Bialystok or to one of two covert editing stations in Belarus. Radio Racja editors say their correspondents face daily harassment from the Belarus authorities -- mostly just petty intimidation but occasionally arrest and jail. "Several of our people have been put in prison for a few days, one for 10 days, but nothing more serious so far," said Michal Andrysiuk, 47, head of FM broadcasting. "One of our correspondents broadcast live from a police car after being arrested on a charge of cursing in the street. Hooliganism is the most frequent official excuse to arrest people who are obviously known to the police," he said. "NO TRUTH IN THE NEWS" Belarus opposition politicians and journalists welcome Radio Racja's efforts to break the state media monopoly but say its impact so far has been limited, partly because most Belarussians rely on television for news. Zhanna Litvina, head of the Belarussian Association of Journalists, said by telephone it was a "comforting thought that such radio stations exist and that Belarussians are working for them". "Unfortunately, you cannot say that such projects are very effective in current Belarussian conditions. To make them effective you would need transmitters in Belarus and under current conditions that is impossible." But the radio station's backers in Poland are convinced that there is an audience and that it is growing: "I was in Belarus some time ago and met people listening to the radio and glad of it," said Michal Dworczyk, a key advisor on eastern European issues to Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski. "The media role in the fight for democracy is indisputable. For Belarus and its people, it is essential." And Radio Racja's staff say they are not discouraged and will keep broadcasting, even if the audience is tiny. "We really want to show what is going on. We try to be objective, asking for comment from the government, but they won't talk to us," said programme director Jana Kamienskaja, 37. "'There is no news in the truth, and there is no truth in the news' -- unfortunately this old Soviet proverb is still valid in Belarus." Belarus officials declined to comment on Radio Racja. (Additional reporting by Andrei Makhovsky in Minskand Gabriela Baczynska in Warsaw) REUTERS (RTna Jan 15, 2007 1304 FEATURE via M.Cooper-CAN in DXLD 7-008) ............................................................... Misc - CUBA TV/RADIO MARTI BOOST THEIR VOLUME TO CUBA, EXPANDING THEIR SERVICES http://uscpublicdiplomacy.com/index.php/newsroom/pdblog_detail/070104_tv_radio_marti_boost_their_volume_to_cuba_expanding_their_services/ JAN 4, 2007 - 6:59PM PDT Posted by Alvin Snyder All posts by this author MIAMI, Fla. -- TV and Radio Marti may have finally come of age. They are now beamed into Cuba by Miami's runaway powerhouse Spanish language station, and on DirecTV to circumvent the Castro government's broadcast jamming. With Fidel Castro's decline from power, could expansion of the Martis throughout Latin America be on the horizon? You've got to be kidding, you say? Not so fast. It was an ignominious debut for the U.S. government's broadcast services to Cuba in the mid- and late 1980s, when program offerings were often laughable and embarrassing, especially on the TV side. Through the intervening years I have attempted, as objectively as possible, to chronicle the Martis' efforts in several articles and a book. Programs on TV Marti in its formative stage included re-runs of old sitcoms such as Spanish-language versions of the "Gong Show" and "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous." The broadcasts were beamed only from a helium balloon nicknamed "Fat Albert," that would deflate into Everglade mangrove swamps. Radio Marti has been frequently tagged by critics as being in the pocket of Miami's Cuban exiles. But a fair observation in 2007 is that the new Martis have emerged from their elongated, painful learning curve of some 20-years, and are now producing news and information programs in expanded formats that rate placement on commercial broadcast facilities, and big ones, that want programs that attract audiences. Two local Miami stations have begun to transmit news programs from the U.S. government-sponsored Radio and TV Marti services to Fidel Castro's Cuba, just 90-miles off the southern tip of Florida. An hour of Radio Marti's news programs are carried each night, midnight to 1:00AM, by Miami's most popular Spanish language station, Radio Mambi (WAQI-710AM), which blankets the island of Cuba with its 50,000 watt signal, although it's jammed in Havana. A low-power Miami TV channel, WPMF-TV, Channel 38, carries TV Marti's half-hour early and late evening newscasts, but the channel is also carried on DirecTV, which is pirated by many Cuban civilians. The Marti news programs fit comfortably into the formats of the commercial stations, with the attractive young anchors who were born long after Castro came to power. The Martis pay fees through the U.S. government's Office of Cuba Broadcasting to have their programs carried. In six-month contracts, Radio Mambi receives $182,500, and WPMF-TV $195,000. The two distributor stations can receive additional revenue through the sale of commercial spots. Some observers suggest that the arrangement with the Miami stations may violate the 1948 Smith-Mundt Act that prohibits U.S. government-funded broadcasts meant for overseas audiences to be carried domestically. Representative William Delahunt, D-Mass., the incoming chairman of a sub-committee of the House International Relations Committee, is to launch an investigation of the Martis and hold hearings soon. But the domestic availability of the Martis in Miami is incidental to the Marti mission of bringing all the news to Cuba. Now for the first time the Martis have private sector help to cut through Castro's jamming to increase audience, and play a greater role when Cuba must adjust to life after Castro. Smith-Mundt was also enacted after due pressure from US commercial stations in 1948, who convinced Washington lawmakers that the tax supported Voice of America should not compete with domestic private stations, which no longer seems to be the case. Additionally, a 2005 modification of this act permits the leasing of commercial broadcast facilities when a sufficient level of signal jamming occurs to prevent stations from reaching their intended audiences, and Castro's government jams incoming signals full time. U.S. government broadcast spokesperson Larry Hart tells Worldcasting that "Castro has gone to extraordinary lengths to jam broadcasts some writers have said are useless. "Engineers estimate the electricity poor country utilizes 8.5 million watts (8.5 Mw) an hour to jam both radio and TV, enough to power a small industrialized city. Also, the charge in some stories that the contract with Radio Mambi is some kind of political payoff is ridiculous. This is the only Spanish language AM that has a 50,000 watt nighttime signal." The next logical step for Radio and TV Marti, after Castro, would be to expand their program services throughout Latin America, a vast region long-neglected by U.S. international broadcasting. Everything is in place: a broadcast headquarters in Miami, the recognized U.S. gateway to Latin America, from state-of-the-art broadcast facilities, a production and news staff trained by world-class consultants, and a sound footing in signal distribution from private sector broadcasters. The first order of business would be to take on Venezuela's dictator Hugo Chavez, who started a TV satellite channel of his own called Telesur, that can be seen throughout Latin America, and plans to shutter a competing opposition station. Discussions regarding such innovative tasks for the Martis along with a serious rewrite of the Smith-Mundt Act would make for productive sessions at the upcoming congressional hearings. (uscpublicdiplomacy.com Jan 4, 2007 via Z.Liangas-GRC for CRW) ............................................................... Misc - ETHIOPIA On Radio Farda 01/15/2007, Volume 012, Issue 17 http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/013/145uerrm.asp RADIOS FOR FREEDOM WE AT THE Broadcasting Board of Governors welcome S. Enders Wimbush's "Radio Free Iran" (Dec. 18); however, we wish to correct several misperceptions. First, Radio Free Europe /Radio Liberty is not the parent organization of Radio Farda, which is jointly operated by RFE/RL and the Voice of America (VOA). The BBG is the oversight body for all non-military international broadcasting. Second, it seems contradictory for Wimbush to praise the history of U.S. international broadcasting while at the same time criticizing Radio Farda's use of music to draw listeners. This was the same strategy employed so successfully by the VOA with its use of music programs to attract audiences during the Cold War. Third, Wimbush seems not to understand that, contrary to the days of the Cold War, today's target countries have rich media markets where the listener has many choices. The first objective of any programming must be to gain an audience. Lecturing Iranians on "what they have to understand" will drive away audiences. By an intelligent mix of news and information plus entertainment programming, Radio Farda has become, in just four years, the most popular international radio broadcaster in Iran--13.5 percent weekly listenership, more than double second-place BBC. This success comes despite persistent jamming by Iranian authorities. Research indicates that listeners welcome Farda's format. There is a good reason for orienting Radio Farda's format to Iran's youth: More than half of Iran's population is under 30 and more than 70 percent under 35. As recent student protests reported by Radio Farda show, it is vitally important that these young people have a source for accurate and objective news and information about their country and the world. Radio Farda carries more than eight hours of news and information daily, more than any other Persian-language international broadcaster. The station will add another 30-minute daily news program by the end of the year. Radio Farda also breaks format as dictated by news events, to carry live, extended coverage of events such as last week's domestic Iranian elections and U.S. presidential press conferences where Iran is discussed. Such programming is followed soon after by analysis and discussion. Radio Farda also devotes significant programming to Iran's rich culture. In addition to carrying contemporary Persian music banned in Iran, the schedule is full of reviews of movies, books, and cultural and social events. We are constantly striving to improve our broadcasts and welcome constructive criticism and new ideas. EDWARD E. KAUFMAN Member, Broadcasting Board of Governors Wilmington, Del. S. ENDERS WIMBUSH RESPONDS: Edward E. Kauf man blurs a fundamental distinction between the VOA's public diplomacy and RFE/RL's strategic broadcasting. The latter, "surrogate" radios are less concerned with advocating for America than in spurring intelligent listeners to think about the costs to their nation of runaway ideologies. Congress has made it clear that it wants this distinction preserved. Second, the weekly listenership Kaufman cites is irrelevant if it's the wrong audience, focused on music. Maximizing youth audiences with music should not be the decisive metric. The quality of the listeners and the critical positions of influence and authority they occupy are far more important. RFE/RL's original Radio Free Iran (Azadi) achieved a weekly audience of 6 percent with serious fare in only four years before it was morphed into Radio Farda. With the resources made available to Farda, that number would have continued to increase among Iran's agents of change. Third, Iran is awash in "news and information" from all over the world, all of it purporting to be "accurate." Thus, Farda's niche should be intelligent debate from many sources about what the news means in addition to discussion of historical context and an accounting of the costs of missing globalization. Farda has never occupied this niche. Fourth, lecturing audiences on "what they have to understand" was never part of RFE/RL's strategy, which is precisely why they were so effective and credible. It is worrisome that the BBG might actually think that this is what RFE/RL did during the Cold War. While stressing balance and credibility, the radios have never been neutral: They were created to shape political landscapes. When my article appeared, my inbox overflowed with emails from Iranians crying out for changing Farda fundamentally. A reappraisal of U.S. international broadcasting strategy, to Iran and elsewhere, is overdue. (via Z.Liangas-GRC Jan 7, 2007 in CDX-ML) ............................................................... Misc - MALDIVES MAJOR CHANGES AT MINIVAN RADIO By Minivan News January 8, 2007 http://www.minivannews.com/news/news.php?id=2801 Minivan Radio, the country’s only independent radio station, launched a new, interactive website on Monday aimed at giving listeners more choice over in the way they access news and information. The new site, http://www.minivanradio.net offers listeners not only the usual one hour Dhivehi language programme but also the option of listening and downloading particular segments of the hourly show. To coincide with the launch of their website, the Minivan Radio team have also added content to their daily programme, including new sections such as ‘listener’s comments’ and ‘breaking news’ as well as news in English. The radio station also plans to increase the variety of its content with new progammes focusing on women, young people and the arts. "We hope the changes will prove popular with our listeners," said Minivan Radio editor Fathimath Shaheeda. Minivan Radio was set up in exile in late 2003 by Ahmed Naseer, who was a political refugee based in Britain at that time. The station shifted operations to Sri Lanka in 2004. Following the raid on its Colombo offices on December 28, 2005 – after Maldivian Police Chief Adam Zahir told Interpol Minivan Radio employees were gun-running, a claim Sri Lankan detectives subsequently found to be baseless – Minivan Radio moved to the Maldives. Fathimath Shaheeda took over as editor. Although based in the Male’ for over a year, the government still refuses to grant the station a broadcast license, so programmes continue to be aired from short wave radio transmitters in Europe and over the internet. Minivan Radio shares a brand name with this website and the Minivan Daily newspaper. In practice, however, the three news outlets are separate companies with separate editorial policies. "For us, our independence from any political party, and any other news service, is paramount," Shaheeda said. "Minivan Radio must remain true to its name `Independent Radio` and serve the needs of all Maldivians." Shaheeda was recently awarded a place on the US State Department`s international visitor fellowship programme. As part of the prestigious programme, Shaheeda will attend a six week investigative journalism training course based in Washington, DC (minivannews.com Jan 8, 2007 via Z.Liangas-GRC in DXLD 7-004) Minivan suspends SW txs - final tx today Minivan Radio suspends shortwave transmissions Media Network has learned from Minivan Radio, the independent station broadcasting to the Maldives, that it will suspend its shortwave transmissions after tomorrow. The 13 January broadcast on 11800 kHz at 1600-1700 UTC will be the final one. Minivan Radio will continue to produce new programmes via its recently-relaunched website. [11800 via Juelich - see also http://minivannews.com/news/news.php?id=2814 ] (Minivan Radio via A.Sennit-HOL Jan 12, 2007 at http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/ in BDXC-UK-News-ML via J.Berg-USA in DXplorer-ML) Minivan Radio Ceases Shortwave Transmissions http://www.minivannews.com/news/news.php?id=2814 Minivan Radio will be ceasing shortwave transmissions from Sunday the 14th of January 2007, the radio station has announced. The last programme to be broadcasted on shortwave will be Saturday the 13th of January. In the meantime Minivan Radio is awaiting registration or the granting of a temporary licence by the Ministry of Information to enable it to continue broadcasting. Maldives only independent radio station says it hopes that once registration is granted it will continue transmitting on an FM frequency. Listeners will still be able to access the daily radio shows on Minivan Radio’s new website, http://www.minivanradio.net, and from the front page of this website. (minivannews.com via A.Bigley-USA Jan 13, 2007 in DXLD-ML) Glenn: We just got word that Minivan Radio will indeed continue on shortwave indefinitely, until further notice. So Saturday's "last" transmission will in fact not be the last! (J.White-RMI-USA Jan 13, 2007 in DXLD-ML) But apparently the Saturday broadcast was missing, per reports coming in! (G.Hauser-OK-USA Jan 13, 2007 in DXLD-ML) At tune in 1630 frequency 11800 appears to be empty. There's a mighty signal from Radio Svoboda on 11805 - registered via Morocco. (N.R.Green-G Jan 13, 2007 in DXLD-ML) ............................................................... Misc - SOMALIA New Baydhabo government radio untraced on shortwave On Friday 29 December 2006 a search for the new Baydhabo-based Somali government radio, "Radio Bay, Voice of the Somali People" was undertaken, with negative results. The 6700-7000 kHz shortwave range was checked between 0300 and 0500 gmt. No Somali stations were found there, nor elsewhere on shortwave. Other stations from the Horn of Africa were heard at this time - Radio Ethiopia on 5990, 7110, 9704.2 kHz, Voice of the Tigray Revolution (Ethiopia) on 5500 kHz, Voice of the Broad Masses of Eritrea on 7100 and 7175 kHz. Source: BBC Monitoring research, in English 0650 gmt 30 Dec 06 (BBCM Dec 30, 2006) Somalia shuts down broadcasters Somalia's main broadcasters have been ordered to close, shortly after the interim president set up a new team to end the "chaos" in the capital. Three top Somali radio stations and al-Jazeera TV are affected. They have been ordered to appear before the national security agency. A policeman was killed and a convoy of government and Ethiopian troops attacked in overnight violence. The president returned to Mogadishu last week, after Islamists were routed. "The city is in chaos. It's not safe," he said, as he appointed a mayor, Adde Gabow, and three other officials to run the city. "Now I worry about whether the government will take responsibility for our safety." Hassan Mohamoud,Disarmed Mogadishu resident. Somalia has not had an effective national government for 16 years. President Abdullahi Yusuf was elected at peace talks two years ago but has been powerless until Ethiopian forces helped drive out Islamists. Meanwhile, there are unconfirmed reports that senior Islamist leaders may have been arrested after crossing the border into Kenya. Explosions Three local radio stations received a letter, signed by Mogadishu security chief Colonel Ahmed Hassan Ali, ordering them to close immediately: Shabelle Radio Radio HornAfrik Voice of the Koran radio. Correspondents say the radio stations have stopped broadcasting. Shabelle Media deputy chairman Mohamed Amin told the AFP news agency he was "disappointed" by the measure. Government spokesman Abduraman Dinari told another local radio station that those affected were "instigating violence", AFP reports. "We are not undermining the freedom of expression, we are ensuring the security of the Somali people," he said. The move comes days after the interim parliament - based in Baidoa - authorised the government to impose martial law in Mogadishu. The policeman was killed when unknown gunmen opened fire on a police station in the north-eastern Hurwa district. The convoy was heading to the police station when it was ambushed, sparking a 20-minute gunbattle, in which one vehicle was destroyed, witness say. "I have seen one Ethiopian military vehicle burning after it was hit by an RPG [rocket-propelled grenade]," said Shine Moalim Hussein. The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan says that explosions could be heard in many areas of the city overnight. It is not clear who is behind these and other attacks but the Islamists vowed to launch a guerrilla war, as they fled the Ethiopian advance. Many armed Islamists are thought to have remained in the capital in hiding. The violence comes as an African Union delegation is in the city to discuss the deployment of peacekeepers. Ethiopia says it wants its forces to pull out within weeks. Over the weekend, the regional body, Igad, sent envoys to seven African countries, asking them to contribute to a proposed 8,000-strong peacekeeping force - Rwanda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Angola, Zambia, Tunisia and Algeria. So far only Uganda has offered troops - 1,500 - although it needs parliamentary approval. Security fears BBC Africa analyst Martin Plaut says African leaders are concerned about becoming bogged down in a quagmire. The latest attacks followed an operation by government and Ethiopian troops to disarm Mogadishu residents. After years of conflict and lawlessness, many Somalia possess their own weapons. Hassan Mohamoud said troops entered his house early on Sunday and seized his Kalashnikov gun. "I bought the gun about 10 years ago in order to safeguard myself and my family," he said. "But now I worry about whether the government will take responsibility for our safety." Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/6263343.stm (via T.Krueger.FL-USA Jan 15, 2007 in DXplorer-ML ------------xxxxxxxxxx Sources xxxxxxxxxx---------------------- Contributors: Alexander Koutamanis, Anker Petersen, Gaku Iwata, José Miguel Romero, Wendel Craighead, Wolfgang Büschel, Zacharias Liangas Also thanks to BBCM, BCDX, DXLD, DXW and JAP. In order to unsubscribe please login to www.clandestineradio.com or to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/crwatch/ and change your user settings.