--------------xxxxxxxxxx CRW 235 xxxxxxxxxx-------------- CLANDESTINE RADIO WATCH 235 Jul 31, 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 ------------xxxxxxxxxx Breaking News xxxxxxxxxx---------------- AFGHANISTAN : Radio Voice of Sharia reactivated in the south ?? MALDIVES : Minivan Radio back on shortwave from 1 August ............................................................... AFGHANISTAN : Radio Voice of Sharia reactivated in the south ?? Taliban's official mouthpiece, Radio Voice of Shariat has been launched again in southern Afghanistan. Locals and authorities have that the broadcasting in the southern provinces has begun. Radio Voice of Shariat signal is available in the provinces of Paktia, Paktika and Khost. Taliban controlled the Afghanistan Radio and TV when they captured Kabul In June 1996. They took the TV off the air and blasted the uplink dishes. their main objection was the appearance of female artists on the TV which they declared anti-Islamic. Broadcasting was restricted to Radio on MW and FM . Playing music and broadcasting female sounds was stopped. The name of the Radio Afghanistan was also changed to Radio Voice of Shariat. Radio Voice of Shariat went off the air and Radio Afghanistan regained its existence after September 11 when the Northern Alliance forces, backed by the US and the allies captured Kabul in 2001. And Radio Afghanistan started its broadcasting. According to locals in the southern provinces bordering Pakistan, the renewed Taliban programmes are heard every night from an unknown place on FM band, which can be heard for over a week. Most of their programmes are propaganda against the Karzai Government and international forces based in Afghanistan. Their propaganda calls the country 'occupied' and they encourage the people to fight against the Government and international forces. Parts of the programme are messages of Mullah Mohammad Omar, the Taliban leader that provokes people for Jihad. Radio Voice of Shariat do broadcast songs, but without music, the same music which was heard during the times when Afghanistan was under their control. The songs do have music; are more provocative and remind the people of Taliban as a good period of their rule. In the songs the Taliban played during their time of rule, the Northern Alliance was described as un-Islamic, and fighting them was called the holy war. The Taliban used to distribute letters throughout the night, dropping them in the front of house doors, throwing them inside shops, hanging them on walls and especially in mosques. As long as Radio Shariat broadcasts, they are able to have easy access to people, and this will make it easier too for them to reach people and harass them. Without doubt they're getting more powerful day by day, now that they launched a mobile FM radio that makes it difficult to trace the place from where they are broadcasting. This, surely is just one of the signs of their gaining ground. Source ANI, July 16: http://www.dailyindia.com/show/157671.php/Taliban-Radio-back-on-air (Daily India Jul 16, 2007 via Z.Liangas-GRC in CDX-ML) Also at http://www.newkerala.com/july.php?action=fullnews&id=46957 (via T.Jaisakthivel-IND Jul 17, 2007 in DXLD-ML) Sorry Zacharias, but I belief this is Taliban propaganda which runs through media from time to time. The same I heard on BBC news and RNW´s editor Andy Sennitt[1] mid june quoting "a taliban spokesman". No other source is mentioned. The same happens on BBC News [2]. With the same words the same story was published two years before from Peshawar (Pakistan) in the "Afghan Islamic Press"[3]. There you will find again no other source than Taliban spoeksman Mofti Latifollah Hakimi. He tolds about transmissions on FM, MW and SW - but nobody can heard it. Because it´s clandestine... A day later the story wents through BBC media [4], with the same words as now in 2007. That doesn´t fit the "BBC Guidelines" [5] by the way. If you google the story of the relaunch of "Shari'ah Zhagh", you will find very similar reports all over the world [6][7] - and the same one and only sorce: Taliban spokesman Hakami. So let me ask you some questions: 1. From which location "Shari'ah Zhagh" should be transmitting? 2. Which equipment the mullahs are using? (which are radically against modern technology...) 3. Who was training the radio engineers? 4. Who is paying the operation? 5. Why doesn´t the allied forces stop the transmissions by bombardment? 6. Do you find any receiption report? My opinion is: nothing but Taliban propaganda. ------------------------------ [1] http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/?p=8250 [2] http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6224972.stm [3] Afghan Islamic Press news agency (AIP), Peshawar, in Pashto 1115 gmt 18 Apr 05 [4] http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4459121.stm [5] http://www.bbc.co.uk/guidelines/editorialguidelines/edguide/accuracy/gatheringmateri.shtml [6] http://mail.sarai.net/pipermail/cr-india/2005-May/007029.html [7] http://www.clandestineradio.com/intel/stationnews.php?id=7&stn=725 ------------------------------ (T.Kamp-D Jul 17, 2007 in CDX-ML) Pakistan Related: ...a local, radical cleric, Maulana Fazlullah who is described as the head of the outlawed, Taliban-allied Tehrik-Nifaz-i-Shariat-i-Mohammadi [TNSM](Movement for the Enforcement of Islamic Law) in the NWFP's [Pakistan's tribal North-West Frontier Province] Swat district has called for his men to prepare for jihad. Fazlullah has been called "Maulana Radio" since he gets his radical messages out via 107 small, illegal FM radio stations, according to Pakistani journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad. TNSM fighters have already closed roads into the Swat region and seized the important Karakoram highway, part of the ancient Silk Road, which is Pakistan's main transportation connection with China. In response to the deteriorating situation in the NWFP, the Pakistani government has sent thousands of troops with heavy artillery to the area where an offensive into the Swat Valley is expected any day. The Red Mosque's closure was regarded as an important first step for any military action to be taken there. It not only eliminated the heart of the Islamic extremism movement in Pakistan, but also destroyed a powerful center of resistance to the army's coming campaign. ... [Complete story] http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=29151 (via Trib-WI-USA Jul 17, 2007 in DXLD-ML) ............................................................... MALDIVES : Minivan Radio back on shortwave from 1 August Minivan Radio back on shortwave from 1 August July 30, 2007 by Andy Sennitt Media Network Minivan Radio will resume shortwave broadcasts from 1 August. The Maldivian opposition station has only been available via the Internet since it stopped shortwave broadcasts four months ago in anticipation of winning an FM licence, but has so far been unable to procure one. It has been decided to resume shortwave broadcasts in the run-up to a referendum in late August on whether Maldivians want a parliamentary system or presidential system of government. Broadcasts will be daily at 1600-1700 UTC on 11965 kHz via a transmitter in Germany. (Source: Minivan Radio via Media Network http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/ ) (via M.Terry-G Jul 30, 2007 in DXLD-ML) Glenn: Yes, it was just arranged today. It's a one-month deal for the month of August. At this point, their plan is to end on August 31. But then again, who knows? (J.White-WRMI-USA broker for Minivan Radio, Jul 30, 2007 in DXLD 7-090) ------------xxxxxxxxxx Schedules xxxxxxxxxx-------------------- Schedules - BELARUS Radio Racja Radio Racja (Poland) expanded its transmission times and now uses three SW frequencies: 6225 (Sitkunai-LTU) at 1530-1730, 6105 (Warsaw-POL) at 1930-2200, 6120 (Warsaw-POL) at 2200-2230. Tx power for all transmissions is 100kW. Also on MW: 612 (Vilnius-LTU, 100kW) at 0600-0700 & 666 (Sitkunai-LTU, 500kW) at 1700-1900. (B.Trutenau-LTU Jul 26, 2007 in DXLD-ML) ............................................................... Schedules - CHINA Sound of Hope Dear OM, The Sound of Hope 24 hour service from Taiwan has begun to use new frequency. Now operating: 7300 9200 10300 13970 15000 (new ffrequency x145xx kHz) 18180; at 0205 UT on July 20. (Shigenori Aoki-J via Sei-ichi Hasegawa-J NDXC July 20, 2007 in BCDX 817) Dear OM, SOH can be heard at 0600 UT on 9200, 13970, 14900 (ex 10300), 16520 (move 16480 or 16500) and 18180. 7300 was not received in this time. f/in at 0800. SOH and Firedrake at 0604 on 18180 kHz on July 27. http://www.geocities.jp/ndxcjp/_gl_medias_/18180_70726_0604.wav de S. Aoki (S.Hasegawa-NDXC-J Jul 27, 2007 in DXLD-ML) ............................................................... Schedules - ETHIOPIA Diverse Now every day of the week is accounted for on the 15260 1600-1700 UT transmission, per TDP SW Airtime sked http://www.airtime.be/schedule.html Zena Tewahedo the Ligament Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in Exile 1600-1700 15260 AM m...... Amharic Africa Radio Xoriyo Ogadenia 1600-1630 15260 AM .t...s. Somali Africa Andenet Ledemocracy 1600-1700 15260 AM ..w.f.s Amharic Africa EPPF Radio 1600-1700 15260 AM ...t... Amharic Africa (G.Hauser-OK-USA Jul 17, 2007 in DXLD 7-083) ............................................................... Schedules - Diverse Summer A-07 of DTK T-Systems Media & Broadcast IBC Tamil Radio: 0000-0100 7115 WER 250 kW / 105 deg to SoAs Tamil Radio Free Asia (RFA): 0100-0300 11975 WER 500 kW / 075 deg to SoEaAs Tibetan Radio Liberty (RL): 0200-0330 9510 WER 250 kW / 105 deg to WeAs Persian Radio Farda 0400-0500 15255 WER 250 kW / 105 deg to WeAs Persian Radio Farda 1200-1300 15565 WER 250 kW / 060 deg to EaEu Russian 1500-1700 9725 JUL 100 kW / 050 deg to EaEu Belorussian 1600-1700 9445 WER 250 kW / 060 deg to EaEu Russian 1600-1700 13815 WER 250 kW / 075 deg to CeAs Turkmen 1700-1900 7105 WER 250 kW / 105 deg to WeAs Persian Radio Farda 1900-2000 9805 WER 250 kW / 060 deg to CeAs Tatar Bashkir Voice of Oromo Liberation (Sagalee Bilisummaa Oromoo): 1700-1800 13830 JUL 100 kW / 145 deg to EaAf Oromo Democratic Voice of Burma (DVOB): 2330-0030 9490 WER 125 kW / 075 deg to SoEaAs Burmese (R Bulgaria DX-Mix 477 Jul 20, 2007 via W.Büschel-D for CRW) Radio Huriyo: 1630-1700 11640 JUL 100 kW / 130 deg Tue/Fri to EaAf Somali Voice of Oromiya Independence: 1700-1730 15650 WER 125 kW / 135 deg Sat to EaAf Oromo/Amharic Voice of Democratic Eritrea Int. 1700-1800 15315 JUL 100 kW / 125 deg Thu to EaAf Tigrinya/English Voice of Ethiopian Unity-Ethiopian Forum for Democracy: 1900-2000 9480 WER 100 / 135 deg Wed/Fri/Sun to EaAf Amharic Radio Republica: 2300-0400 5910 WER 100 kW / 285 deg Mon-Fri to CeAm Spanish Minivan (Independent) Radio again on air from August 1, 2007: 1600-1700 11965 JUL 100 kW / 090 deg Daily to SoAs Dhivehi (R Bulgaria DX-Mix 479 Jul 31, 2007 via W.Büschel-D for CRW) ------------xxxxxxxxxx Logs xxxxxxxxxx------------------------- Logs - CHINA Sound of Hope 9635 TAIWAN (t): Sound of Hope )Xi Wang Zhi Sheng), Tanshui, Ch, 27/07 2240. OM/YL: talks, jamming na tx (segundo pesquisa, esta transmissão ocorre com 100 kW de potencia, portanto, mais fácil de ser sintonizada), 33433. (R.Walter Grimm-SP-B Jul 17, 2007 in ConDig 431) ............................................................... Logs - ETHIOPIA Andanet Le Democracy 15260 Andenet Ledemocracy Jul 20 *1600-1610 35332 Amharic, 1600 sign on with IS, ID, Opening announce, Talk. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Jul 20, 2007 in JAP 483) EOTC 15260 EOTC Jul 23 *1600-1610 25432-35433 Amharic, 1600 sign on with IS, ID, Opening announce, Talk and ethiopian pops music. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Jul 23, 2007 in JAP 483) EPPF Radio 15260 EPPF R. Jul 19 *1600-1607 35433 Amharic, 1600 sign on with local music, ID, Opening announce, Ethiopian pops music. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Jul 19, 2007 in JAP 483) Tensae Ethiopia Voice of Unity 15660 Tensae Ethiopia V.O.Unity Jul 19 *1500-1510 35433 Amharic, 1500 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk and ethiopoian pops music. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Jul 19, 2007 in JAP 483) 15660 Tensae Ethiopia V.O.Unity Jul 27 1510-1523 35433 Amharic, Talk and ethiopia pps music, ID at 1519 and 1521. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Jul 27, 2007 in JAP 484) ............................................................... Logs - IRAN Radio Democracy Shorayee / Radio Council Democracy 12120 R.Democracy Shorayee Jul 22 *1700-1710 35433 Farsi, 1700 sign on with ID, Opening announce, Talk. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Jul 22, 2007 in JAP 483) Radio Farda Radio Farda 9805 0329 Arabic 333 July 20 Arab vocal music, YL ancr and an OM with comments at 0330. (S.MacKenzie-CA-USA Jul 20, 2007 in JAP 483) ............................................................... Logs - ISRAEL Voice of Palestine Checking Radio IRIB around 19.25 UTC on 6025 , I noticed that they started the daily program of Voice Of Palestine ,voice of the Islamic revolution in Palestine , sign on at 19.30 UTC which is a new time slot for me , and the announce gave 2 frequencies...9505 and 7260 kHz !!! of course non was working. Sounds like they moved the program from the usual time 3.30 - 4.30 UTC to that new time of 19.30 - 20.30 UTC using the same frequency of the Arabic section of IRIB 6025 kHz. (T.Zeidan-EGY Jul 23, 2007 in DXLD-ML) ............................................................... Logs - KOREA (NORTH) Echo of Hope 6003 Echo of Hope 1220-1240 July 21. Had forgotten about this freq until seeing Sejimo's recent log. YL hostess chatting, occasionally playing pop music // 3985 and 6348 kHz. Of these 3 freqs, only 6348 seemed to be jammed. The jamming was quite strong and obnoxious and would be very noticeable on the other freqs, if they were jammed also. Why bother to jam only one freq? (J.Wilkins-CO-USA Jul 21, 2007 in DXplorer-ML) I checked Echo of Hope on July 28, can be heard on 3 frequencies (3985.0, 6003.0 and 6348.0) in parallel at 1100. 3985.0 and 6348.0 were jammed. (T.Sejimo-J Jul 28, 2007 in DXplorer-ML) Furusato no Kaze - Wind of the Hometown 9779.97 Furusato no Kaze(p) 1602-1630* Jul 25. Carrier there well before 1600; poor at 1600 opening, improving slightly throughout with fair peaks. OM & YL(mostly YL) talks; signal wasn't good enough to tell whether language was JP or KR; xmsn ended with a long tone, followed by several beeps at BoH. Heard nothing resembling an ID. No better on subsequent days. (J.Wilkins-CO-USA Jul 25, 2007 in DXplorer-ML) 9780 July 29th. *1600-1630* Noted with open carrier at 1559, then 3 plus 1 time notes on TOH. Very short pause,then sign-on with opening announcements by female speaker in Japanese, into a program of interviews, interspersed at times with short musical briefs. Noted again at 1528 with closing notes, numbers readied for a set of telephone numbers. Short musical brief played to 8 second tine which was cut-off at sign-off. This date the signal was fair to poor due to disturbed conditions. (E.Kusalik-ALB-CAN Jul 29, 2007 for CRW) Shiokaze / Sea Breeze 9485 Shiokaze 1315-1329 Jul 29. In English today (Sunday) - YL with details of abductions on selected persons. Good with minimal splatter from KAIJ-9480. (J.Wilkins-CO-USA Jul 29, 2007 in CDX-ML) ............................................................... Logs - KURDISTAN Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan IRAQ/KURDISTAN. Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan apparently still there, oriental music heard under heavy utility QRM on 6335 kHz (29 July, 0440 UT) with SINPO 42432. (E.Bierwirth-D at RMRC DX camp in Langenselbold Jul 29, 2007 in DXLD-ML)) ............................................................... Logs - TAJIKISTAN Radio Liberty SRI LANKA 9760 Radio Liberty (Iranawila), 0110-0115, 7/17/2007, Tajik. Man and woman talking, probably news program. Poor signal (SINPO 24222). (J.Evans-TN-USA Jul 17, 2007 in CDX-ML) ............................................................... Logs - VIETNAM Degar Voice 7260 Degar Voice Jul 26 *1301-1329* 43443-44444 Vietnamese, Talk, ID at 1325. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Jul 26, 2007 in JAP 483) Que Huong Radio 15650 Que Huong R. Jul 16 *1200-1205 35333-25332 Vietnamese, 1200 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Jul 16, 2007 in JAP 482) 15665 Que Huong R. Jul 25 *1200-1208 25422-35433 Vietnamese, 1200 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Jul 25, 2007 in JAP 483) 15665 Que Huong R. Jul 26 *1200-1209 34433 Vietnamese, 1200 sign on with opening music, Opening announce, ID, Talk. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Jul 26, 2007 in JAP 483) 15650 Que Huong R. Jul 31 *1200-1210 35433-33433 Vietnamese, 1200 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Jul 31, 2007 in JAP 484) Radio Hoa-Mai 12130 R.Hoa-Mai via KWHR Jul 18 1249-1259* 45444 Vietnamese, Talk, ID and address announce at 1258. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Jul 18, 2007 in JAP 483) ............................................................... Logs - ZIMBABWE Radio Voice of the People Radio Voice of the People, 9765 via Madagascar. Noted strong open carrier here at 0354 on 7/16. Brief music at 0400 and man in unid language with probable opening anmt. Went into EE shortly after that but the accent was so heavy I didn't notice at first. Eventually ID for Radio Voice of the People - VOP." Local language would have been Shona or Ndebele. Surprisingly strong reception! (G.Dexter-WI-USA Jul 16, 2007 in DXplorer-ML) 9765, 0447-0455* 25- & 26-07, R. Voice of the People (via MADA GASCAR)..tnx Gerry Dexter's DXLD info, hrd fair-good w/ mostly EE reports on civil rights violations, elections in Zimbabwe on 25th.."on the Voice of the People..VOP ..good-bye for now..salaam aleikum.." group vocal & off..on 26th reports on decline in public services and conservation efforts in the Zimbabwe national parks, then inter view w/ Zimbabwean rugby player who plays for the SAf national team..instrumental bridge @ 0453 & closing w/ address for RVoP, POB 5750, Harare, Zimbabwe & 2 URLs: 1 for general info, 1 for listener e-mails. (D.Sheedy-CA-USA Jul 26, 2007 in DXLD-ML) ------------xxxxxxxxxx QSL Verifications xxxxxxxxxx------------ Qsl's - ASIA Radio Free Asia Station: - Radio Free Asia Date: - 01-07-2007 Frequency: - 11590 kHz (xmtr = IBB Kuwait) Time: - 1330-1400 UTC Language: - Tibetan Description: - This is the third in a series of RFA QSL cards that commemorate the youth of the world, and the spirit of democracy and freedom. The drawing was created on April 26, 2007 RFA's annual "Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work Day" in Washington DC. This is one of many drawings made by the children of RFA personnel, inspired by the work their parents create daily at RFA. Please continue to submit your reception reports to www.rfa.org/schedules or by e-mail to qsl@rfa.org. (M.Kumar-IND Jul 23, 2007 for CRW) Station: - Radio Free Asia Date: - 27-06-2007 Frequency: - 17855 kHz (IBB Kuwait) Time: - 1130-1200 UTC Language: - Tibetan Description: - This is the second in a series of RFA QSL cards that commemorate the youth of the world, and the spirit of democracy and freedom. The drawing was created on April 26, 2007 RFA's annual "Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work Day" in Washington DC. This is one of many drawings made by the children of RFA personnel, inspired by the work their parents create daily at RFA. Please continue to submit your reception reports to www.rfa.org/schedules or by e-mail to qsl@rfa.org. (M.Kumar-IND Jul 30, 2007 for CRW) ------------xxxxxxxxxx Miscellaneous xxxxxxxxxx----------------- Misc - ARMENIA Armenian Public Radio Refuses To Re-Sign Contract For RFE/RL Programs http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeniareport/report/en/2007/07/525F50 86-E06C-43EE-886D-FC32FD90CB65.ASP Statement by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (Washington, DC--July 24, 2007) Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and its oversight agency, the U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), expressed dismay at Armenian Public Radio's rejection of a new contract to continue carrying programs of RFE/RL's Armenian Service. RFE/RL Armenian programs have been aired on Armenian Public Radio -- Armenia's top radio network -- since 1998, where they have earned the trust of a significant number of listeners. Survey data shows that 15 percent of Armenian adults listen to RFE/RL programs each week. Three days of discussions in Yerevan, Armenia last week between U.S. and Armenian broadcast officials ended without agreement on a new contract to replace one that had lapsed in February. "Our delegation was asked to go to Yerevan to iron out some minor technical issues and conclude a contract to extend this successful partnership," said BBG Chairman James K. Glassman. "All these issues were resolved. Our delegation was told there are no deadlines, and no threat was made to take RFE/RL programs off Public Radio. Yet the contract remains unsigned, and our offers to make payment were refused. It seems clear that whatever is holding up an agreement has nothing to do with legal, contractual, or technical issues." "We value our relationship with Armenian Public Radio," added Glassman, "and certainly want it to continue. We look forward to signing the contract, and making all payments stipulated in the contract, as soon as our partners in Armenia tell us they are ready." The Armenian parliament on July 3 did not adopt amendments to the country's media regulations that would have banned RFE/RL and other foreign broadcasters from public airwaves. One week later, Armenian Public Radio indicated that it planned to stop RFE/RL broadcasts on August 9, citing contractual and payment issues. Last week's visit to Armenia by RFE/RL and BBG contracting officials was intended to resolve these issues. "The potential end of our very fruitful relationship with Public Radio has no economic or other legitimate justification," said RFE/RL President Jeffrey Gedmin. "Armenians go to the polls in eight months to choose their next President, and therefore it is particularly important that RFE/RL's broadcasts, which are widely respected for their accuracy, objectivity and timeliness, reach the largest possible audience. Our coverage of the May 12 parliamentary elections was singled out for praise by OSCE observers for its balance and thoroughness." RFE/RL's Armenian Service has been on the air since 1953 and produces more than three and one half hours of Armenian-language programming daily in Prague and its Yerevan Bureau. Armenian Service programming is available via satellite, local affiliates and the Internet, at the service's website http://www.azatutyun.am and at http://www.rferl.org; English-language news about events in Armenia can be found on the RFE/RL website, at http://www.rferl.org/featuresarchive/country/armenia.html (RFE/RL Jul 24, 2007 via ConDig 431) US representatives have concluded a preliminary agreement on the rebroadcast of Radio Liberty programmes by the private Yerevan FM radio station Ar Radio. The Armenian Public Radio has even agreed to stop transmitting its programmes on the airwaves of this station in order to give the released airtime to Radio Liberty. . http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/?p=8496 (ITAR-TASS via BBCM via Media Network blog via DXLD 8-088) Armenia/USA: Private station to carry US-backed Radio Liberty Text of report in English by Russian news agency ITAR-TASS Yerevan, 26 July: The council of the Armenian Public Television and Radio Company (PTRC) has made a decision to stop from 9 August the rebroadcast of other broadcasters. This measure is applied to the Interstate Television-Radio Company Mir, the American Radio Liberty and a local television company, it is said in a statement of the PTRC council circulated here late on Wednesday [25 July]. The council and Armenian Public Radio have expressed readiness to assist Radio Liberty's negotiations with the country's private radio companies in order to ensure continuity of the US radio broadcasting in the republic. As a result of talks, US representatives have concluded a preliminary agreement on the rebroadcast of Radio Liberty programmes by the private Yerevan FM radio station Ar Radio. The Armenian Public Radio has even agreed to stop transmitting its programmes on the airwaves of this station in order to give the released airtime to Radio Liberty. Meanwhile, in its statement of 24 July, Radio Liberty "attempted to politicize extremely contractual and financial matters," believes the PTRC council. "The PRTC council and Armenian Public Radio have always built and continue to build their relations with colleagues, including Radio Liberty, in accordance with the constitution and laws of the republic and have always secured plurality of opinion in the public radio programmes," it is stressed in the statement. They confirmed their "intention to continue cooperation" with Radio Liberty "for the sake of friendship between Armenia and the United States". The Armenian authorities had earlier conducted monitoring of programmes broadcast by Radio Liberty and arrived at the conclusion that the Armenian service of this radio station gives a one-sided and biased coverage of the Armenian internal political affairs, socially in the period of election campaigns. Despite the absence of any agreements, the Armenian Public Radio, displaying goodwill continues to rebroadcast Radio Liberty programmes in the republic, it is said in the statement. In February the American radio station stopped paying for the rebroadcast and the accumulated debt has reached about 86,000 dollars. "Now the rebroadcast is factually financed from the republic's budget," said the PRTC council. The Armenian parliament in late June-early July made an unsuccessful attempt to introduce amendments to the law "On television and radio" envisaging the imposition of restrictions on rebroadcasts of foreign stations, in particular, Radio Liberty. After the amendments were passed in the first reading the Armenian authorities came under strong pressure not only from the country's opposition forces, but also from foreign officials, first of all from the United States. Source: ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow, in English 1010 gmt 26 Jul 07 (BBCM via CRW) ............................................................... Misc - CUBA Despite expenditures, TV Marti still tough to see in Cuba Herald Tribune 30 July 2007 Miami Ten months ago, the U.S. government launched a new effort to beam TV broadcasts into Cuba via a Gulfstream jet, an end-run around the communist government's close grip on the island's media. A U.S. State Department draft report circulated last month called the jet "a best practice" to beat the Cubans' jamming efforts and said the $10 million (?7.3 million) startup cost was "a big investment but appears to be paying off," with viewership on the rise. Watching American TV broadcasts is illegal in Cuba. But more than two dozen Cuban immigrants who recently arrived in Florida paint a very different picture. In interviews with The Associated Press, they said while the U.S. government's Radio Marti is heard throughout the island, TV Marti can rarely be seen. The TV operation costs U.S. taxpayers more than $20 million (?14.6 million) a year. "I saw it during a day with very good climatological conditions, but it still barely came through," said Efrain Ramos, 56, who arrived in Florida on June 29 from Havana. Those outside Havana could not see it at all. This is just the latest criticism of TV Marti, which has been accused of being biased, sometimes mismanaged and often boring. The station remains in sync with the views of Miami's most hardline, Cuban-American political leadership, and efforts by some members of Congress to put the 17-year-old station out of business have never gotten very far. But U.S. Representatives Bill Delahunt, Charlie Rangel, and Jeff Flake are pushing for hearings on the Marti stations for the fall, and congressional investigators began reviewing management of the Martis last month. Still, the station is one of the Miami Cuban exile community's few tangible victories during its 48-year struggle to overthrow Fidel Castro's government, and many Cuban-Americans do not want to criticize it publicly. Half a dozen current and former Marti journalists, as well as several experts who support the Marti mission, expressed concern to the AP about the quality of the current programming and a top-down management style that swiftly punishes dissenters. All refused to speak on the record because they said the feared losing their jobs or other retribution. Since 2005, several employees have sent repeated unsigned letters to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice criticizing the management. Among their concerns is the State Department report's reliance on a January poll showing the number of Cubans viewing Marti on the island increased with the plane's launch. The man whose company commissioned the poll, veteran Spanish-language media consultant Herb Levin, helped found Radio Marti and has had several other contracts to improve Marti programming. "I don't care about the perceptions. I know the quality of work we do, and the standards we apply to the work we perform," Levin said. "I'm open for any kind of examination of our work product." The recent State Department report found the station suffered from a lack of communication between management and employees and that ethical standards needed to be reviewed, but it said overall morale had improved in recent years under current Director Pedro Roig. The report also urged the broadcast office to review how it could expand to other parts of Latin America to counter media controlled by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Alberto Mascaro, chief of staff for the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, which oversees TV and Radio Marti, hopes the State Department's conclusions will eventually translate into more confidence in the broadcasts. "It's not me trying to sell it to the public," he said. "It is an independent agency that does this every single day." The station has made strides. It added a weekly program called "Voces," which focuses on the black civil rights struggle in the U.S. and human rights struggles worldwide, as well as a satire about a Cuban immigrant's culture shock. More shows are targeting women. But the few recent arrivals who had seen the TV broadcasts said the mostly news and commentary formats still mirror what the Cuban government stations offer. "It's the same," said Lazaro Yuced, 22, who arrived four months ago from Havana. Those interviewed said that if they did watch banned programs, they preferred the commercial channels from Miami via contraband satellite dishes. Some of those stations even use personalities who once performed on the Cuban government's four TV channels. John Nichols, a Pennsylvania State University professor of communications and a critic of the Martis, recently returned from Cuba and said neither he nor anyone he spoke to had seen any change with the new jet. "It may reach some rural areas between populations," he said, "but why would the Cuban government care if a dozen cows in the middle of nowhere can see the station?" http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/30/america/NA-GEN-US-Anti-Castro-Broadcasting.php (iht.com Jul 30, 2007 via M.Terry-G in DXLD-ML) ............................................................... Misc - EASTERN EUROPE More than 80 artists offer bids for RFE/RL monument in Prague July 16, 2007 More than 80 artists have offered bids for the planned monument at the new headquarters of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RL/RFE) in Prague, Anna Rausova from the station's PR department told CTK today, adding that the winner of the competition will be chosen early in the autumn. The monument is to be installed at the station's new headquarters, whose construction is underway, in May 2008. The RFE/RL is to move to the new headquarters in Prague's neighbourhood from its current seat in the centre of Prague in August 2008. Rausova said that the station has received a total of 82 monument designs so far. The figure may yet increase as further designs continue arriving by post not only from the Czech Republic but also from the USA and other countries. The organisers must wait until they receive all designs posted before the official deadline of June 29. The moving of the US-financed RFE/RL, which has been seated in the former Czechoslovak Federal Assembly building in the upper part of Prague's Wenceslas square since 1995, was first considered after the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington on September 11, 2001. The search for a new suitable place to host the station took a long time. The new seat started to be constructed at Hagibor last October. The planned monument is to embody the RFE/RL's basic message - freedom, freedom of speech, openness, togetherness, dignity, strength and goodwill. (Source: CTK via Media Network) (via M.Terry-G in DXLD-ML) ............................................................... Misc - KOREA (NORTH) Regarding my recent remarx about KDDI Yamata site being authorized for Furusato no Kaze broadcasts, looking back over previous issues, it was Shiokaze which got access to KDDI for their morning 2030 UT broadcast on 6045, callsign JSR – tho with the government getting into the abduction-broadcasting business itself, you`d think they would go with that instead of Taiwan. Wonder if FnK advent affects how Shiokaze is handled. Could be Taiwan is preferred for propagational reasons, Japan being too close and subject to skip zoning. This is what I get for relying on my decaying memory. (G.Hauser-OK-USA Jul 17, 2007 in DXLD 7-083) Broadcasts for Japanese abduction victims jammed Text of report by Japanese TBS TV on 17 July It was revealed early this morning [17 July] that strong jamming signals were directed at the Furusato no Kaze [Winds of the Homeland], a short-wave radio programme that the government is broadcasting for abduction victims. [Narration by unidentified female announcer]: Tonight, this programme is about the situation surrounding North Korea and the Japanese government's efforts regarding the abduction issue. The result of analysis of the [jamming] noise conducted by the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications confirmed strong jamming signals originating from the direction of Pyongyang in North Korea. The government started broadcasting the Furusato no Kaze programme on 10 July. Wary of jamming signals, it had not publicized information such as the broadcast frequencies. Source: Tokyo TBS Television Network in Japanese 1428 gmt 17 Jul 07 (BBCM via CRW) NORTH KOREAN RADIO ANNOUNCER MAY BE ABDUCTED JAPANESE An announcer from a North Korean government based radio broadcast, "The Voice of Chosun" is believed to be a Japanese person abducted from Tottori prefecture in 1988. In a telephone conversation with the Daily NK on the 26th, Kazuhiro Araki, representative for Investigation Commission on Missing Japanese Probably Related to N Korea asserted, "On comparing the photos of abducted Japanese person Yakura Tomiyatsu in 1988 and a footage of announcer Shin Beom at a recording of "The Voice of Chosun" at Pyongyang’s Korea Hotel on March 15th, there is a high possibility that they are the same person." Read the full story in the Daily NK http://www.dailynk.com/english/read.php?cataId=nk00100&num=2434 (A.Sennit-HOL Jul 30, 2007 in Media Network blog via DXLD 7-090) Voice of Chosun presumably = the Japanese service of the Voice of Korear. Not to be confused with the clandestine Radio Free Chosun. (G.Hauser-USA in DXLD 7-090) ............................................................... Misc - SOMALIA VOA EXPANDS BROADCASTS TO SOMALIA New live half hour added at 1630 UTC Washington, D.C., July 16, 2007 - The Voice of America (VOA) has added 30 minutes to its daily Somali radio broadcast, providing a full hour of live, up-to-the-minute news and information to listeners. VOA Somali currently airs from 1600-1700 UTC (7:00-8:00 PM in Somalia), with a repeat broadcast at 1700 UTC. The additional half hour, 1630 to 1700 UTC, includes a wider variety of listener interactives, such as call-ins, roundtable discussions, and debates on topics ranging from health, education, and youth to business and development. Weekend programming will offer in-depth discussions and interviews focusing on the interests and needs of Somalis. "Listener response to our programs has been overwhelming," said VOA Somali Service Chief Fred Cooper. "They appreciate the accurate, balanced, and timely news and information we provide and continue to ask for more," he added. VOA's Somali Service was launched on February 12, 2007. Broadcasts are available on AM, FM and shortwave radio frequencies 13580 Khz, 15620 Khz, 1431 Khz. The 1700 UTC broadcast repeats on HornAfrik (88.8 FM in Mogadishu), a VOA-affiliated station. VOA's Somali-language service is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of State. For more information, please visit VOA's website at http://www.voanews.com/somali/. The Voice of America, which first went on the air in 1942, is a multimedia international broadcasting service funded by the U.S. government through the Broadcasting Board of Governors. VOA broadcasts more than 1,000 hours of news, information, educational, and cultural programming every week to an estimated worldwide audience of more than 115 million people. Programs are produced in 45 languages. For more information, contact the Office of Public Affairs at (202) 203-4959, or by e-mail at publicaffairs@voa.gov (VoA Jul 16, 2007 via M.Terry-G in DXLD-ML) Ethiopian troops seize journalists Excerpt from report by Swedish-based Somali Dayniile website on 31 July Five reporters most of them working for Mogadishu radios in Beled Weyne, Hiiraan Region, were this morning arrested by Ethiopian forces. The journalists were nabbed at the of Hiiraan regional administration HQ. They are now being held at the Ethiopian military base in Cento Quindice area, which is 5km from Beled Weyne. The arrest of the journalists by Ethiopian forces comes after the regional commissioner of Hiiraan Husayn Muhammad Malin invited the journalists to attend a press conference. Soon after the arrival of the journalists, a convoy of Ethiopian troops arrived there and arrested all the five reporters. The Hiiraan regional commissioner did not turned up at the venue. The arrested reporters are from HornAfrik, Shabeelle, Holy Koran radio and others. Ethiopian forces have also arrested Haji Muhammad Yare, a hotel owner in Beled Weyne and a pharmacy owner called Hasan Kuriya. The condition of the reporters and the other persons kidnapped by the Ethiopians is not known [passage omitted]. Source: Dayniile website in Somali 31 Jul 07 (BBCM via CRW) ............................................................... Misc - ZIMBABWE *NCA Provincial Chairperson Arrested for Insulting Mugabe* *SW Radio Africa* (London) NEWS 18 July 2007 Posted to the web 18 July 2007 By Violet Gonda Harassment of National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) members by state security agents is becoming a permanent feature in Zimbabwe. The latest victim is the provincial chairperson for Manicaland, who was arrested on Tuesday on charges of insulting Robert Mugabe. NCA leader Dr Lovemore Madhuku said Elisha Makuyana was arrested when he was debating with other people and criticizing the controversial price cuts that were imposed by the government recently. "Making it clear obviously that it was a very short term measure which was not going to solve problems and he made a remark about the fact that this is how Mugabe has been surviving, " Madhuku said. A member of the central intelligence organization who heard the NCA official make these statements arrested him and took him to Chipinge Police Station where he is still being held. He is being accused of making derogatory remarks about Mugabe. Madhuku said the regime has deployed members of the security services everywhere, clearly showing a state of panic as discontent grows over the way the country is being run. He said: "They are not allowing more than two or three individuals to freely talk and discuss. They always come in to try and see what is happening, what is being said." According to the pressure group, this is the third time Makuyana has been arrested in just two weeks. He was followed by a group in Nyanga where he was going to distribute shortwave transistor radio in the rural areas. A statement said: "In the first two instances he was arrested on baseless charges of possessing a shortwave transistor radio without a Zimbabwean import license." Madhuku added that the CIO actually drove the official from Nyanga to his Mutare office, where over 21 radios were confiscated. He said they also took t-shirts, fliers and other materials. We were not able to get a comment from the police. The group said it will continue fighting for a new constitution even though the government is trying to cripple its grassroots structures. It insists the way forward in Zimbabwe is to push for a new constitution to pave the way for free and fair elections and an accountable government. This is a major issue that has been put on the agenda in the SADC led talks. But it seems unlikely that Mugabe will give in to a new constitution that would mean the opening up of space for Zimbabweans to freely express themselves. And the progress of the talks between the political parties is uncertain as it is reported that the regime is spurning South African President Thabo Mbeki's efforts. The talks too are supposed to pave the way for free and fair elections scheduled for 2008. But back home, the opposition and civic society have criticised the way the voter registration exercise, that is currently underway, is being conducted. Madhuku said there can never be a credible voter registration process under the present conditions. He said; "We have no access, most players, to the rural areas where the majority of the people are." The civic leader said ZANU PF goes there and misrepresents the purpose of the voter registration process. "I actually have information from the NCA structures in Mashonaland East and Mashonaland Central that people are being told to go and register to defend President Mugabe from being taken out of power by the west. So you go and register and you are told that the purpose of you registering is that when the time comes you must go and defend the President! Not that you are registering so that you exercise your right to elect your leader of your choice." (SWRA via R.Wilkner-FL-USA in CDX-ML) ------------xxxxxxxxxx Sources xxxxxxxxxx---------------------- Contributors: Anker Petersen, Gaku Iwata, José Miguel Romero, Mukesh Kumar, 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.