--------------xxxxxxxxxx CRW 239 xxxxxxxxxx-------------- CLANDESTINE RADIO WATCH 239 Sep 30, 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 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---------------- MYANMAR : VOA, Radio Free Asia to double broadcasts ............................................................... MYANMAR : VOA, Radio Free Asia to double broadcasts Peoria Journal September 28, 2007 Washington D.C. Voice of America and Radio Free Asia have doubled their broadcasts to Myanmar in response to the military-run government's crackdown on protesters. The two U.S. broadcasters made the change Wednesday, but it was announced Thursday by the agency that oversees them. Voice of America increased Burmese language programs from 1 1/2 hours to 3 hours daily; Radio Free Asia boosted broadcasts from 2 to 4 hours daily. "The Burmese people are starving for accurate information, both about the world's reaction to their struggle for democracy and also about what is happening in their own land," said James K. Glassman, chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors. "Our expanded Burmese-language broadcasts are more important than ever in satisfying this hunger." Separately, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., recorded a video message Thursday for the people of Myanmar, which is also known as Burma. In the video, the two senators sought to let the people know that the U.S. supports their efforts for freedom and democracy. "Your struggle is our struggle. The world is watching and we are cheering you," McConnell says. Some 20 percent of adults weekly in cities across Myanmar listen to VOA and RFA. Programs are available through the Internet at www.voanews.com/burmese and www.rfa.org/burmese. http://www.pjstar.com/stories/092807/NAT_BEG1H9VL.049.php (Peoria Journal Sep 28, 2007 via M.Terry-G in DXLD-ML) ------------xxxxxxxxxx Schedules xxxxxxxxxx-------------------- Schedules - CUBA Radio República Radio República is cancelling its transmissions via T-Systems (weekdays 2300-0400 UT on 5910 kHz) after the Sept. 28/29 broadcast -- further funding cuts they say. I have no idea if this affects the transmissions that are presumably from the UK. The weekend broadcasts on WRMI remain the same. (J.White-WRMI Sep 24, 2007 in DXLD 7-116) ............................................................... Schedules - ERITREA Voice of Meselna Delina VO Meselna Delina (MF 1700-1730) moved to 7335 (ex11765) acc. to the TDP schedule website. (B.Trutenau-LTU Sep 19, 2007 in DXLD-ML) WHRA adds more clandestine broadcasting: 1800-1830 M-F, Voice of Meselina Delina, by Tes Meharenna on 17690, says the WHR website. Proper spelling is Meselna Delina. It`s in Tigrinya, This was previously reported on 11765 in DXLD 7-062, 5/18 at 1700; and in 7-057, DX Mix News, Bulgaria had this scheduled as M-F 1700-1730 on 11765 via Armavir, Russia, 100 kW, 188 degrees. Was that a TDP brokerage? Yes, started April 26. Checking the TDP schedules as of Sept 29, V. of Delina is shown at 1700-1730 M-F on 7335, no site ever given. However, their WHOSE page with logos still refers to it as V. of Meselna Delina, and linx to http://vodm.asmarino.com/ Address is in Cerritos, California. There the schedule is still given as M-F 1700-1730 on 15705! That is/was also WHRA. Audio files of past broadcasts are available, and an illustration for each, going back into last December when I quit looking. Accompanied by some contentious comments, many of them in English. TDP tends to leave in outdated info. So do the WHRA broadcasts replace 11765/7335, and are they axually at 17 on 15705, and/or at 18 on 17690? Both are 75 degrees, which misses Eritrea, but instead crosses southern Ethiopia, but close enough, they must think, and certainly closer than the other two azimuths available from WHRA, 45 and 90 degrees. Apparently 17690 replaces 15705. Tune in Monday to find out ( (G.Hauser-OK-USA Sep 29, 2007 in DXLD-ML) ............................................................... Schedules - KOREA (NORTH) Radio Free Asia October 1 begins a new USG fiscal year, and had been foreseen as the date for major cuts in VOA language services. However, at least one of them, Korean, is about to increase its SW output from 3:30 to 5 hours a day, and so is Radio Free Asia Korean, from 4 to 5 hours a day. The two services become closely coordinated, so one can hear one or the other straight through from 1200 to 2200 UT. Note the rather late hours, not starting until 9 pm local time in the DPRK, and running until 7 am, presumably since listeners tune in undercover when they are supposedly sleeping! 1200-1500 VOA on 5890 & 7235 Tinian; also 12-13 11625 Thailand, 13-15 11740 Tinang, plus MW 648 at 13-14 from Vladivostok 1500-1600 RFA on 5870 Sri Lanka, 7210 Irkutsk, 11660 Sri Lanka, 11660 switching at 1530 to Saipan 1600-1700 RFA on 5870 Tinian, 11660 Sri Lanka 1700-1800 RFA on 5870 Tinian, 7210 Sri Lanka, 11660 Saipan 1800-1900 RFA on 5870 & 7210 Tinian, 11660 Saipan 1900-2100 VOA on 6060 & 7125 Thailand, 9510 Tinang 2100-2200 RFA on 7460 Ulan Bator, 9385 & 9770 Tinian, 12075 Saipan (G.Hauser-OK-USA Sep 29, 2007 in DXLD-ML) ............................................................... Schedules - LAOS Moj Them Radio Moj Them Radio to Laos (0100-0130 on 15260) is now listed Mon/Wed/Fri instead of Tue/Thu. (via TDP schedule website) (B.Trutenau-LTU Sep 19, 2007 in CDXL-ML) ............................................................... Schedules - MYANMAR Radio Free Asia RFA`s expanded Burmese service since Sept 27, mixed with VOA Burmese expanded since Sept 26: 2300-2400 VOA on 7430 Sri Lanka, 6185 Thailand, 11980 Tinang 0030-0230 RFA on 13820 Sri Lanka, 13865 Tinian, 17835 Saipan 1130-1230 VOA on 11965 & 15540 Tinang, 17775 Sri Lanka 1230-1330 RFA on 9320 Sri Lanka, 13645 Tinian 1330-1430 RFA on 9320 & 11540 Tinian, also 1330-1400 9455 Sri Lanka 1430-1530 VOA on 9325 Sri Lanka, 11910 Tinang, 12120 Tinian; also 1575 Thailand until 1500 weekdays, 1530 Sat & Sun (G.Hauser-OK-USA Sep 29, 2007 in DXLD-ML) ------------xxxxxxxxxx Logs xxxxxxxxxx------------------------- Logs - BELARUS Radio Racja LITUANIA 6225 Radio Racja, 17:25-17:29, escuchada el 17 de septiembre en bielorruso, emisión de música rock, SINPO 23322. (J.Miguel Romero-E Sep 17, 2007 for CRW) LITUANIA 6225 Radio Racja, 16:54-17:28, escuchada el 30 de septiembre en bielorruso, locutor con comentarios, cuña de la emisora, locutores con noticias, ID?? Raoda Ritja, programa musical, música pop y rock local, SINPO 44333. (J.Miguel Romero-E Sep 30, 2007 in DXLD-ML) ............................................................... Logs - CHINA Xi Wang Zhi Sheng 11765 Xi Wang Zhi Sheng SOH, 16:10-16:15, escuchada el 30 de septiembre en chino, locutora con entrevista a invitado, se aprecia fuerte interferencia de jammer china, firedarke jamming, SINPO 43433. (J.Miguel Romero-E Sep 30, 2007 in DXLD-ML) ............................................................... Logs - CUBA Radio Republica R Republica 6135 at 2257 in Spanish. Strong signal, not jammed. 20 Sept. (L.Cameron-MI-USA Sep 20, 2007 in DXLD-ML) ............................................................... Logs - ERITREA Voice of Meselna Delina 7335 V.of Meselna Delina Sep 25 *1700-1713 32432-21431 Tigrigna, 1700 sign on with URL announce, Talk, New frequency, //(ex:11765kHz). (Ko.Hashimoto-J Sep 25, 2007 in JAP 492) ............................................................... Logs - ETHIOPIA Andenet Ledemocracy 15260 Andenet Ledemocracy Mi/Fr/So 1600-1700 via Samara in Amharisch wird heute schön gejammt. Ein üblicher Wisch-wasch Bubble Jammer like ex-against RIAS, und ein Rascheln/Rauschen Unit noch im Hintergrund. (W.Büschel-D Sep 21, 2007 in A-DX-ML) Ethiopian People Patriotic Front 15260 Ethiopian People Patriotic Front (EPPF) *1600-1709* Sept.20. Noted at 1553 with 800 hertz tones. Horn of Africa Musical with singers in Amharic at 1600. Into opening announcements, noted a partial ID for 'ye demoractica .. arbenyoch ..yea', but a terrible warbler type of noise appeared during the entire broadcast. It remained on the whole time till sign-off. The entire program consisted of talks, with Horn of Africa Instrumental Dance Music with singers, but a very tinny musical sound. Again on this one, this broadcast went past the schedule sign-off at 1700 to 1709 with repeat of the last song several times. (E.Kusalik-AB-CAN Sep 20, 2007 for CRW) Voice of Oromo Liberation 13830 V.of Oromo Liberation via DTK Sep 13 *1700-1706 25432-25422 Oromo, 1700 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Sep 13, 2007 in JAP 492) ............................................................... Logs - IRAN Radio Payam-e Doost 7480 R.Payam-e Doost Sep 20 *1800-1810 35433 Farsi, 1800 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Talk. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Sep 20, 2007 in JAP 492) MOLDAVIA 7480 Radio Payam e-Doost, 18:00-18:03, escuchada el 23 de septiembre en farsi, se inicia con tonos horarios, comentarios con música de fondo, SINPO 34232. (J.Miguel Romero-E Sep 23, 2007 in CDXL-ML) Radio Zamaneh UCRANIA. Ya son varios días que no se escucha a Radio Zamaneh en 6245, vía Ucrania. Hoy e podido comprobar en su página web http://www.radiozamaneh.com/ que si estaban emitiendo a la hora indicada, e podido reconocer a la voz de la locutora y su música característica, sin embargo nada en Onda Corta, tampoco e encontrado frecuencia de reemplazo. ¿Servicio cancelado?, empieza a cobrar fuerza la hipótesis. (J.Miguel Romero-E Sep 16, 2007 in DXLD-ML) ............................................................... Logs - KASHMIR Voice of Jammu Kashmir Freedom 5102 V.O.Jammu Kashmir Freedom Sep 24 *1300-1310 45433 Kashmiri, 1300 sign on with opening music, ID, Opening announce, Koran, Talk. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Sep 24, 2007 in JAP 492) ............................................................... Logs - KOREA (NORTH) Shiokaze/Sea Breeze 9485, Shiokaze/Sea Breeze via Taiwan, 1306-1311 & 1316-1320, Sept 22 (Sat.), in English. IDs "This is Shiokaze Sea Breeze from Tokyo, Japan", details and stories about abductees (believe this may be the identical program that was on last Sat.), fair to good till 1318, due to absence of the usual splatter from 9480, which did not start till suddenly on at 1318. (R.Howard-CA Sep 22, 2007 in DXLD-ML) Voice of the People 6600, Voice of the People, South Korea (pres.), 1152-1153, Sep 23, music, maybe // 3912, both very weak. (D.Valko-PA-USA Sep 23, 2007 in DX-Window 334) ............................................................... Logs - KURDISTAN Voice of Mesopotamia MOLDAVIA 11530 Dengue Mezopotamia, 19:55-20:00, captada el 16 de septiembre en idioma kurdo con la emisión del Himno Nacional del final de emisión, sintonía, segmento de música, terminan con un pequeño fragmento musical interpretado por flauta, SINPO 34443. (J.Miguel Romero-E Sep 16, 2007 in DXLD-ML) 11530 V.of Mesopotamia Sep 22 1216-1226 35333 Kurdish, Kurdish music and talk, ID at 1221. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Sep 22, 2007 in JAP 492) 11530 V.of Mesopotamia Sep 24 1220-1230 35333 Kurdish, Kurdish music, ID at 1222. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Sep 24, 2007 in JAP 492) 11530 V.of Mesopotamia Sep 25 1205-1216 35333-35433 Kurdish, Talk and kurdish music, ID at 1214. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Sep 25, 2007 in JAP 492) ............................................................... Logs - LAOS Hmong Lao Radio WHRI 11785, Sat Sept 29 around 1330 with that wonderful solo singing, leaping an octave up and down, from Hmong Lao Radio. Later, into rustic instrumental music with the barnyard background sounds. After OCS and ID, at 1400 switched to Hmong World Christian Radio. Presumably for a semi-hour only; I keep missing the 1430 break, but at 1455 recheck WHRI was back to gospel rock in English fill. Yes, as of Sept 29, WHR online schedule finally shows HWCR both Sat & Sun 1400-1430 on 11785 (G.Hauser-OK-USA Sep 29, 2007 in DXLD-ML) ............................................................... Logs - MYANMAR Democratic Voice of Burma 26/09/2007, 1500 utc, 15480 kHz, Voice of Democratic Burma, fair. (I.Lebedevsky-RUS Sep 26, 2007 in CDX-ML) BURMA [non]: DVB 9490 via Wertachtal at 0010-0025 29 Sept in Burmese and possibly another language after 0015. Strong and clear signal. I have an old (over five years) language sked from Cumbre that says there is a 15m Kachin broadcast every Saturday. At 0015 I heard either a different language or a non-native Burmese speaker speaking Burmese-my guess is the first. Can anyone verify these languages? Their website says nothing. You can theoretically view the site in several non-Burmese languages but I got 404 messages for all of them. (L.Cameron-MI-USA Sep 26, 2007 in DXLD-ML) 15480, Democratic Voice of Burma, via Gavar, Armenia, *1430-1510, Sep 28, song about Myanmar, Burmese ann, news, 55454, but not heard on // 17625. (A.Petersen-DNK Sep 28, 2007 in DX-Window 334) 9490, Democratic Voice of Burma, via Wertachtal, Germany, *2330-0030*, Sep 28-29, opening tune, Burmese ann, news, 0015 Kachim (as listed) ann, news, music, comments, closed with a western pop song, 35232. (A.Petersen-DNK Sep 29, 2007 in DX-Window 334) ............................................................... Logs - NIGERIA Voice of Biafra International 15665.30 Voice of Biafra International via WHRI. *2000-2040 Sept.21. Sign-on @ 1959 for WHRI, into Tribal Music, and station ID as 'You are tuned to Voice of Biafra International broadcast, coming to you from Washington. DC. Transmitting on 15.67 MHz in the 19 meter band. Beginning you matters of Interest to Biafra." Opening Prayer, Newscast and News Analysis Segment featured in both English & Igbo). (E.Kusalik-AB-CAN Sep 21, 2007 for CRW) V. of Biafra International via WHRI, 15665, Friday Sept 21 at 2041 tune in with speaker denouncing atrocities of Gowan, etc. Signal VG fading deeply during which the long-path echo could be heard. 2053 played `God Bless Africa`, 2055 sign-off ID still imagining it is on ``15.67 MHz``, some hilife music and 2159 WHRI closing. Meanwhile, I was also hearing NIGERIA, q.v. It seems VOBI has some vague plan to increase from weekly to daily broadcasts, so should check this on non-Fridays too (G.Hauser-OK-USA Sep 21, 2007 in HCDX-ML) ............................................................... Logs - RUSSIA Radio Liberty Germany, 6115, Radio Free Europe, 2345-0010 Prior to the hour, noted pop music. On the hour, female in Russian language comments and news. Signal was fair. (C.Bolland-FL-USA Sep 21, 2007 in DXLD-ML) ............................................................... Logs - SOMALIA Radio Mustaqbal 15140 R.Mustaqbal via Meyerton Sep 18 1231-1235* 35433 Somali, Talk and music, 1234 Closing announce, 1235 sign off. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Sep 18, 2007 in JAP 492) 15215, R Mustaqbal, via Rampisham, United Kingdom, 0610-0612*, We Sep 19, Somali closing ann and ID after song from Horn of Africa, 35343. (A.Petersen-DNK Sep 22, 2007 in DX-Window 334) 15140 R.Mustaqbal via Meyerton Sep 22 *1205-1215 35433 Somali, 1205 sign on with opening music, Opening announce, Talk. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Sep 22, 2007 in JAP 492) 15160, R Mustaqbal, via Dhabbaya, United Arab Emirates, *1130-1159*, We Sep 19 and Sa Sep 22, 1129 Test tones, Somali talk with 2-note gong, songs from Horn of Africa, closed with spelling of SAIT (?), 35232. This frequency is used by CRI in Khmer until 1130* and by RFI via Meyerton in French from *1200. (A.Petersen-DNK Sep 22, 2007 in DX-Window 334) 15140, R Mustaqbal, via Meyerton, Rep. of South Africa, *1205-1233*, Sa Sep 22, Somali ann and talk, song from the Horn of Africa, ID at close, 35434. (A.Petersen-DNK Sep 29, 2007 in DX-Window 334) ............................................................... Logs - VIETNAM Degar Voice 7250 Degar Voice via Taiwan Sep 25 *1300-1316 44444-43443 Vietnamese, 1300 sign on with IS, ID, Opening announce, Talk and music, //Tue only. (Ko.Hashimoto-J Sep 25, 2007 in JAP 492) ............................................................... Logs - WESTERN SAHARA National Radio of the Arab-Saharan Democratic Republic ARGELIA 6300 Radio Nacional Saharaui, 17:31-17:40, escuchada el 17 de septiembre en árabe con emisión de música folklórica local, SINPO 32332. (J.Miguel Romero-E Sep 17, 2007 for CRW) 6300 RADS Republic Arabic Saharaui Radio, 2140-2145, September 22, Arabic, local songs and short announcements by male & female, 24432. (A.Slaen-ARG Sep 22, 2007 in HCDX-ML) ARGELIA 6300 Radio Nacional Saharaui, 18:12-18:25, escuchada el 25 de septiembre en árabe con emisión de música folklórica local, acompañada de ese sonido característico que hacen las mujeres con la boca, la música tiene un ritmo cansino y repetitivo, música con instrumentos de cuerda, locutor con identificación en árabe, comentarios, SINPO 45433. (J.Miguel Romero-E Sep 25, 2007 in DXLD-ML) ............................................................... Logs - ZIMBABWE Radio Voice of the People MADAGASCAR. 9765, Radio Voice of the People, 0425-0458*, Sept 23, Tune-in to vernacular talk. English IDs. Brief breaks of Afro-pop music. English at 0440 with program about human rights in Zimbabwe. Closing ID announcements with schedule, address, and web site address a 0457. Good. Strong, but slight QRM from weak music loop jammer. (B.Alexander-PA-USA Sep 23, 2007 in DXplorer-ML) SW Radio Africa REINO UNIDO 12035, SW Radio África, 18:45-18:50, escuchada el 18 de septiembre en inglés, locutora con invitado en comentarios, referencias a Mugabe y Zimbawe, SINPO 44554. (J.Miguel Romero-E Sep 18, 2007 in DXLD-ML) RUSIA 11810 SW Radio África, 18:40-18:45, escuchada el 18 de septiembre en inglés, invitado con comentarios, SINPO 33433. (J.Miguel Romero-E Sep 18, 2007 in DXLD-ML) RUSIA 11810 SW Radio Africa, 17:52-17:58, escuchada el 23 de septiembre en inglés, locutor en conversación con invitado, SINPO 44444. (J.Miguel Romero-E Sep 23, 2007 in CDXL-ML) ------------xxxxxxxxxx QSL Verifications xxxxxxxxxx------------ Qsl's - KOREA (NORTH) Furusato no Kaze 9780 Furusato no Kaze (via Taiwan). Received 'a thank you for my report of Furusato no Kaze' letter. In the letter, they stated that they no not have QSL Cards ( returned my PPC's not stamped or signed either) Received several booklets on Abductees that have been missing. This for a Postal report with a MP3 CD Recording. Mentioned too that return postage is not need, as a this week received back money remittance in the form of a Canadian Postal Money for $1.07 posted from Ottawa! Reply in 54 days. v/s: Toshiyuki Mizutani (E.Kusalik-AB-CAN Sep 22, 2007 for CRW) ............................................................... Qsl's - VIETNAM Radio Hoa Mai HAWAII: RADIO HOA MAI via KWHR, 12130 to VIETNAM. Full-data except for frequency (but including transmitter site) personal letter listing, in Vietnamese, all the items included in the broadcast I reported. Most concerned the recent confiscation of homes and land by the government which then turned them over to loyal communists. This situation has received little coverage in the American media (I have seen none), however foreign news organizations have covered it extensively on the Internet, and presumably in the foreign press, with articles and photos of the demonstrations against the government. I have followed this situation rather closely since some of my friends in Vietnam recently had their home and land stolen by the Vietnamese government with no compensation. This in 1 month from Nguyen CongBang, Executive Director. There was an additional personal letter from Mr. Nguyen, and my dollar was returned. Address: Radio Hoa Mai, PO Box 842064, Houston, TX 77284. (W.Craighead-KS-USA Sep 26, 2007 in DXplorer-ML) ------------xxxxxxxxxx Miscellaneous xxxxxxxxxx----------------- Misc - EASTERN EUROPE DEATH ANNOUNCED OF DUTCH WAR HERO WHO WAS DIRECTOR OF RFE --- The death has been announced of Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema, considered the greatest hero of the Netherlands against Nazi occupation during World War II. Hazelhoff, who died on Wednesday at his home in Ahualoa in Hawaii, was 90. He was known as the “Soldier of Orange,” a reference to the Dutch Royal House of Orange, and was a close friend of the Dutch Royal Family. Among his broadcasting exploits, Hazelhoff served as a director of Radio Free Europe, and helped to create the NBC “Today” show. Read the obituary in the Star Bulletin http://starbulletin.com/2007/09/29/news/story12.html Official website of Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema http://www.erikhazelhoff.com/ (A.Sennit-HOL Sep 29, 2007 in Media Network blog via DXLD 7-118) ............................................................... Misc - IRAN Radio Farda correspondent allowed to leave Iran Text of report by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty website on 18 September Radio Farda correspondent Parnaz Azima, a virtual prisoner in Iran for more than eight months, has left Iran and is en route to the United States -- but criminal charges against her have not been lifted. RFE/RL President Jeff Gedmin welcomed news of Azima's departure, saying: "For eight long months, Parnaz' colleagues at RFE/RL have been waiting for the day when she will be a free person again. We are happy Parnaz can finally be reunited with her family and see her newborn grandchild for the first time." But Gedmin said he remains concerned because a legal cloud still hangs over Azima. A citizen of both the U.S. and Iran, Azima's Iranian passport was confiscated on arrival in Tehran in late January to visit her ailing mother. She has been charged with acting against Iranian national security and spreading anti-Iranian propaganda by working for "counterrevolutionary" Radio Farda. The criminal case against her remains active and the deed to her mother's house in Tehran, offered in lieu of 550,000 US dollar in bail, has not been returned. Azima has rejected the charges, stating repeatedly that she was only doing her job as a journalist. She was trapped in Iran with three other Iranian-Americans. Woodrow Wilson International Center scholar Haleh Esfandiari returned to the U.S. earlier this month after spending 105 days in prison, while Open Society Institute consultant Kian Tajbakhsh and peace activist Ali Shakeri remain in jail. Gedmin said: "I and the entire RFE/RL family express our profound thanks to everyone who has kept Parnaz in their hearts during this long ordeal -- from representatives of the U.S. Government and members of the U.S. Congress, to officials at the Swiss Embassy in Tehran, to the many non-governmental organizations, groups and individuals that raised their voices to demand Parnaz' freedom and the freedom of all the innocent Iranian-Americans being held by the Iranian government. We join our voice to theirs in demanding freedom for jailed Iranian-Americans, and Iranian prisoners of conscience." Azima was scheduled to leave on Saturday 15 September, but was prevented from doing so by customs officials who insisted that, because she had been in Iran for more than eight months, she was now legally considered a resident of Iran and had to have her passport amended to reflect this. Azima is a broadcaster with Radio Farda, the joint RFE/RL-Voice of America 24-hour, seven-day-a-week Persian-language broadcast service to Iran. She joined RFE/RL in 1998 and is based at RFE/RL's broadcast headquarters in Prague, Czech Republic. Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty website, Washington, D.C., in English 0000 gmt 18 Sep 07 (BBCM Sep 18, 2007 for CRW) ............................................................... Misc - MYANMAR EXILE MYANMAR RADIO STATION SENDS NEWS TO PRO-DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS AT HOME © AP 24.09.2007 17:49:21 (live-PR.com) - http://www.live-pr.com/en/exile-myanmar-radio-station-sends-news-r1048158288.htm OSLO, Norway (AP) - From a warehouse-like building in Norway's capital, a tiny broadcast network called the Democratic Voice of Burma is struggling to provide news and encouragement to countrymen rising up against the military dictatorship at home. Secret recordings of red-clad monks and other protesters marching Monday in the pouring rain in Myanmar's biggest city, Yangon, flashed across computer screens at the network's plain but tidy office.Chief Editor Aye Chan Naing said strict control of the news media in Myanmar, also known as Burma, means the first news its citizens often get of what is going on in their own country comes through the station's shortwave radio, satellite TV and Internet services. «There is no other way for the people of Burma to get news,» he told The Associated Press on Monday, claiming that broadcasts reach as many as 5 million people in the Southeast Asian nation of 54 million.Exiled pro-democracy student activists, including Naing, founded the radio station in 1992, a year after Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo for her peaceful pro-democracy campaign. Suu Kyi's party won a 1990 general election, but was not allowed to take office by the military, which has been in power since 1962. She has been detained for about 12 of the past 18 years. The pro-democracy radio station, funded by grants from government and free speech groups from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands and the United States, was founded in Oslo because of Suu Kyi's Nobel Prize, Naing said. To support the growing protests at home, the station's staff of 10 activists have doubled their shortwave radio broadcasts to seven hours per day, and have stepped up TV transmissions. But Naing said they are quickly running out of money. «We're almost broke,» said Naing. «We lost some cameras in Burma. Some were confiscated by the authorities.» He said other cameras and equipment were damaged. Just the same, he expressed determination. «Depending what happens in Burma, we may extend to 24 hours,» he said. Norwegian Aid Minister Erik Solheim this weekend said he would promptly consider any application for additional funding. Naing said he plans to apply as soon as possible. The network sends news, appeals from leading opposition figures and information about planned protests, said Naing. He said the media is so strictly controlled in Myanmar that almost anything they transmit is news to the people there. Last year, the network transmitted TV footage of Suu Kyi's 1991 Nobel Prize awards ceremony, which she did not attend for fear of being barred from returning home. «It was a 15-year-old story, but it was still news in Burma,» Naing said at the downtown office, decorated with pictures of Suu Kyi and lapel buttons saying «Free Suu. The station's reporters in Burma, often using tiny hidden cameras, provide the world an often unique glimpse of what is going on there.«We have 30-40 people on the ground, all undercover journalists,» he said. «All of the journalists shooting now were brought to a secret location in Thailand for training. He declined to say how they get images and news out of Myanmar, although he said, despite strict military restrictions, the Internet is crucial. Sometimes, TV footage is sent one frame at a time to get it through. Working openly, he said, brings the risk of arrest, or confiscation of cameras and equipment. Naing, 42, was a dentistry student when he fled Myanmar in 1988, spending three years in Thailand, learning journalism there. After stops in Germany and Sweden, he ended up in Oslo in 1992. He said he hopes someday to return to a democratic Myanmar, with the freedom to criticize whatever government is in power. On the Net http://www.dvb.no (Live-pr.com via A.Bigley, M.Cooper-CAN Sep 24, 2007 in DXLD 7-116) INTERNATIONAL RADIOS STEP UP BROADCASTS | Report by Lewis Macleod of BBC Monitoring on 28 September Key international broadcasters to Burma are stepping up transmissions in the light of the mass anti-government protests taking place there. The wide availability of low-cost receivers that can be run on batteries during Burma's frequent electricity blackouts makes radio popular and important. Some 38 per cent of Burmese listen to radio at least once a week, according to the BBC World Service Trust. Most Burmese listen to music and radio plays on the country's two domestic radio stations, while they get their news from foreign shortwave services such as the BBC World Service, Voice of America, Radio Free Asia and the Oslo-based Democratic Voice of Burma. Despite being firmly of the "old media", these platforms have nevertheless been utilizing the full potential of internet blogs, mobile phone clips and eyewitness reports, delivering back to Burma the material that most of the population are unable to access themselves by the internet due to restrictions and low penetration. BBC Burmese Service In 2005, a BBC World Service Trust survey found that more than two thirds of radio listeners listen to the BBC World Service at least once a week, with 38 per cent listening to VOA. The BBC Burmese Service, started in 1940, had been broadcasting one hour and fifteen minutes a day; half an hour at dawn and forty-five minutes in the evening. From 27 September, the morning programme has been extended by half an hour and the evening programme by 15 minutes. A first comprehensive independent media survey inside Burma in 2005 found that the BBC Burmese Service had a weekly audience of 23 per cent of all adults, averaging 7.1 million listeners every week; a larger audience than for any other international broadcasters to Burma. [no schedule given] US international radio Voice of America and Radio Free Asia (RFA) operate under the oversight of the US Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG). Voice of America announced on 27 September that it was doubling broadcasts in Burmese from Wednesday 26 September. Broadcasts can also be followed on its web page, http://www.VOANews.com/Burmese. The new schedule and (kHz) frequencies are: 1130-1230 utc 11965, 15540, 17775 1430-1500 utc 1575, 9325, 11910, 12120 1500-1530 utc 9325, 11910, 12120 1500-1530 utc (Sat, Sun only) 1575 2300-2400 utc 6185, 7430, 11980 In a report on VOA's website headlined "Burmese TV blames protests on Western broadcasters," the BBG chairman, James Glassman, said VOA and RFA airtime to Burma had increased because "the Burmese people are starving for accurate information, both about the world's reaction to their struggle for democracy, and also about what is happening in their own land." VOA is now airing programmes in Burmese for three hours daily up from 90 minutes and RFA's Burmese-language broadcasts have been increased from two hours to four hours daily. RFA is the US government-funded broadcaster in Asia. Founded in 1996, It broadcasts in nine languages to China, Tibet, Burma, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and North Korea. RFA broadcasts about 200 hours per week, primarily on shortwave. It also audio streams broadcasts in all nine languages over the internet. Burmese exile broadcaster increases transmission hours The Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), an exile-operated shortwave station based in Norway, aims "to provide accurate and unbiased news," according to its website http://www.dvb.no/ This station provides reporting on the activities of opposition parties and exiled political and armed groups, human rights issues, the actions of pro-democracy activists, and other reports on political developments in Burma. The DVB has increased its hours of transmission to report on the continuing anti-government protests. Al-Jazeera English on 25 September broadcast a three-minute video report by Barnaby Phillips, filmed at the organization's studios in the Norwegian capital. Phillips said that radio transmissions had been increased from two to nine hours a day and that the broadcaster was "doing more television, using tapes smuggled out of the country". Phillips also interviewed the station's chief editor, Aya Chen Naing, who talked of a network of "undercover reporters" who were filing reports by telephone and said that the station was also receiving many secretly filmed pictures of demonstrations, mostly received via the internet. Shortwave All four of these international stations broadcast on shortwave. Their broadcasts are also available on satellite or from the internet. But only about 2 million of the population of 50 million are estimated to have satellite dishes, while internet access is tightly controlled by the government, even in normal times. Battery-run shortwave radio receivers, unlike internet and mobile phone services, cannot be turned off at a stroke by a central authority. Nor are they affected by the electricity blackouts that are frequent in Burma. Source: BBC Monitoring research 28 Sep 07 (via DXLD 7-117) Los birmanos se informan a través de una radio que emite desde Noruega El Mundo, España Desde Oslo, a varios miles de kilómetros de distancia, emite su señal la radio 'Voz Democrática de Birmania', probablemente la más importante fuente de información para la población de Myanmar. De hecho, muchas de las imágenes de las manifestaciones en Myanmar emitidas en medios internacionales han sido grabadas por reporteros de esta radio. Está estación de radio y televisión pirata, con sede en Noruega, es el mejor ejemplo de cómo los nuevos medios de comunicación pueden servir como instrumento para impulsar la democracia en países dónde la opacidad informativa es total. La emisora fue creada con fondos noruegos en 1991, poco después de que se le otorgara el Premio Nobel de la Paz a la dirigente opositora birmana Aung San Suu Kyu. Hasta ahora transmitía dos horas por día por onda corta y desde hace poco tiempo también por satélite. La generalización de la ola de protestas contra el régimen militar en Rangún ha llevado en estos días a ampliar las emisiones a siete horas diarias. Los 15 colaboradores de la radio en Escandinavia se nutren como fuente de contactos secretos con informantes en Myanmar, entre los que se cuentan también los monjes budistas que encabezan las manifestaciones. Además, tiene a varios infiltrados entre los manifestantes. Sus presentadores están en Oslo, y las entrevistas en directo se emiten en Myanmar por satélite. Para el director de 'DVB' (siglas con las que se conoce a la radio), según recoge la web EuroNews, la existencia de la emisora también es crucial dentro de las fronteras birmanas. "Normalmente, la gente no tiene una información objetiva de lo que está pasando; ni en la televisión estatal, ni en la radio ni en los periódicos... los medios cuentan más bien la versión opuesta de la historia." El gobierno militar birmano no sólo mantiene un férreo control de los medios de comunicación tradicionales, sino que bloquea también la difusión de información a través de Internet. Por esa razón, en uno de los estados más cerrados del mundo (la única fuente de información dentro de Myanmar es la prensa estatal, rígidamente controlada por la Junta Militar), que censura a los periodistas extranjeros, gran parte de la cobertura mundial de los medios proviene de reporteros exiliados en países como Tailandia e India y de sus contactos clandestinos en el interior. El empleo de las nuevas tecnologías, que va desde los últimos dispositivos de Internet hasta la comunicación vía satélite o los teléfonos con cámara, está logrando que las imágenes de las marchas de monjes y civiles, así como la respuesta de las fuerzas de seguridad, aparezcan en las televisiones de todo el mundo en horas. La parte más peligrosa del trabajo corre a cargo de los reporteros que graban con cámaras diminutas la evolución de la revuelta callejera, como explica el segundo de abordo de la radio. "Todos nuestros periodistas trabajan de forma clandestina, nunca dicen que son de la 'DVB'. Si lo hicieran, serían detenidos de inmediato". El contraste con el último gran levantamiento en Myanmar, en 1988, no podría ser más rotundo. En ese incidente fueron asesinadas 3.000 personas a manos de soldados que dispararon contra multitudes de personas, pero pasaron días hasta que las noticias, y qué decir de las imágenes, vieron la luz. "La diferencia es como el día y la noche", asegura Dominic Faulder, un periodista británico presente en Bangkok durante el levantamiento de 1988. "Ahora, todos los habitantes son periodistas equipados con todo tipo de dispositivos para capturar información, desde teléfonos hasta cámaras de video que no se usaban en 1988", agregó. Ahora, 19 años después, mientras las tropas efectuaban disparos de advertencia a las multitudes en Rangún, "periodistas ciudadanos" furiosos, mezclados en las masas, enviaban sus pensamientos, imágenes y vídeos a cadenas como la CNN y la BBC. (El Mundo, España via A.Slaen-ARG Sep 30, 2007 in DXLD-ML) ............................................................... Misc - SOMALIA Nueva web de Radio Hargeisa Radio Hargeisa cuenta con una nueva página web. Se desconoce si emite por Onda Corta. http://www.radiohargeysa.net/ (J.Miguel Romero-E Sep 19, 2007 in DXLD-ML) MOGADISHU-BASED LEADING SOMALIA RADIO STATION ATTACKED | Excerpt from report by Somali pro-Puntland government Puntlandpost website on 18 September Some workers of Shabeelle Radio told us that they were attacked and a heavy shoot-out is currently continuing at the radio's premises. Sources told us that the radio station was directly targeted in the attack. Jaffar Muhammad Kuukay, one of the radio administrators said the bullets have entered inside the building. The attack has damaged equipment and some reporters are said to be injured. "The staff of the station fled when the attack on the premises started. Nobody knows where they are. Although I can't confirm, I am saying that there are losses including deaths and injuries" he said. Source: Somali Puntlandpost website in Somali 18 Sep 07 (via BBCM via DXLD 7-113) SOMALI POLICE BESIEGE RADIO STATION Somali security forces surrounded the independent Shabelle radio station in Mogadishu today after firing shots on the building, an AFP correspondent reported. The incident came three days after police stormed the radio station, accusing one of its journalists of hurling a grenade at a police patrol and detaining 14 members of staff. “We are trapped inside the building because the government forces have sealed off the streets around the station. They are opening heavy fire on the building,” a Shabelle journalist told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. ”Everybody is lying on the floor. We cannot keep our heads up because of gunfire. They are asking us to open the gates and nobody is willing to do that. Most of the windows are shattered,” he added. At least seven journalists have been killed in Somalia this year. Media watchdogs have urged all sides to ensure better protection for journalists, several of whom have also been wounded or robbed. Somalia is the second deadliest country in the world for journalists in 2007, after Iraq, according to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists. The troubled Horn of Africa country has had no central authority since former dictator Mohamed Siad Barre was toppled in 1991 and has defied numerous attempts to restore stability. (Source: AFP) (A.Sennit-HOL Sep 18, 2007 in Media Network blog via DXLD 7-113) Shabelle Radio office raided, 19 detained Text of press release by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on 18 September Members of the Somali Transitional National Government security forces raided the Radio Shabelle office in the capital, Mogadishu, Saturday [15 September] morning and detained 19 staff members. The security forces accused the journalists of throwing a grenade at a police patrol, reported one of the detained staffers. Security forces fired into a nearby hallway during a daily editorial meeting at the Shabelle office, forcing the journalists to take cover, reported one of the staff members. The Radio Shabelle staff were detained and harassed by the police at the central police station for two-and-a-half hours. "The Somali government should be protecting journalists in the capital, not persecuting them," CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon said. "Many Mogadishu-based journalists have been forced to flee the country due to the ongoing intimidation of journalists. We call on the government to stop this harassment and to move its forces away from the main gates of the Shabelle Media Network offices." According to local press reports, Somalia Police spokesman Abdel Wahid Mohamed confirmed the raid but said it was an "unfortunate incident" carried out by "undisciplined elements within the security forces". Wahid denied the allegations that the journalists threw grenades at the security forces. The chairman of Shabelle Media Network, Abdmalik Yusuf Mohammed, has appealed to the Transitional National Government to withdraw its forces stationed at the main gate of the radio station. Yusuf said the government soldiers are harassing any journalist entering the station's premises at Bakara Market in downtown Mogadishu. Last Wednesday [12 September], Somali soldiers made a mass arrest of 70 civilians in Bakara market, including Puntlandpost correspondent Mohamed Hussein Jimaale, according to the National Union of Somali Journalists. Privately-run Global Broadcasting Corporation Radio and TV station closed down last month in Huruwaa, Mogadishu, after more than 12 station staffers fled due to heightened insecurity in the area, reported the station's owner, Dalmar Yusuf Ghelle. Six Somali journalists have been killed in direct relation to their work this year, making it the second deadliest country worldwide for journalists in 2007, CPJ research shows. Only Iraq has been more lethal for journalists. Source: Committee to Protect Journalists press release, New York, in English 18 Sep 07 (BBCM Sep 18, 2007 for CRW) Shabeelle Radio accuses government of "fresh threats" Excerpt from report by Somali independent Radio HornAfrik on 19 September [Presenter] The management of Shabeelle Radio, which is off air for the second day, has blamed the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia for being responsible for the closure of the station after receiving threats from the government forces based near the station. Yasmine Umar has the details. [Umar] Clashes in the Second Avenue Road in Bakaara Market where the Shabeelle Radio broadcasting centre is based has made the station to stop the services it had been rendering to the public. Bullets fired have entered the station's building. Jafar Kukay, who is the acting director of Shabeelle Radio, comments on the reasons that led to the closure of the station that had worked in Mogadishu for a long time. [Break in transmission, passage omitted] [Kukay] Following a lengthy consultation, the management has decided to have the station off air after we received fresh threats from government forces who attacked the station today [yesterday]. The government forces said that they will ensure the station remained off air. [Passage omitted] Source: Radio HornAfrik, Mogadishu, in Somali 0500 gmt 19 Sep 07 (BBCM Sep 19, 2007 for CRW) Radio Shabelle manager escapes assassination attempt Text of press release by Paris-based organization Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) on 27 September Reporters Without Borders is appalled by the attempted murder on 24 September of privately-owned Radio Shabelle's acting manager, Jafar "Kukay" Mohammed, the latest target of a wave of political killings that seems to be aimed at demonstrating that the transitional federal government is unable to guarantee security in the Somali capital. The press freedom organization protests against the failure of federal and local authorities to protect independent journalists and leading civil society members who are the potential targets of this wave of killings, and against the fact that journalists continue to be arrested arbitrarily. Three were arrested in past few days in the provinces of Puntland and Hiran. "Caught in the cross-fire of targeted killings and arbitrary arrests, Somali journalists have reached a critical threshold that is threatening the survival of an independent press in Somalia," Reporters Without Borders said. "The transitional federal government's failure to take action in these circumstances in incomprehensible." The attack on Mohammed was carried out by an unidentified man, who pulled out a pistol from under his shirt and fired at him twice but failed to hit him. The assailant then fled. Radio Shabelle has not been broadcasting since a unit of police and intelligence officers opened fire 10 days ago on the central Mogadishu building that houses its studios because they suspected it had been used for a grenade attack on a patrol. The government later said it was an "accident." The station's staff are in hiding or are trying to flee the country to get out of harm's way. The attempted shooting of Radio Shabelle's manager brings the number of targeted attacks on journalists in the capital since January to four. Two of the journalists were killed in these attacks. Thirteen of Mogadishu's 16 district commissioners or their deputies have been murdered in similar circumstances. The latest was shot by unidentified gunmen on the evening of 25 September. This wave of killings is thought to be the work of Islamist insurgents fighting the transitional government that has controlled Mogadishu with support from Ethiopia and the international community since December 2006. The first journalist to fall victim to this kind of attack, one aimed at demonstrating the government's inability to maintain security in the capital, was BBC producer Kate Peyton, killed on 9 February 2005 by gunmen loyal to a Mogadishu clan then controlling an Islamic court. The government and the local authorities loyal to it meanwhile continue to arrest journalists who give them problems. Independent journalists Libaan Gahnug and Faysal Jama were arrested by the security forces of the semi-autonomous northeastern region of Puntland on 25 September after photographing fighting in the disputed town of Las Anod between Puntland troops and forces from the breakaway northern territory of Somaliland. Gahnug was released the same day but Jama is still being held. Hussein Hassan Dhaqane, a journalist with privately-owned Radio Darban, was arrested for still unknown reasons on the evening of 23 September in Beledweyne, in the southern Hiran region (100 km north of Baidoa). He is still being held by the regional police. Source: Reporters Sans Frontieres press release, Paris, in English 27 Sep 07 (BBCM Sep 27, 2007 for CRW) ............................................................... Misc - USA PENNSYLVANIA AIR NATIONAL GUARD RETIRES BROADCASTING AIRCRAFT The Pennsylvania Air National Guard 193rd Special Operations Wing has retired commando Solo II, its 1963 aircraft which operated a flying radio and television station over Haiti, Grenada, Afghanistan, Iraq, Panama, Bosnia, Kosovo and other world hotspots. The plane was put to rest yesterday in a ceremony at Fort Indiantown Gap and is now on permanent display at the gap for public viewing. The EC-130E aircraft, the military’s only airborne broadcasting system, was used for psychological operations. It logged nearly 12,000 flying hours with the wing, including nearly 2,700 combat flying hours. Last year, the aircraft was replaced by Commando Solo III, an upgraded broadcast system based on the EC-130J. (Source: PennLive) Related story: US Air Force expands fleet of Commando Solo aircraft http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/?p=2790 (A.Sennit-HOL Sep 24, 2007 in Media Network blog via DXLD 7-116) ------------xxxxxxxxxx Sources xxxxxxxxxx---------------------- Contributors: Anker Petersen, Edward Kusalik, Gaku Iwata, José Miguel Romero, 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.