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<font size="3"><b>AMARC
ObsMedia News Update for August 2005</b></font>
<p><font size="3"><i>August 2, 2005</i></font></p>
<p style="border: medium none ; padding: 0cm;"><font size="3">***********</font></p>
<pre
style="border: medium none ; padding: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm; margin-bottom: 0.5cm;"><font
color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><i>Welcome to <b>ObsMedia</b>'s monthly electronic update.</i> </font></font></font></pre>
<p style="border: medium none ; padding: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><font
color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><i>The
<b>AMARC</b> international media observatory, <b>ObsMedia</b>,
monitors community media development worldwide and reports on the
progress of governments in opening up their airwaves to community
media and civil society access to broadcasting. </i></font></font></font>
</p>
<p
style="border: medium none ; padding: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm; text-decoration: none;"
lang="en-CA">
<font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><i>Community
media recognition is an important factor in the development of a
truly inclusive Information Society. AMARC advocates for the
recognition of community media as a new tiers of communication. As
well, the organization calls for the recognition of communication
rights and the right to communicate, as well as access to radio
spectrum worldwide. </i></font></font></font>
</p>
<p style="border: medium none ; padding: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><font
color="#000000"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><i><font
face="Times New Roman, serif">We
encourage you to contribute to the development of <b>ObsMedia</b> by
submitting information related to community media in your area. To do
so, please write to </font></i></span><a
href="mailto:obsmedia@amarc.org"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><u><i><font
face="Times New Roman, serif"><span style="text-decoration: none;">obsmedia@amarc.org</span></font></i></u></span></a></font><a
href="mailto:obsmedia@amarc.org"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><u><i><font
face="Times New Roman, serif"><span style="text-decoration: none;">.
</span></font></i></u></span></a><i><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><b>ObsMedia</b>
is currently available in English (<span style="text-decoration: none;"><font
color="#800000">
</font></span></font></i><a href="mailto:obsmedia@amarc.org"><span
style="text-decoration: none;"><u><i><font
face="Times New Roman, serif"><font color="#000080">obsmedia@amarc.org</font></font></i></u></span></a><span
style="text-decoration: none;"><font color="#800000">
<i><font face="Times New Roman, serif">) </font></i></font></span><i><font
face="Times New Roman, serif">and
Spanish (</font></i><a href="http://alc.amarc.org/legislaciones"><i><font
face="Times New Roman, serif">http://alc.amarc.org/legislaciones</font></i></a><a
href="http://alc.legislaciones.amarc.org/"><i><font
face="Times New Roman, serif">.<span style="text-decoration: none;">)
</span></font></i></a><i><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><span
style="text-decoration: none;">B</span>ut
contributions in French are encouraged.</font></i></p>
<p style="border: medium none ; padding: 0cm; margin-left: 1.25cm;"><i><font
face="Times New Roman, serif"><font color="#000000"><span
style="text-decoration: none;">The
World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters <b>(AMARC)</b> is
an international non-governmental organization serving the community
radio movement. <b>AMARC</b> represents the interests of more than
3,000 community radio stations in over 110 countries. <span
lang="en-CA">F</span>or
more information, please visit the <b>AMARC</b>'s Web site </span><span
lang="en-CA">at</span></font>
</font></i><a href="http://www.amarc.org/"><i><font
face="Times New Roman, serif"><span lang="en-CA">http://www.amarc.o</span>rg</font></i></a></p>
<p style="border: medium none ; padding: 0cm; font-style: normal;"><font
face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><u><b>NEWS</b></u></font></font></p>
<p><a href="http://obsmedia.amarc.org/page.php?action=shownews&id=449"><font
size="3">Sandwiched
between a hostile regime and armed Maoist rebels, journalists in
Nepal are facing harassment and torture.</font></a><font
style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2">
</font></p>
<p><font size="3">July 31, 2005. Deepak Adhikari returned to his small
newspaper office from a story assignment one day in February to find
his three journalistic staff had been hauled off by the military. He
phoned the barracks and was told to come down and get them, but when
he arrived he was himself blindfolded and taken to a small,
blood-spattered bunker where he was held and tortured for the next
eight days. </font>
</p>
<p><a href="http://obsmedia.amarc.org/page.php?action=shownews&id=447"><font
size="3">First
independent Palestinian news agency receives license</font></a><font
style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2">
</font></p>
<p>Palestine, 28 July 2005. The Palestine News Network, as the first
operational independent Palestinian news agency, received the first
official license in the West Bank from the PA Ministry of Information
this week. </p>
<p><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><a
href="http://obsmedia.amarc.org/page.php?action=shownews&id=421">AMARC
Calls for Solidarity with Community and Independent Radios in Nepal</a>
</font></p>
<p><strong>Nepal, July 17, 2005.</strong> The World Association of
Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC), called today for a global
solidarity campaign in favor of freedom of expression and
communication rights of the Community and independent Radio Stations
of Nepal. </p>
<p><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><font
face="Times New Roman, serif"><a
href="http://obsmedia.amarc.org/page.php?action=shownews&id=422">Gender
and ICT Issues at Women's World Congress</a> </font></font>
</p>
<p>Korea, July 18, 2005. Gender and ICT advocates from all world
regions joined some 2,000 other women activists at the Women's Worlds
Congress 2005 - the 9TH International Interdisciplinary Congress on
Women - held at Ewha University in Seoul, Korea, June 19-24.</p>
<p style="border: medium none ; padding: 0cm;"><i><font
style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><a
href="http://obsmedia.amarc.org/page.php?action=shownews&id=426">Mission
statement: International Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression
Mission to Nepal</a> </font></font></i>
</p>
<p>Nepal, July 18, 2005. From 10 to 16 July 2005, twelve
international organisations, including UN agencies, global media
associations, freedom of expression advocates and media development
organisations, undertook a mission to Nepal concerning freedom of
expression and press freedom. </p>
<p style="border: medium none ; padding: 0cm;"><i><font
style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><a
href="http://obsmedia.amarc.org/page.php?action=shownews&id=430">Cameroon:
Government lifts two-year ban on private radio station</a> </font></font></i>
</p>
<p>(CPJ/IFEX) USA, July 14, 2005 - Government officials unsealed the
studios of Freedom FM on Tuesday, more than two years after the
Communications Ministry shuttered the private radio station just as
it was about to broadcast for the first time. Based in the
southwestern port city of Douala, the station was founded by Pius
Njawé, a veteran independent journalist and 1991 recipient of
CPJ's International Press Freedom Award. </p>
<p style="border: medium none ; padding: 0cm;"><i><font
style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><a
href="http://obsmedia.amarc.org/page.php?action=shownews&id=434">Andebu
asks government not to legalize "pirate" radios</a> </font></font></i>
</p>
<p>Uruguay, July 1, 2005. The secretary general of the National
Association of Broadcasters of Uruguay (Andebu) is urging the
government not to authorize the operation of community radios.
According to the association, the market is saturated with media
outlets and there is no need to encourage pluralism because the
official left already has enough airtime to disseminate its message. </p>
<p style="border: medium none ; padding: 0cm;"><i><font
style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><a
href="http://obsmedia.amarc.org/page.php?action=shownews&id=392">Jordan
to host AMARC 9</a> </font></font></i>
</p>
<p>Canada, July 6, 2005. AMARC, the World Association of Community
Radio Broadcasters, is pleased to announce that Jordan will be the
host country for the Ninth World Assembly of Community Radio
Broadcasters. AMARC 9 will be a week long event in the second half of
2006. It is expected to bring together 300-400 community broadcasters
from over 100 countries and all regions of the world. </p>
<p style="border: medium none ; padding: 0cm;"><i><font
style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><a
href="http://obsmedia.amarc.org/page.php?action=shownews&id=410">Jordan:AmmanNet
begins Experimental Transmission in Amman</a> </font></font></i>
</p>
<p>Jordan, July 1, 2005. AmmanNet, the Arab world's first Internet
radio, begun experimental terrestrial transmission of its FM
frequency in the greater Amman municipal boundaries on June 29th. </p>
<p style="border: medium none ; padding: 0cm;"><i><font
style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><a
href="http://obsmedia.amarc.org/page.php?action=shownews&id=412">The
threat to community radios in Brazil comes from the legislation</a> </font></font></i>
</p>
<p>Brazil, July 1, 2005. With the emergence of radio stations
belonging to the Movement Eclesial de Base (MEB), in the 80s,
thousands of community radios were born in Brazil. They were operated
by groups representing various sectors (unions, students, artists,
neighbors) and who have very little or no knowledge of the medium.</p>
<p style="border: medium none ; padding: 0cm;"><i><font
style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><a
href="http://obsmedia.amarc.org/page.php?action=shownews&id=448">Union
Cabinet goes for 330 new FM frequencies, retains 20 per cent foreign
investment cap</a> </font></font></i>
</p>
<p>India, July 1, 2005. In India, the second phase of FM broadcasting
in the private sector will start soon as the Union Cabinet approving
on 30 June, 2005, a revenue sharing model, in which the emphasis is
more on the growth of services than on generating revenue for the
government. The Indian airwaves are set to witness action with the
government opening up 330 new FM frequencies to the private sector. </p>
<p><b>REGIONAL RADIO BROADCASTING ASSESSMENTS</b></p>
<p><b>*Africa</b></p>
<p><a
href="http://amarc.org/files/Africa_Burundi_Country_Report%28FR%29.pdf"
target="_NEW"><u><font face="Times New Roman, serif">Broadcasting
sector in Burundi</font></u></a></p>
<p><a
href="http://amarc.org/files/Afrique_Guinea_Country_Report%28FR%29.pdf"
target="_NEW">Broadcasting
sector in Guinea</a></p>
<p><a href="http://amarc.org/files/Africa_Malawi_Country_Report.pdf"
target="_NEW">Broadcasting
sector in Malawi</a></p>
<p><a
href="http://amarc.org/files/Afrique_Mozambique_Country_Report.pdf"
target="_NEW">Broadcasting
sector in Mozambique</a></p>
<p><a href="http://amarc.org/files/Africa_Namibia_Country_Report_.pdf"
target="_NEW">Broadcasting
sector in Namibia</a> </p>
<p><a
href="http://amarc.org/files/Afrique_Niger_Country_Report%28FR%29.pdf"
target="_NEW">Broadcasting
Sector in Niger(FR)</a></p>
<p><a href="http://amarc.org/files/Tchad_Country_Report_%28FR%291.pdf"
target="_NEW">Broadcasting
Sector in Tchad</a></p>
<p><a href="http://amarc.org/files/Africa_Uganda_Country_Report1.pdf"
target="_NEW">Broadcasting
Sector in Uganda</a></p>
<p><a href="http://amarc.org/files/Africa_Zimbabwe_Country_Report.pdf"
target="_NEW">Broadcasting
Sector in Zimbabwe</a></p>
<p><strong>*Latin America and the Caribbean (Drafts)</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://amarc.org/files/ALC_Informe_Situacion_en_Chile.pdf"
target="_NEW">Informe
sobre situación en Chile</a></p>
<p><a
href="http://amarc.org/files/ALC_Informe_situacion_en_Colombia.pdf"
target="_NEW">Informe
sobre situación en Colombia</a></p>
<p><a href="http://amarc.org/files/ALC_Informe_situacion_en_Ecuador.pdf"
target="_NEW">Informe
sobre situación en Ecuador</a></p>
<p><a
href="http://amarc.org/files/ALC_Informe_situacion_en_M%E9xico1.pdf"
target="_NEW">Informe
sobre situación en México</a></p>
<p><a
href="http://amarc.org/files/ALC_Informe_situacion_en_Venezuela.pdf"
target="_NEW">Informe
sobre situación en Venezuela</a></p>
<p style="border: medium none ; padding: 0cm; font-style: normal;"><font
face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><u><b>NOUVELLES</b></u></font></font></p>
<p
style="border: medium none ; padding: 0cm; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;">
<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><b>OLPA indigné
par le mauvais traitement infligé à un journaliste à
Kisangani</b></font></font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Times New Roman, serif">RDC, le 19 juillet
2005. L'Observatoire de la Liberté de la Presse en Afrique
(OLPA), réseau africain d’experts juristes et journalistes
volontaires pour la défense et la promotion de la liberté
de la presse en Afrique, est profondément indigné par
le mauvais traitement infligé par les éléments
de la 9<font face="Times New Roman, serif">è</font>me r<font
face="Times New Roman, serif">é</font>gion
militaire des Forces arm<font face="Times New Roman, serif">é</font>es
de la R<font face="Times New Roman, serif">é</font>publique
D<font face="Times New Roman, serif">é</font>mocratique du
Congo (RARDC) a bienvenu Makpanga Basibazu, correspondant <font
face="Times New Roman, serif">à
</font>l'Agence Congolaise de Presse (ACP) et animateur d'<font
face="Times New Roman, serif">é</font>missions
a la Radio-T<font face="Times New Roman, serif">é</font>l<font
face="Times New Roman, serif">é</font>
Interconfessionelle Viens et Vois (RTIV), <font
face="Times New Roman, serif">é</font>mettant
<font face="Times New Roman, serif">à </font>Kisangani,
chef-lieu de la province Orientale, au Nord-Est de la R<font
face="Times New Roman, serif">é</font>publique
D<font face="Times New Roman, serif">é</font>mocratique du
Congo.<sup> </sup></font><a
href="http://www.societecivile.cd/membre/OLPA"><span lang="nl-NL"><font
face="Times New Roman, serif">www.societecivile.cd/membre/OLPA</font></span></a></p>
<p style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;" align="left"><font
face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><b>OLPA
inquiet après la convocation d’un journaliste à
Kinshasa </b></font></font>
</p>
<p align="left"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><span
style="text-decoration: none;">RDC</span>,
le 27 juillet 2005. L'Observatoire de la Liberté de la Presse
en Afrique (OLPA), réseau africain d’experts juristes et
journalistes volontaires pour la défense et la promotion de la
liberté de la presse en Afrique, exprime sa vive inquiétude
après la convocation par la police judiciaire des parquets de
José Nawej Karl, directeur de publication du quotidien Forum
des As, paraissant à Kinshasa, capitale de la République
Démocratique du Congo (RDC), mercredi 27 juillet 2005.
</font><a href="http://www.societecivile.cd/membre/OLPA"><span
lang="nl-NL"><font face="Times New Roman, serif">www.societecivile.cd/membre/OLPA</font></span></a></p>
<p style="border: medium none ; padding: 0cm; font-style: normal;"><font
face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><u><b>NOTICIAS</b></u></font></font></p>
<p
style="border: medium none ; padding: 0cm; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;"
align="left">
<font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font size="3"><b>Cabildos
indígenas cuestionan cierre de radio del pueblo Nasa </b></font></font>
</p>
<p style="border: medium none ; padding: 0cm;"><span
style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font
size="3">ALERTA
- Colombia - 29 de julio de 2005. Cabildos indígenas
cuestionan cierre de radio del pueblo Nasa. En ejercicio de sus
potestades como autoridades tradicionales del pueblo Nasa en el norte
del Cauca, dirigentes de los cabildos indígenas han rechazado
las acciones y respuestas del Ministerio de Comunicaciones de
Colombia frente al cierre de Radio Nasa. Acusan a las autoridades de
</font><em><font size="3">"negar el derecho a la comunicación"</font></em><font
size="3">,
</font><em><font size="3">"romper la armonía de la
comunidad"</font></em><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"> <font
size="3">y
ponerla en </font><em><font size="3">"alto riesgo". Texto
completo en </font></em></font><a
href="http://legislaciones.amarc.org/"><font size="3">http://legislaciones.amarc.org/</font></a></font></span></p>
<p style="border: medium none ; padding: 0cm;"><font
face="Times New Roman, serif"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><b>AMARC
saluda creación de mesa de Diálogo en
Guatemala</b><br>
</span>Guatemala - 27 de julio de 2005. <span
style="text-decoration: none;">La
Asociación Mundial de Radios Comunitarias (AMARC-ALC) hizo
conocer su satisfacción al Estado de Guatemala por la creación
de una Mesa de Diálogo que el gobierno ha instalado desde el 8
de julio para dar cumplimiento a las recomendaciones y compromisos
internacionales en materia de radiodifusión y los derechos de
los ciudadanos de ese país para que puedan ejercer
efectivamente la libertad de expresión e información.
Texto completo en </span></font><a
href="http://legislaciones.amarc.org/"><u><font
face="Times New Roman, serif">http://legislaciones.amarc.org/</font></u></a></p>
<p style="border: medium none ; padding: 0cm;"><span
style="text-decoration: none;"><font face="Times New Roman, serif"><font
size="3"><b>Piden
al Ministerio Público detener allanamientos contra radios
</b><br>
Cerigua- Guatemala - 9 de julio de 2005. Un pedido al
Ministerio Público para que detenga los allanamientos contra
las radios que funcionan sin autorización en el país,
durante el proceso de discusión, fue uno de los resultados de
la primera reunión sostenida entre el Estado y representantes
de las emisoras comunitarias. </font><a
href="http://legislaciones.amarc.org/"><font size="3"><font
face="Times New Roman, serif">http://legislaciones.amarc.org/</font></font></a><font
size="3"><br>
</font></font></span><br>
</p>
<p style="border: medium none ; padding: 0cm; text-decoration: none;"><font
face="Times New Roman, serif"><font style="font-size: 11pt;" size="2"><font
size="3"><b>Delegación
Internacional de AMARC en Guatemala</b> <br>
Cerigua - Guatemala - 6
de julio de 2005. Revisar la legislación nacional sobre
libertad de expresión y radiodifusión y hacer
recomendaciones para eliminar las barreras a las libertades de
información y expresión, es la misión de una
comitiva de la Asociación Mundial de Radios Comunitarias para
América Latina y el Caribe (<b>AMARC-ALC</b>) que se encuentra
en el país. </font><a href="http://legislaciones.amarc.org/"><font
size="3"><font face="Times New Roman, serif">http://legislaciones.amarc.org/</font></font></a></font></font></p>
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