---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2000 13:47:25 -0700 From: David Mozer <[log in to unmask]> Reply-To: [log in to unmask] To: wa-afr <[log in to unmask]> Subject: [wa-afr] FW: Call To Action - Support Independent Radio In Liberia -----Original Message----- From: Jim Gray [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2000 10:32 PM To: Friends of Liberia Subject: Call To Action - Support Independent Radio In Liberia CALL TO ACTION - SUPPORT INDEPENDENT RADIO IN LIBERIA Write Today! We are asking you to help strengthen independent radio in Liberia by writing today to Senator Jessie Helms. Senator Helms has placed a "hold" on a funding request by USAID that would help upgrade the capacity of Radio Veritas. Radio Veritas is operated by the Catholic Church of Liberia, but dedicates ninety-percent of its broadcasting to the dissemination of independently gathered news and education programs. USAID would like to provide $250,000 of support for equipment that would upgrade the broadcasting capabilities of Radio Veritas. Senator Helms has had a "hold" on this funding since March. Please take the time to write a brief letter to Senator Helms expressing your concern that funding for Radio Veritas is critical for the growth of independent radio in Liberia and the right of Liberians to news and information not censored by the government. You may wish to make the following points in your letter. Radio Veritas is one of the few surviving independent radio stations in Liberia, but needs support to be able to broadcast its news and educational programs to the entire country. Radio is the only source of news for the vast majority of Liberians. The government-controlled radio station is currently the only station with the resources to broadcast to the entire country leaving the majority of Liberians with only one source of information. The government of Liberia forced Radio Veritas and USAID-funded Star Radio to close down on March 15, but a public outcry led to the reopening of Veritas.just days later. STAR Radio remains closed. That a strong civil society needs independent sources of information to effectively be a counterbalance to government tyranny. To not provide funding to Veritas will undermine press freedom and enhance the governments control over the information that Liberians receive. Send a hard copy of your letter to: Senator Jessie Helms 403 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510-3301 or fax it to 202-228-1339. We encourage you to fax or mail your letter to Senator Helms and also send your message by e-mail to [log in to unmask] (There is an "underscore" between jesse and helms). Please send a copy (cc) to FOL at the following address [log in to unmask] Giving a call or writing to the U.S. Senators from your State and asking them to contact Senator Helms is also effective. Please take the time before you celebrate Independence Day to show your support for freedom and democracy in Liberia. Thank you! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------