Based in Washington DC, Radio Free Asia (RFA), founded in 1996, was sponsored by Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) to receive permanent broadcasting status.  Senator’s Lugar legislation was introduced on March 12, 2010.  Without this legislation, Radio Free Asia’s broadcast authority, under the current law, would have expired on September 30, 2010.  The legislation known as S.3104 was co-sponsored by Senators Inouye (D-HI), Franken (D-MN) and Kaufman (D-DE).   The initiators of the legislation however, were Representatives Ed Royce (R-CA) and  Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) who introduced an amendment to the United States Broadcasting Act of 1994, to extend Radio Free Asia’s broadcasting authority by one year.  The amendment known as H.R. 3592 was introduced to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs on September 17, 2009, after which it was supported by Senator Lugar and his colleagues.  Instead of its original intent, however, the US Senate decided to propose law permanently authorizing Radio Free Asia’s operation in the United States.

Having cleared the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives H.R. 3593 is now on its way to President Obama’s desk for ratification.  Following ratification, Radio Free Asia will be able to continue its objective and mission which is “to provide accurate and timely news and information to Asian countries whose governments prohibit access to a free press.”

Here’s some sample content from Radio Free Asia:

As Radio Free Asia becomes “permanent”, we might ask congress: Why no Radio Free Africa?

Sources:

The Library of Congress Online

Sourcews

Senator Richard G. Lugar’s Senate’s Website

Radio Free Asia

Ethiopia, as reported by the BBC, admitted to jamming the VOA’s signal.  The associated language is severe as Prime Minister Zenawi (pictured below) evoked the Rwandan genocide as a result of external incitement by VOA.

The VOA, as reported by Bloomberg and others, responded with strong language of their own.

The situation generally shows us both:
1) The massive impact that the airwaves have on the political situation in oppressed countries and

2) The need for non-aligned, truly independent, media outlets — and the need to somehow establish this within the boundaries of non-free nations.

We’ll be following this developing story.

[Reposted from VOA]

Rodney Sieh interviewed with James Butty - Download (MP3) 
Rodney Sieh interviewed with James Butty - Listen (MP3)

Liberian Information Minister Laurence Bropleh

In Liberia, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has suspended Information Minister Laurence Bropleh pending the outcome of an investigation into a $300,000 scandal at the information ministry.

Rodney Sieh, publisher of the online magazine FrontPage Africa, said the suspended Minister Bropleh is expected to appear before police investigators Monday.

“On Monday morning, about 10 O’clock, we gather that Minister Borpleh or suspended Minister Borpleh will be appearing before the Criminal Investigation Division to answer questions related to the multiple charges of financial irregularity at the Ministry of Information. It’s not clear whether he will be arrested or how the interrogation process will work,” he said.

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