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 **  **     **      ** **       COMMUNIQUE # 4 - 9
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 **  **     **      ** **       February 27, 1995
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International Freedom of Expression eXchange Clearing House
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DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY RADIO FEATURED AT AMARC ANNUAL ASSEMBLY

The development of community radio and the democratization of
communications were discussed at the Sixth World Conference of
Community Radio Broadcasters organized by the World Association
of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) in Dakar, Senegal on 23-
28 January. More than 300 people from 45 countries, took part in
the meeting, the first of its kind to be held in Africa, with
every continent in the world represented. The conference dealt
with three broad themes: "community radio in a changing world
context; the technological environment in which community radio
is evolving and the development of networks; and the challenges
faced by community radio as this century comes to an end." At the
end of the conference, AMARC's members adopted a three-year
action plan "designed to support the development of community
radio and its role in the democratization of communications and
to strengthen AMARC as a tool intended to serve the community
radio movement."

During his keynote speech, the President of the Fondation Paix et
Developpement (Foundation for Peace and Development) and former
Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Amadou Mahtar Mbow, reminded
his audience of the following: "In these countries the basic
issue to be addressed is freedom of individuals or groups to
establish media that are not controlled by government structures.
The blossoming of liberty and emergence of a democratic society
are necessarily dependent on freedom of the airwaves ... The
blossoming of the press and of independent local media can
promote both cultural and economic creativity." In another speech
to participants in the opening session of AMARC 6, the country's
Communications Minister, Abdoulaye Elimane Kane, announced that
80 new radio frequencies would be made available in Senegal.
AMARC hopes that community radios will soon begin to spring up in
Senegal and the rest of Africa. For more information or a copy of
the report on AMARC 6, contact AMARC at 3575 boul. St. Laurent,
Suite 704, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H2X 2T7; tel: +(1-514)
982-0351; fax: +(1-514) 849-7129; e-mail: amarc@web.apc.org.

AWARDS:

AMARC SOLIDARITY PRIZE GOES TO SOUTH AFRICAN GROUP

The World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC)
awarded this year's Solidarity Prize to the National Community
Radio Forum (NCRF) of South Africa at AMARC's annual assembly in
Dakar, Senegal. The award is given to "a radio or group that has
distinguished itself in its milieu for advancing freedom of
expression in a special way." The award emphasized "the
significant role played by the groups belonging to the NCRF in
the struggle against apartheid and in their equally important
current role in building democracy," said AMARC. The NCRF is
comprised of 33 groups currently in the process of establishing
radio stations. Its objectives are to promote community radio as
an integral part of South Africa's broadcasting system and to
encourage social sectors that have traditionally been excluded
from the media to participate in community radio.

In accepting the Solidarity Prize, NCRF spokesperson Lumko Mtimbe
said, "Without international support, we would not have achieved
our liberation...." Mtimbe recalled incidents violations of press
freedom from the past years, such as the closure of Bush Radio in
1993; the defiance of Radio Zibonele for over a year; the
struggle against the piracy of Radio Pretoria; the unfair issuing
of licenses by the then Minister of Home Affairs Danie Schutte;
the struggle for the transformation of the SABC (South African
Broadcasting Corporation) in order to establish an independent
public broadcaster; and negotiations and petitions at Codesa.
Mtimbe concluded, "Throughout this period, the AMARC solidarity
network has given us support.... Radio has an extremely important
role to play in the development of our countries, and this should
be the message to be carried back to our communities, the world
over."

** ** **
The IFEX Communique is published weekly by the IFEX Clearing
House, Toronto. The facility is operated by the Canadian
Committee to Protect Journalists in partnership with the member
organizations of the International Freedom of Expression eXchange
(IFEX). Material may be submitted to the Communique at E-mail:
ifex@web.apc.org; Fax: (1-416) 867-1034; or Tel: (1-416)
867-1638. Editor this week: Kristina Stockwood. Subscriptions are
available by e-mail and surface mail.


_______________________________________________________________
AMARC - association mondiale des radiodiffuseurs communautaires
          world association of community radio broadcasters
             asociacion mundial de radios comunitarias
3575 boul. St. Laurent, Suite 704        Tel: +(1-514) 982-0351
Montreal, Quebec                         Fax: +(1-514) 849-7129
Canada  H2X 2T7                        Email: amarc@web.apc.org
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