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If you are interested in more information, contact Radio TTT
at the email address jo.spek@zamir-zg.comlink.apc.org.



From: JO.SPEK@ZAMIR-ZG.comlink.apc.org
Subject: Radio TTT Zagreb update
Date: 16 Oct 94 20:14 EDT


We have started to establish a new, independant underground
radiostation in Zagreb, Croatia. As you may know that is not easy to
organize, finance and legalize. Very often when people speak about
press freedom they refer to printed press and TV only. Although
problematic, there is some independant printed press,. TV is almost
completely state controlled (some individual programs try to escape
it). The independant TV station in Cakovec is the exception.
However radio is also a very interesting matter. There was a rich
radio culture in Ex-Yu, subsidized by the state and youth-
organizations. With Croatian independance and the war many radio-
stations on local level played their part. As you may know various
groups from subculture were the first to join the fight. Punk, hard-
core, bad-blue-boys, torcida's (football-fans), etc. went to the front
with their own music, slang and symbols. Music and radio were
very important carriers of this urban subculture. However, these subcultures
 have been largely destroyed later on.
In the army, official names and symbols replaced the self-
styled outlook of the first batallions. And the radio stations were
likewise brought under nationalist-military-burocratic control.
Freeminded journalists and programmers were fired or left
themselves. Independant stations were outlawed or lost subsidy
etc. Still there are quite a few stations on the local level that continue
their work. In Vinkovci e.g. there are bout six 'micro-radio's�.
Without money, without legal status. In Rijeka in march �94 three
stations  (Radio D, Radio Poro Re and Radio 051) were closed after a
move of some obscure freak who disturbed the local state-radio. In
Labin (Istria), the Labin Art Express has a license for cultural
programs.
But in Zagreb there is nothing. Independant clubs like the space-
agressor (hard core techno underground club) had to close down (but opened again
 after some months!), others face problems with financial police. The ideology
 of �Spritual Renewal� which is part of the nationalist-conservative mind
 provided the moral for
 the crackdown on various clubs, forcing them to close down, change ownership or
 charge impossible entree fees. Underground culture continues in the way of
 techno-rave parties, private gatherings and lately an attempt to squat a worn
 down Bowling-club.
We believe that it is time to find a way to give a new voice to underground and
 subculture, a voice in the air. As a means for expression, for finding
new ways of life. But the paranoia state will not easily let us do it.
We have started a workshop, to think of new ways of making radio
on a small scale, maybe illegal, maybe mobile, maybe not on air, or
only for short times. Maybe also first in the form of a performance
in a club or in open air, or during a festival. Just to show that radio
has the power to create space for self-expression as part of the
so called civil society.  The keyword for the sound of Radio Turn The tape (TTT)
 is techno. Zagreb is the center of real, hardcore, transnational,
 meta-identical techno-vibes, you know.
Maybe it would be a good idea to give some publicity to this project. And  that
 we would appreciate some kind of solidary support. Music magazines, independant
 tapes, records and
everything that is new and hard to get here. Of course money is
also welcome.

Radio TTT, Turn the tape