ate: Mon, 4 Oct 93 18:24 EDT
rom: resystom@web.apc.org (Bruce Girard)
4 October, 1993
AMARC Solidarity Action Network received this urgent demand today
from Bush Radio, a community radio project in Cape Town, South
Africa.
An Action Alert was first issued in support of Bush Radio when its
equipment was seized in May. For a copy of that Alert, send a request
to amarc@web.apc.org.
Please distribute it to interested parties and please send a fax
in support of Bush Radio.
Thanks.
bg
===============================================
b u s h r a d i o
PO Box 13290
Mowbray, 7705
Cape Town
South Africa
Tel: +(27-21) 448 5450
Fax: +(27-21) 448-5451
30th September, 1993
OPEN LETTER RE: PROSECUTION OF BUSH RADIO
To Bush Radio's Members, Users Friends and Supporters
Bush Radio is being prosecuted for starting a community radio
station. We are charged on three counts:
1. illegal broadcasting
2. illegal possession of broadcast apparatus, and
3. obstructing the course of justice.
These charges are being levelled at two of our members, who face
stiff penalties: R10,000 and/or 3 years imprisonment each on the
first two counts alone.
The first court appearance is set for October 13. We now need
your support to stop the victimisation of genuine community radio
before it even gets going.
Bush radio is a community radio initiative, owned and controlled
by its membership, a wide range of organisations and individuals.
For more than two years we planned and talked about going on air.
Our attempts to get a broadcasting license from the Ministry for
Home Affairs were repeatedly frustrated, and our membership
eventually decided that we should go ahead without one.
So from 4 - 8 pm on Sunday April 1993, listeners on the Cape
Flats heard a mix of programmes produced and presented by our
"networkers" (volunteer producers from the community). Scores of
other people were there, and all of them had a chance to go on
air, most of them for the first time in their lives.
In the week that followed the state seized our transmission
equipment, effectively silencing us on the eve of our second
broadcast, scheduled for May 1st. About six weeks later we were
warned that the state was considering laying charges against us.
Last week charge sheets were served on our lawyers, to appear
before a regional court on October 13th.
For the state to take such action at this time seems to
contradict their professed commitment to a more open South
Africa. We are being charged in terms of laws inspired by
apartheid at the very same time that new legislation passes
through parliament - including bills for the transitional
Executive Council and an Independent Broadcasting Authority,
drawn up by parties at the negotiations.
The enforcement of these charges could have serious consequences
for us at Bush Radio. For an organisation which employs a staff
of only two people, we do a disproportionate amount of work, and
can ill afford to be spending time on defending unnecessary legal
action. Bush Radio runs a range of training programmes aimed at
bringing new voices into the broadcasting environment. We work
with a number of organisations, producing programmes that are
distributed either on audio-cassette or on other radio stations.
Substantial time and energy is invested in building up a network
of volunteers, the backbone of a truly participatory community
radio. A lot of time is spent providing support to others who
want to start radio stations in their own communities.
Despite our modest resources, Bush radio has become something of
a "flagship" for the emerging community radio sector in South
Africa. For us to be criminalised could weaken the growth of this
new sector which holds such real potential for communities
wanting to control their own development.
We were always open and peaceful in our methods, and feel that
this treatment is misplaced. To drag us through the courts is a
waste of time and money, not only for Bush Radio but also for the
taxpayer who foots the bill.
We hope the charges might be dropped, and seek your support in
making our case. What can you do?
At this stage we ask that you write letters. They should be:
"To whom it may concern,"
The content of your letter would depend on your relationship with
Bush Radio.
If you are a member, we'd like you to say why you think it's
inappropriate for us to be prosecuted, and include a statement of
solidarity.
If you are a client, we'd like you to say why you think it's
inappropriate for us to be prosecuted, and include a statement of
solidarity.
If you are a client, we'd like to hear about the value of service
you have derived from Bush Radio, and we would like you to be
specific about what we did together.
If you are a friend, or supporter, please write whatever you feel
is appropriate, and we'd appreciate comments on how this kind of
action undermines confidence in the nature of change in our
country.
Please send these letters to:
BUSH RADIO at fax no.:
+(27-21) 448-5451
and send originals to:
P.O. Box 13290
Mowbray, 7705
Cape Town, South Africa
We should receive these letters by Friday 8th October, or as soon
as possible thereafter.
Thanking you in anticipation,
JEANNE DU TOIT
Secretary for the Coordinating Committee
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:: The Solidarity Action Network is an initiative of AMARC, @@
:: the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters. @@
:: @@
:: Action Alerts are posted in the conference amarc.radio @@
:: carried by many members of the APC Network. @@
:: @@
:: Email users who do not have access to the APC Network @@
:: can receive Action Alerts directly by contacting AMARC. @@
:: @@
:: For more information about AMARC or the @@
:: Action Network, contact us at: @@
:: @@
:: 3575 St-Laurent, # 704 - Montreal, Quebec - H2X 2T7 Canada @@
:: Fax: +(514) 849-7129 - Tel: +(514) 982-0351 @@
:: Email: amarc@web.apc.org @@
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-- The opinions expressed herewith reflect no consensus on the part of Food Not Bombs, Fractal Factory or any combination of Aaron, Andrew, Keith, Scott or others. Unless otherwise specifically mentioned. andyrose@netcom.com