[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 415 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                    September 14, 1998.
Whereas Africa's numerous ethnic groups, with an estimated 2,000 languages and 
        dialects, have long been isolated from each other;
Whereas radio is the primary means of transmitting vital information in Africa 
        and linking African populations;
Whereas poverty, illiteracy, and logistical difficulties make television and the 
        print media less utilized means of communication;
Whereas radio is not only compatible with Africa's oral traditions, but has the 
        added benefit of being affordable and adaptable;
Whereas African radio stations generally are owned and operated by governments, 
        which being aware of radio's power often deny or delay applications for 
        proposed independent radio stations, harass officials or staff of 
        independent radio stations, or close independent radio stations;
Whereas 53 independent journalists in Africa have been killed over the past 8 
        years, 42 other journalists were imprisoned last year alone, and 
        hundreds of others have been threatened, harassed, or even physically 
        assaulted;
Whereas standards of journalistic professionalism often are low in Africa, which 
        causes problems of accuracy in reporting that often lead governments to 
        overreact and apply repressive legal remedies against the media, 
        including radio broadcasts;
Whereas biased government radio broadcasts have promoted ruling parties and 
        limited coverage of opposition political parties, while inhibiting the 
        free flow of information necessary for citizens to effectively exercise 
        their electoral choices, thus undermining democracy;
Whereas the promotion of independent ownership of local radio operations in 
        Africa is a useful tool for advancing the United States foreign policy 
        objective of promoting democracy and human rights;
Whereas the phenomenon of ``hate radio'' has fueled genocide in countries such 
        as Rwanda, in which an estimated half million persons were killed in a 
        largely ethnic purge in 1994;
Whereas surrogate broadcasting, which consists of locally generated news on 
        issues of local concern, has been well demonstrated as a vehicle to 
        promote democracy and human rights in repressed regions and countries 
        throughout the world;
Whereas the Voice of America has designed the ``Radio Democracy for Africa'' 
        project to create a surrogate radio operation throughout Africa to 
        promote democracy and human rights; and
Whereas the African Growth and Opportunity Act calls for the United States 
        Information Agency to use its broadcasts to promote economic reforms in 
        addition to its current promotion of political reforms: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the creation and operation of the Voice of America's 
        surrogate radio project known as ``Radio Democracy for Africa'' which 
        includes journalist training and journalist exchange components;
            (2) urges the United States Information Agency to expand its 
        economic, political, and human rights programming in Africa to support 
        indigenous efforts aimed at promoting democratization, human rights, 
        economic development, and good governance;
            (3) calls on the Agency for International Development to adopt a 
        comprehensive strategy for the promotion of free and independent African 
        media, especially radio, by supporting journalist and other media 
        training programs, assisting in the development of African media 
        associations, facilitating the creation of African news gathering and 
        delivery networks, and encouraging the use of radio as an educational 
        medium on a variety of topics, including but not limited to democracy, 
        human rights, and economic development;
            (4) calls on the United States Government to encourage local and 
        foreign investment in independent local radio operations in Africa;
            (5) urges the United States Government to make freedom of speech and 
        the safety of journalists a priority in discussions with African 
        governments on democracy and human rights;
            (6) encourages the United States Government to use all reasonable 
        means to help safeguard the operation of independent radio stations and 
        the legitimate activities of journalists in African countries; and
            (7) urges the United States Government to support and assist the 
        development of mechanisms and institutions for the protection of 
        independent journalists and to discourage the now frequent use of 
        draconian laws and government policies inhibiting freedom of speech in 
        Africa.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.