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







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 415

          To promote independent radio broadcasting in Africa.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 29, 1998

  Mr. Royce (for himself, Mr. Menendez, and Mr. Smith of New Jersey) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                       on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
          To promote independent radio broadcasting in Africa.

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.
                                 <all>