[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 121 (Monday, September 14, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H7655-H7657]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           PROMOTING INDEPENDENT RADIO BROADCASTING IN AFRICA

  Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 415) to promote independent radio broadcasting 
in Africa
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 415

       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

[[Page H7656]]

     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.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter).
  (Mr. BEREUTER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)


                             General Leave

  Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Nebraska?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  H. Res. 415, a resolution supporting the development of Radio 
Democracy for Africa, was sponsored by the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Royce). This resolution promotes independent radio broadcasting in 
Africa through the Voice of America. It calls for VOA to provide 
journalistic training and for USIA to expand its economic, political 
and human rights programming in Africa to support indigenous efforts 
aimed at promoting democratization.
  The administration supports this enhanced broadcasting effort in 
Africa and VOA is working to get expanded programming on the air. This 
is an appropriate use of international broadcasting funds. Many African 
nations are struggling for peace and democracy. Hopefully the efforts 
encouraged by this resolution will put into force a strong and 
comprehensive international broadcasting program throughout the African 
continent to assist emerging democracies.
  I commend my colleague who will speak soon, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Royce) for his initiative and for that of my other 
colleagues in offering this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  First let me commend our colleagues, the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Royce) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez), chairman 
and ranking member respectively of the Subcommittee on Africa of the 
Committee on International Relations, for crafting this most important 
resolution. I strongly support this resolution.
  The resolution calls for our government to lend support to free media 
in Africa through a number of avenues, including the creation of a 
Voice of America project adopting a comprehensive assistance strategy 
to have free media in Africa.
  At the present time, Madam Speaker, VOA broadcasts 87\1/2\ hours 
weekly to Africa in 10 different languages. This measure calls to 
expand this program both in terms of its quantity and its coverage. My 
expectation is that as a result of this effort, media freedom will be 
strengthened in a number of countries in Africa. We need to assist the 
countries of Africa to develop mechanisms and institutions that protect 
the independence of journalists and discourage laws and government 
policies that inhibit the freedom of the press, which unfortunately is 
the state of affairs in far too many countries of that continent.
  The Voice of America historically has played a significant role in 
bringing news and information, free and unbiased to the African 
continent. I particularly commend the authors' foresight in calling on 
the United States Government to support efforts by the people of Africa 
to build their own free and independent African media and to assist 
them in their efforts to promote democracy, human rights, economic 
development and good government.
  I urge the adoption of this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) in support of the resolution. 
Our colleague from California has brought invigorated leadership to the 
Subcommittee on Africa. His sponsorship of this legislation, along with 
the cosponsorship in original form by the gentlemen from New Jersey 
(Mr. Menendez) and (Mr. Smith), are examples of the leadership he has 
brought to American foreign policy with respect to Africa.
  Mr. ROYCE. Madam Speaker, today radio broadcasting in much of Africa, 
as in other places in the world, is dominated by governments which 
operate national radio stations and all too often frustrate independent 
radio stations.
  African governments, those that are repressive, do this because air 
wave control is real power, the power to control the information that 
their citizens receive. Radio's power is particularly great in Africa 
where poverty and logistical difficulties have made radio Africans' 
primary source of information. Televisions are few and far between in 
many African countries, and newspapers are largely confined to the 
cities. Radios, though, in Africa reach everyone. Radio's power is also 
why African governments often frustrate the licensing of independent 
radio stations and harass and brutalize and at times even kill 
independent radio journalists.
  As long as this situation prevails, as long as some African 
governments can shape how their citizens think and feel about their 
country and their lives, many of the achievements we are hoping to see 
African countries make, like greater democracy, the protection of human 
rights, economic development, will be frustrated.
  This resolution brings attention to the importance of radio 
broadcasting in Africa as a means of realizing these goals, and it 
lends support to an important administration initiative, Radio 
Democracy for Africa.
  Radio Democracy for Africa is designed to increase surrogate radio 
broadcasting to Africa through the Voice of America. Surrogate radio, 
the process by which local journalists broadcast to their countrymen 
about local issues with foreign support, has proved to be effective in 
promoting the values of freedom and democracy. This was the case behind 
the iron curtain during the Cold War. It is the case in parts of Asia 
today.
  Africa should not be an exception. We should support greater 
independent radio broadcasting in Africa and that is what this 
resolution does. Fostering independent radio broadcasting in Africa is 
all the more important given the specter of genocide by hate radio. 
Uncontested hate broadcasts contributed to the 1994 genocide in Rwanda 
that claimed more than half a million lives. Ominously hate radio 
broadcasts are being heard again in Central Africa.

                              {time}  1345

  While U.S.-supported surrogate radio, that is, radio to help break 
government monopolies on information, does not guarantee against 
brutality, it can help combat it. A greater American effort to allow 
Africans to hear alternative views, views supportive of democracy and 
reconciliation, is desperately needed. It is my hope that Radio 
Democracy for Africa will be a start.
  This House Resolution also calls for the U.S. to provide diplomatic 
and technical support to independent radio in Africa, all within 
existing budgets. It also encourages journalistic exchanges. Greater 
professionalism by Africa radio journalists is needed. This resolution 
also asks the administration to focus on the protection of African 
radio journalists, many of whom show tremendous bravery. The committee 
to Protect Journalists has brought to life the life-threatening 
conditions that

[[Page H7657]]

many African journalists face. This resolution asks that these brave 
men and women be supported in their struggle.
  I ask my colleagues to support this resolution, and, Madam Speaker, I 
thank my colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Robert 
Menendez), and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) for their 
support as coauthors.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume to commend the gentleman for his exceptional statement and his 
initiative.
  Mr. GILMAN. I rise in support of H. Res. 415, a resolution supporting 
the development of Radio Democracy for Africa. Through this resolution, 
we are encouraging VOA to promote independent radio broadcasting 
throughout Africa. A free and independent media is a cornerstone to 
democracy development. The VOA has a solid reputation in Africa, and 
field visits to several countries by the Director of VOA underscored 
the importance and interest in receiving journalism training. 
Developing an indigenous core of journalists coupled with more targeted 
VOA programing will help build an independent media and provide 
objective news sources.
  Support for democracy must be a major policy objective in Africa. 
International broadcasts and media development in the region serves 
this vital policy direction.
  This resolution demonstrates Congressional support for the enhanced 
program efforts by the VOA. At a time of continued unrest in certain 
African countries, a comprehensive broadcast and training program is 
the right thing to do at the right time.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 
415, to promote independent radio broadcasting in Africa. I am proud to 
be one of the original cosponsors of this resolution introduced by my 
friend, Mr. Royce, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa.
  Radio is probably the most important mass communications medium in 
Africa, a continent plagued by numerous conflicts and crises. Radio is 
the primary means of transmitting vital information between African 
populations. It has the potential to do much good--both as a source of 
independent, accurate news, and as a catalyst for humanitarian, 
democratic, and economic progress. Unfortunately, it also has been 
subject to abuse. As many here will recall, ethnic ``hate radio'' 
fanned the flames of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, which claimed upwards 
of half a million lives.
  The freedom, independence, and professionalism of African radio are 
becoming increasingly important to the future prospects of that 
continent. Thus, House Resolution 415 makes clear that this House 
supports surrogate broadcasting and the training of African journalists 
through the Voice of America's ``Radio Democracy for Africa'' project; 
urges the expansion of USIA's economic, political, and human rights 
programming in Africa to support indigenous programming in those areas; 
urges the Agency for International Development to adopt a comprehensive 
strategy to promote free and independent African media; and urges the 
United States Government to support freedom and independence for 
African radio journalists through several means, such as foreign 
investment and inter-governmental dialogue.
  I encourage all my colleagues to support this important resolution.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 
415, ``A Resolution Promoting Independent Radio Broadcasting in 
Africa.'' I support this bill for several reasons. First, radio is the 
primary forum of transmitting information in Africa. The African 
continent is paralyzed by poverty, illiteracy, and logistical 
difficulties making television and print media a less effective means 
of communication. This resolution seeks to promote and enlarge this 
vital link of communication to the African continent.
  For the most part, African radio stations are controlled and managed 
by the governments in these African nations. These governments are 
aware of the power and influence which radio stations project in the 
region. In Rwanda, the power of radio was used to fuel the genocide in 
1994. Governments in Africa, fearing the power of radio, will often 
deny or delay applications for proposed independent radio stations. 
African governments will harass officials or staff of independent 
stations, or close stations which openly disagree with the government's 
policy. In the last eight years numerous journalists have been 
imprisoned and even killed.
  Given the power of radio and the interference displayed by African 
governments, the House should support the creation and operation of the 
Voice of America's surrogate radio project known as ``Radio Democracy 
for Africa.'' This project is vital in our continuing efforts to 
promote democracy and human rights.
  During the President's recent trip to the African continent, the 
President expressed a willingness to increase America's political and 
economic ties on the continent. This resolution will encourage 
democratization, human rights improvement, and economic development 
through the medium of radio.
  This resolution will call on the U.S. government to encourage local 
and foreign investment in independent local radio in Africa. It will 
also make the improvement of unbiased and effective radio communication 
a priority in discussions with African governments.
  This Congress should pass House Resolution 415 and support all 
efforts to improve media communications on the African continent.
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Morella). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 415.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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