Posted on 02/22/2006 1:55:42 PM PST by lizol
Poland backs Belarus broadcasts
By Adam Easton BBC News, Warsaw
Alexander Lukashenko is accused of authoritarianism Poland has given backing to a radio station set up to broadcast to eastern neighbour Belarus in a bid to promote democracy and freedom of speech there.
The Polish government is funding the project just weeks before forthcoming presidential elections in Belarus.
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has been in power for more than a decade. Opposition activists say he has become increasingly authoritarian.
Belarus's ambassador in Warsaw says Poland is violating international law.
He predicts the radio station will have relatively few listeners.
Radio Racja, which translates roughly as Radio Right, will begin its first broadcasts on crackly medium wave on Wednesday evening.
Solidarity links
It is based in the north-eastern city of Bialystok, about one hour away from the Belarusian border.
Its small team of Belarusian and Polish organisers say it will transmit music and uncensored information into the central and eastern parts of Belarus.
They say it will give the country's opposition a chance to be heard, ahead of the presidential elections next month.
Radio Racja stopped broadcasting four years ago due to a lack of money. The Polish government is funding its relaunch.
The station has its roots in the Solidarity movement which overthrew communism in Poland, so it is no stranger to state censorship.
Not very neighborly to spend public resources broadcasting a message the neighboring government wouldn't like. Would be much better to have it privately funded.
How about Radio Free Europe?
It was funded by the U.S. government.
Ever heard of Radio Marti?
Yes, and we even had TV Marti that broadcast to Cuba. And that was also paid by the US government.
Luka will probably demand confiscation of radios. Ha ha!
Actually, I wouldn't put it past the pinhead to do something like that...
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