WE NEED RADIO AUSTRALIA

[kenoo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Dear Burma Lovers,

Radio Australia is about to be silenced. We need to stop the decision makers
form making a fatal mistake.Radio Australia has received many letters in
support from all around the region including leaders from many countries in
Asia and Pacific, but has not received any letters from Burma. From many
Burmese listeners from around this region and from those who used to listen
to Radio Australia when they were in Burma and perhaps from inside Burma we
need to write to the decision makers not to silence Radio Australia.

In a land now ruled by MILITARY THUGS, we need Radio Australia even more
today. To tell the world the truth, tl tell the information-deprived people
in Burma the truth. In the villages and hills where ther is no roads, no
telephone, no newspapers and no communication we need Radio Australia to
stand by us as a beacon of hope and truth.

For the sake of the hill tribes, villegers in the remote area of Burma, for
the people in Burma who are denied freedom of information and thought and
for the people who can't have the leader they voted for - WE NEED RADIO
AUSTRALIA TO STAY ON.

        The email address to write to :
        ratx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The following excerpt is form Sydney Morning Herald dated 13 February 1997,
inserted here with permission from Craig Skehan's foreign affairs and
defence correspondent.

Quote " Radio Australia - known widely as RA - has been broadcasting into
remote corners fo teh Asia/Pacific region for nearly six decades.During
those years, reports in English as well as local languages have been heard
by remote villagers, huddled around receivers, who have never seen a town or
city. But RA has also been part of the lives of many urban opinion leaders
and decision-makers from the Phillippines, to Indonesia, Vanuatu and Paupa
New Guinea. The short-wave broadcaster mixes information about what is
happenin in the world at large, and Australia in particular, with stories
about the countries in which the listeners live. This is effective
engagement, rather than just viewing developing countries as curiosities to
be peered at, or preached to.

 ....... it is not too surpriseing that there ahs been an outpouring of
regional support for RA. Letters - some of them passionate - have been
written by leaders ranging from the King of Cambodia; Norodom Sihanouk, to
the Prime Minister of PNG; Sir Julius Chan. Sir Julius Chan sarcastically
reinforced his plea by offering to provide more than $1 million to subsidise
the service. Some leaders - who have resented forthright RA of views and
events in there fiefdoms - have been silent. But that is evidence of the
need for RA to not only be continued, but strengthened.

 ....... Radio Australia was formed in 1939 and competes in the reion with
short wave broadcasterf from UK, US, Japan, China, France and Germany. It
clamims an audience of at least 20 millions and has services tailored for
China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Burma, India, PNG, the Solomon Islands and
Vanuatu where short-wave remains the only effective way of broadcasting
infomation to remote areas" unquote.

Radio Australia currently broadcasts in nine languages: English, French,
Cantonese, Mandarin, Khmer, Indonesia, Vietnamese, Thai and Pigin.

ONE SUPPORTIVE LETTER FROM YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Radio Australia will
forward yur letters to the Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and Senator
Alston, Minister for Communication.
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