Radio Free Afghanistan
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 RFA Pashto logo |
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| Abbreviation | RFA |
|---|---|
| Formation | January 2002 |
| Purpose/focus | Broadcast Media |
| Headquarters | Kabul |
| Official languages | Pashto, Dari |
| Parent organization | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Website | RFA website |
Radio Free Afghanistan (RFA) is the Afghan branch of Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty’s (RFE/RL) broadcast services. It broadcasts 12 hours daily as part of a 24 hour stream of programming in conjunction with Voice of America (VOA). RFA first aired in Afghanistan from 1985 to 1993 and was re-launched in January 2002. RFA produces a variety of cultural, political, and informational programs that are transmitted to listeners via shortwave, satellite and AM and FM signals provided by the International Broadcasting Bureau. RFA’s mission is "to promote and sustain democratic values and institutions in Afghanistan by disseminating news, factual information and ideas". [1]
[edit] History
Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty first launched this service on October 1, 1985 during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (1979-1989). Its purpose was to "to bring objective and uncensored news and information to the population and resistance forces of Soviet-occupied Afghanistan." [2] The service initially consisted of twice-weekly thirty minute broadcasts in Dari and later expanded to hour-long broadcasts five days a week in Pashto and Dari. RFA was the first expansion of RFE/RL’s broadcast area in thirty years. [3] Broadcasts stopped in 1993 for budgetary purposes and began again in 2001 following the U.S. Invasion of Afghanistan. Congress authorized the appropriation of eight million dollars in operating costs for FY 2002 and nine million dollars in capital costs that would fund the construction of a new shortwave transmitter in Kuwait. [4]
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.rferl.org/section/Afghanistan/149.html/
- ^ James Clarity and Warren Weaver “Briefing; Come In, Afghanistan” The New York Times. October 1, 1985 http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C07E1DA1239F932A35753C1A963948260
- ^ Sosin, Gene, "Sparks of Liberty: An Insider's Memoir of Radio Liberty" (University Park: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 1999):196.
- ^ Senate Report 107-125- Authorization of Radio Free Afghanistan. The Library of Congress.14, December 2001 http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/cpquery/?sel=DOC&&item=&r_n=sr125&&&r_n=sr125&&dbname=cp107&&sid=cp107ogIqr&&refer=&&&db_id=cp107&&hd_count=&
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